Wednesday, November 30, 2011
How to Eat for More Energy
You've been lied to!
You've been told that to have more energy you need to drink coffee, energy drinks, and load up on sugar.
Some "authorities" have maybe even gone so far as to suggest that there are specific foods that boost your energy.
Finally, we can put an end to all this madness and these erroneous claims thanks to a great article I just read here http://bit.ly/uyjUwx.
Enjoy!
Arthur M.
PS. You'll probably be as surprised as I was to learn how making this ONE simple adjustment to your diet can start giving ALL-DAY energy.
Read it here http://bit.ly/uyjUwx
Monday, November 28, 2011
Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many of us neglect breakfast. And there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that your body and mind will suffer unless you have a healthy breakfast each morning.
You spend six to eight hours sleeping. After that time, your body needs fuel to keep going. Without breakfast at home, your options for on the run nutrition may amount to too much fat, too much sugar and too many carbs. And, that convenient run to the fast food joint is not as convenient and time saving as you think if everyone else has the same idea. The fifteen or twenty minutes spent in line could have been used to fill your belly with something good at home.
If you are the type to skip breakfast, here is a solution to starting the day with a good breakfast which will help you keep hunger in check as well as give you the natural energy boost to start your day.
1. Oatmeal – This food makes a good hot meal that contains lots of filling fiber to keep you from getting hungry later on in the morning. Depending on your taste, you can take five minutes to fix it on the stove or use the microwave for instant oatmeal. Kids tend to like the variety of flavors that come with instant oatmeal. The night before, put together a container of add-ins like blueberries, strawberries and bananas that can be tossed on top for a bit of antioxidant power.
2. Fruit smoothies – These are good any morning but particularly on a hot day. You’ll have to blend the ingredients together in the morning, but the prep work can be done at night. Cube your fruit and place it into a container. Instead of frozen yogurt in the morning, use a cup of plain yogurt. Add ice cubes, a little water and blend.
3. Egg sandwich – The eggs can be cooked the night before and placed in a sealed container. In the morning, warm up the eggs in the microwave. If you want, add some chopped veggies or shredded cheese. Serve on toasted wheat bread. The night before, place two pieces of bread into a Ziploc bag for each family member. They can toast their bread as they get up and place the sandwich in the bag for easy transport in the car to work or school.
4. Yogurt with granola and fruit – Some people like to eat yogurt. But, yogurt by itself won’t keep you from being hungry. Add some granola and a few blueberries to the mix. This makes a great breakfast idea for those mornings when you are running late. Keep small bags of granola and blueberries in the fridge next to the yogurt so you can grab them and run.
Are you fighting the breakfast battle? To get a filling meal you don’t have to opt for too much fat, calories or carbs. These quick and easy breakfast ideas can be made within minutes and are a much healthier alternative to skipping breakfast or grabbing a high fat alternative.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Functional Foods
Functional Foods: Functional foods may do more for you than simply provide vitamins, minerals and energy; they may be able to improve your health. Functional foods may occur naturally (like most fruits ...
Monday, November 21, 2011
Healthy Thanksgiving
Healthy Thanksgiving: Fallen leaves on the ground and the empty bags of Halloween candy are the harbingers of the forthcoming holiday season. Thanksgiving in the US is only a few days ...
How to Get Your Kids to Actually Eat Their Veggies
Everyone knows that veggies are good for you, but how do you teach kids to actually LIKE the stuff? Well, it is possible. Here are a few pointers.
1. Don’t let kids think green stuff is bad. That’s right. If everyone in your family eats broccoli and doesn’t make a big deal out of it, your child won’t realize that anything is amiss. This includes both parents. If one parent happens to really hate that poor innocent broccoli, maybe that parent needs to re-visit the yumminess for themselves. Kids notice everything, and if the veggie in question never appears on someone’s plate, they will know.
2. Have a “Try It” rule. All vegetables, new and old, must be tried at least once (or twice, depending on your rule) every time it appears on their plate. The standard excuse of “I tried it last time and didn't like it” will not work. In fact, studies show that repeat exposure to new tastes and flavors is often necessary before kids will like a new food item. In other words, the more often they try it, the greater the chances that they will like it until, one day.
3. Have a grocery store adventure where each person has to pick out a new vegetable to try. Make it a game. Research the vegetable online when you get home. Look for printables to color, the history of the vegetable, its origin and cultural traditions or even the tastiest way to cook and eat it. Involving kids increases your chances that their curiosity will be piqued. Jicama is a great veggie to test out this way. It is unattractive and resembles a potato. In actuality, you peel it like an apple, slice it and dip it in low-fat ranch dressing.
4. Think of creative ways to cook each veggie. If you have only ever served zucchini raw, try it sautéed in butter or olive oil. You can even make zucchini bread for a healthy snack. Cauliflower is good steamed and sprinkled with a little parmesan cheese and Italian breadcrumbs.
5. For younger children, host a family “color” night. Plan ahead and serve only foods in that color. Purple cauliflower or yellow squash might slide right by when the little one is having fun. The point is to make a game of it and not let anyone have the chance to think about it and complain.
6. Brave a messy kitchen and let them cook. Most kids learn by doing and this is no exception. For younger children you can start by mashing cauliflower instead of potatoes or even adding vegetables as ingredients to other dishes for older children.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
15 Healthy Snacks For Lunch Boxes
Packing lunchboxes can be stressful, particularly if you leave it for the last minute as you're trying to head out the door and wrangle everyone into the car. Then there are all the choices: Do you fill it full of organic, nutritious stuff that your child may or may not eat? Do you fill it with items guaranteed to be consumed but not so healthy? And what about allergies... some schools are totally peanut-free, which leaves the old PBJ combo out in the cold.
You don’t want your kid to go hungry, waste food or, worse, trade for something you really don’t approve of. So, how do you create a win-win situation in the lunch box department?
There are many ways to sneak nutrition in, right under Sam's or Sasha's nose. The key factor that you need to remember is that taste trumps nutrition. If it tastes good, they won’t notice that it is also good for them. Here are a few ideas to run with on healthy snacks to stuff in a lunch box, without alerting the consumer (A.K.A. your kid) to its healthfulness.
1. Homemade trail mix – Kds love to snack on stuff by the handful and naturally lean towards food they can eat in bite-sized servings. Moms love it because you can also sneak all sorts of good stuff in there – dried fruit bits, seeds, etc. – without them being any wiser.
2. Chips & salsa – Always a perennial favorite; you can even make homemade salsa and tortilla chips on the weekend for more control over what your kids are eating.
3. Veggie chips- Before you grab that 10-pack of not-so-good-for-you chips, try the veggie ones. Chips and puffs made from vegetables often include a bit more in the vitamin area, and most kids do like them. Try a bag next time.
4. Mini kabobs- Use small wooden skewers and thread grapes, small cubes of cheese and leftover ham or chicken. Healthy, tasty and fun.
5. Hummus- This Middle Eastern chickpea dip is super healthy and is another great way to serve up those baby carrots. Dips and kids are always a hit.
6. Tzatziki- Originally from Greece, this garlicky yogurt dip is not for everyone but may just suit your kid's need for saltiness. Great with sliced cucumbers or pita chips.
7. Cheese – Single serve cheeses are awesome. They include a dose of calcium and protein. Include a toothpick for fun eating.
8. Peanut butter- Sure, PB & J sandwiches are everywhere but try a single serve pack of flavored peanut butter, if your school hasn't banned it. Super healthy, low in sugar and the squirt-in-your-mouth-fun-factor lets it compete head-to-head with sugary snacks, and win.
9. Apple with caramel – Single-serve caramel tubs and sliced apples are a great, healthy snack for kids of all ages.
10. Fruit medley – For some reason, if you stick an orange in your kid’s lunch box, it comes back to you, untouched. If you stuff a small Tupperware with a strawberry, a few raspberries, some blueberries and a slice or two of that same orange, they will eat every last bite. Go figure.
11. Vegetable medley – It’s the same with vegetables. A plastic zip-top bag with baby carrots gets old. But fill that Tupperware with a few carrots, a piece of cauliflower, a broccoli floret and a few cherry tomatoes and wow! Vanishing act. Be sure to pack a single serve ranch dressing packet for guaranteed success.
12. Yogurt – This is a great snack in its natural state, but not so great when you stir in sugary, chemically add-ins. Try organic vanilla with Grape Nuts cereal. It gives the added crunch your child is looking for, with the healthy twist moms like.
13. Tuna – If you child loves prepared snack packs and lunch kits, try single-serve tuna packs with whole wheat crackers. It lets them think they “won” but still gets them to eat healthy.
14. Organic fruit snacks and leathers – Honestly, these are great, healthy snacks when done right, meaning with organic and minimal added sugar.
15. Celery with PB and raisins – A classic snack that’ll make them think of mom. Yea!
More Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, many of us neglect breakfast. And there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that your body and mind will suffer unless you have a healthy breakfast each morning.
You spend six to eight hours sleeping. After that time, your body needs fuel to keep going. Without breakfast at home, your options for on the run nutrition may amount to too much fat, too much sugar and too many carbs. And, that convenient run to the fast food joint is not as convenient and time saving as you think if everyone else has the same idea. The fifteen or twenty minutes spent in line could have been used to fill your belly with something good at home.
If you are the type to skip breakfast, here is a solution to starting the day with a good breakfast which will help you keep hunger in check as well as give you the natural energy boost to start your day.
1. Oatmeal – This food makes a good hot meal that contains lots of filling fiber to keep you from getting hungry later on in the morning. Depending on your taste, you can take five minutes to fix it on the stove or use the microwave for instant oatmeal. Kids tend to like the variety of flavors that come with instant oatmeal. The night before, put together a container of add-ins like blueberries, strawberries and bananas that can be tossed on top for a bit of antioxidant power.
2. Fruit smoothies – These are good any morning but particularly on a hot day. You’ll have to blend the ingredients together in the morning, but the prep work can be done at night. Cube your fruit and place it into a container. Instead of frozen yogurt in the morning, use a cup of plain yogurt. Add ice cubes, a little water and blend.
3. Egg sandwich – The eggs can be cooked the night before and placed in a sealed container. In the morning, warm up the eggs in the microwave. If you want, add some chopped veggies or shredded cheese. Serve on toasted wheat bread. The night before, place two pieces of bread into a Ziploc bag for each family member. They can toast their bread as they get up and place the sandwich in the bag for easy transport in the car to work or school.
4. Yogurt with granola and fruit – Some people like to eat yogurt. But, yogurt by itself won’t keep you from being hungry. Add some granola and a few blueberries to the mix. This makes a great breakfast idea for those mornings when you are running late. Keep small bags of granola and blueberries in the fridge next to the yogurt so you can grab them and run.
Are you fighting the breakfast battle? To get a filling meal you don’t have to opt for too much fat, calories or carbs. These quick and easy breakfast ideas can be made within minutes and are a much healthier alternative to skipping breakfast or grabbing a high fat alternative.
Monday, November 14, 2011
What Foods To Buy Organic
Organic foods have become one of the most popular topics around the globe. People are becoming more concerned each day with the amount of pesticides that are being used to grow certain items of produce. Genetically modified foods are also a growing concern. Many of these are viable issues, but some make less sense than others.
There are some simple tips to figuring out what foods to buy organic, and which ones are not cost savvy. Here are a few guidelines to follow when making your final decision at the grocery store.
Fruit
The first thing you see when you walk into a grocery store is usually a plethora of fruits and vegetables all grouped into one giant space. This is the fist situation to avoid. Look for organic produce that is separated from the traditional. The reason this is so important is because the sprayers that keep the fruits and veggies cool and moist can actually wash pesticides off of the traditional produce onto the outside of the organic produce. If there is not a separation, ask your store manager if they would mind separating it in the future.
Oranges, bananas, cantaloupe and watermelon all have one thing in common – thick outer layers. Ok, so maybe they have more than that in common, but the thick rind is what I was talking about. With thin outer layers, the actual edible fruit is exposed to pesticides, so it is more important to buy fruits like grapes, apples, berries and kiwi organic. Take a look at the outer layers and make a decision, just remember, the thicker the skin, the less important it is to buy organic.
Vegetables
Vegetables work in much the same way as fruits. Tomatoes, while technically a fruit, are usually found in the vegetable isles and are important to buy organic because of their thin outer covering. The same applies for bell peppers, mushrooms, corn, green beans, cucumbers, and leafy greens. Vegetables like asparagus, avocado, broccoli and onions are fine to buy au-natural.
According to the theory above, asparagus and broccoli should not be on this list, as they do not have thick skin. There is a reason for this we will get to in just a second. Grains are also slightly different. While most grains do not have thick outer shells, they are not as important to buy organic because there are fewer pesticides used on that type of crop due to their delicate growing conditions, which is the same reason for the asparagus and broccoli. Not many pests bother these crops, therefore no pesticide needed.
Meat/Dairy
In the meat and dairy section, beware the term ‘Natural’ as it means absolutely nothing. ‘Natural’ is not an officially monitored term by the FDA and anyone is allowed to put it on their packaging without any repercussions. The only label to look for is ‘Certified Organic’ which has been approved by the FDA to mean the packaged food is, well, certified as organic.
Just remember that produce with thick outer shells or rinds are less important to buy as organic because the outer layer will be removed before eating. As with meat, just remember that there is no guideline to go with the ‘Natural’ designation – so look for the ‘Certified Organic’ label to be sure you are getting the best protein.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Great Raw Food Recipes: Discover How To Live And Cook Raw
Over 125 Delicious and Powerful Raw Food Recipes! Learn How To Detox Your Body, Lose Weight, And Gain Stamina And Energy! Plus You Will Learn How To Save $$$$ On Raw Foods! Click here to read more about Great Raw Food Recipes: Discover How To Live And Cook Raw
Gluten Free Kids Chocolate Recipes
Chocolate Recipes For Kids To Make That Are Yummy, Healthy, Gluten Free And Easy To Make. They Taste Great! Click this link to read more about Gluten Free Kids Chocolate Recipes
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Book: Healthy By Choice
Healthy By Choice A Collection of Delicious, Easy-to-Follow Healthy Gourmet Recipes. It Serves Up More Than A Hundred Healthy, Easy-to-follow Recipes For Preparing Delicious Gourmet Creations That Are Loaded With Nutrient-dense And Fiber-rich Foods.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Best Diets? DASH, TLC, Mediterranean Are Tops, Experts Say
Best Diets? DASH, TLC, Mediterranean Are Tops, Experts Say: 
Just in time for anyone stressing over upcoming holiday weight gain, a new list of ''best diets" is out. But this list focused not just on diets that helped you lose weight, but helped you stay healthy while doing it.
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