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For weeks now, I’ve hinted to my husband to stop eating fried foods. I say this about a heart disease patient. I had decided to give up fried foods. I hoped that he would do the same. Today, when we ate out, he ordered a salad instead of fries. Victory!
The message is this: to encourage good dietary choices, set the example. We all need help with this one. Fat, after all, is as addictive as nicotine. I never nagged or preached. I just looked for the healthy choice and followed through.
Perhaps you have a loved one in a similar situation. Maybe this strategy can work for you too. I hope my husband’s choice is the beginning of a lifetime of healthy decisions.
More and more, we are learning of the dangers of obesity. The latest news focuses on the effects of .
I don’t know about you, but I remember as a kid always being active. My mom would kick us out of the house to go outside and play. We didn’t spend our time playing video games. Our toys were the rocks, mud, and sticks we found outside. It was just that my parents didn’t have a lot of money. Our fun depended upon our imagination.
The more I learn about health, the more it becomes obvious that we hold the keys to our good health. Inactive? Find ways to incorporate exercise by taking small breaks throughout the day. Tired from work? Use exercise to help you relieve stress. Have a medical condition such as ? Modify your diet to find ways to counter its ill effects.
The point is you are in the driver’s seat. You have the ability to make good choices. If you face a challenge, there are ways to overcome it. All it takes is for you to muster the will power and take charge of your health.
“You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” ~Julia Child
Julia Child said it best: appealing meal start with fresh ingredients. It’s a good reminder for the summer. It’s a great time to add some flavor and color to your meals.
There are many good reasons to seek out fresh ingredients starting with good nutrition. Fresh fruits and vegetables are complete with all of the vitamins and nutrients that make them power foods. Consider the high nutritional value of a few. Avocados are a powerhouse among fruits. A great source of monounsaturated fats, studies show that avocados can lower cholesterol and protect against breast cancer. That makes for a delicious reason to whip up a bowl of guacamole. When you’re done with the avocado, clean off the seed and roll your foot over it for a soothing massage. You deserve it!
The kiwi, with its cute name, is another fruit providing a variety of health benefits from helping to lower blood sugar to fighting asthma. Kiwis are loaded with the good antioxidants and phytonutrients that are so beneficial. Its sweet taste makes for a wonderful smoothie, blended with some honeydew and vanilla yogurt.
Broccoli has a reputation all its own. This cruciferous vegetable and others in this group share potential cancer-fighting abilities. It is high in vitamins A, C, and E as well as calcium and folate. Besides its health benefits, broccoli is just plain good and quite versatile. From a to a delicious cream of broccoli, broccoli has a lot to offer the health-conscious cook.
Health benefits aside, using fresh ingredients gives you control in the kitchen. You know what is going into the meal you prepare. This can be especially important if anyone in your family has food allergies or sensitivities. Perhaps the tastiest reason for using fresh ingredients though is their color. A well-prepared meal dressed in a pleasing variety of colors adds a splash of visual appeal to your cooking. What can be more inviting than a bowl of fresh fruits ready for snacking?
You don’t have to be a master chef to make good meals. Healthy, fresh ingredients that pack a powerful visual punch will make any meal special.
