Showing posts with label Healthy Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Living. Show all posts

Health - The Nutritional Value Of Using Sugarcane


It is hard to believe how the world would be without sugar, though many would argue that many dental issues would be forgotten; however, it is also important to know that sugar has very many advantages. According to ancient historic facts, New Guinea is considered to be the origin of sugarcane, from where it spread to India, and then to the rest of the world.
The commercialization of sugar led to the increase in production of the same, and today sugar is one of the products you will hardly miss in any home around the world.
What are the health benefits of sugar?
The body requires energy to work properly, and the body cells multiply and grow with the help of energy. If the body cells do not grow and multiply, then an individual will face challenges fighting off diseases, healing wounds, and attaining any growth or development. Sugarcane is a good source of carbohydrates and energy, and when you consume it, together with the other two major food groups, whether raw or in processed form, you are sure to stay energetic and healthy.
The following are some of the health benefits that ought to make you get a sugarcane juice machine:
  • The starch in sugarcane juice does not have any simple sugars. Simple sugars are not good for diabetics. The absence of simple sugar means diabetics can enjoy the juice without worrying about an increase in their level of body glucose. Scientific research shows that the sugar from this plant is also useful to people who want to lose weight. In addition, it has nutrients and minerals that are very useful to the body.

  • The juice has remedy properties. This juice helps in treating a body condition known as jaundice. Jaundice has characteristics such as yellow pigments on the skin and membranes. This occurs due to alleviation in the level of bilirubin in the body fluids and poor functions of the liver. A glass of cane juice mixed with lime helps in the quick recovery from this condition.

  • The juice is easy to digest. This juice is an instant source of body energy especially in hot seasons. The body burns out more carbohydrates in the hot season as compared to cold seasons, and the level of carbohydrates in the body drops significantly. To replenish this lost energy, the cane juice is particularly useful.
Finally, since athletes use it before and after engaging in their favorite sport, this sugarcane juice machine will help to boost the health and energy of your family.
We provide the best info about sugarcane juice machine. For further details please visit the provided links.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7548549

Healthy Mushroom Recipe


Ever tried dishing out a mushroom recipe?
I have discovered a fabulous culinary substitute for high calorie meat - mushrooms!
Mushrooms such as Cremini, (otherwise known as the Brown Mushroom, Brown cap, Chestnut, Champignon Marron), Portabello (large Cremni, which are by far my most favourite variety of exotic mushroom), and Trumpet Royale Mushroom and Eryngii Mushroom or King Oyster Mushroom have a heavy texture and a savoury bite that is as flavoursome as meat. For meat lovers who are struggling to give up high-energy density meat in the diet, or people who are deliberating to move toward vegetarian alternatives, a low-carbohydrate mushroom recipe is definitely something worth trying. Mushrooms are low in calories (1 full cup contains only about 45 calories), low in sodium, have virtually zero fat and cholesterol. No wonder why they complement so many meat dishes and why some even consider them as the meat-eaters vegetarian choice. Thinking about it, perhaps that's why the vegetarian diet consists large quantities of mushrooms.
Not only healthier, mushrooms are also as palatable and satiable as meat, making you feel full and gratified. I believe this mushroom-eating strategy can be helpful in shedding pounds and promoting weight loss. Furthermore, mushrooms are also rich in natural glutamates, contain a host of amino acids, and have an excellent source of vitamins B and D, a nutrient very much associated with prevention against osteoporosis and colon cancer.

Ruth's Favorite Mushroom Recipe

Ingredients:
5 big leaves of lettuce 
Brown mushrooms or portabello mushrooms, cut into broad strips 
Sea salt to taste 
A dash of black pepper 
2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine 
2 teaspoon of cooking oil 
3 table spoons of balsamic vinegar 
1 tablespoon of honey

Directions:
1. To prepare fresh mushrooms, first trim off any hard bottom on the stems and knock off any sticky bits of dirt with a damp kitchen towel. Then give them a quick wash under the tap, they don't really absorb as much water and turn mushy as what many people had warned. 
2. Fry chopped garlic in oil till it's slightly brown. 
3. Add mushrooms and continue to stir-fry until they become soft. 
4. Turn off heat and add salt and pepper. 
5. Cut lettuce into thin strips. 
6. Put lettuce, mushrooms into a salad bowl and add honey and vinegar 
7. Mix and enjoy!



Ruth Tan runs the popular website Benefits of Honey which is an immensely rich, quality resource on honey and its benefits, and a plethora of health-related issues. Discover the amazing health benefits and all the positive spin-offs super-food honey can bring to your life and the lives of your loved ones at http://www.benefits-of-honey.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3641708

The Fast Food Health Threat

Few dietary trends have been or are as prominent, prevalent, and influential as the movement towards dining out in general and fast food in particular. Dating back as far as the 1940s with the birth of McDonald's the fast food trend continues unabated today, despite a modern wave of so-called "health initiatives." In spite of a slew of new diets, new exercise regimens, and even new lawsuits, statistics consistently show that the United States population - along with the populations of many developed countries - is getting fatter by the year.


Causes of the Obesity Crisis

Why is fast food so harmful? The obvious and traditional answer is because of sheer caloric excess. A recent, 15-year study showed that young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who ate at least 2 fast food meals a week were, on average, 10 pounds fatter than those who did not. It's also no secret that fast foods are soaked in oil and fat, saturated with sodium and sugars, and designed with convenience and taste, rather than nutritional value, in mind. However, can this be the only reason?

With the recent trend towards (or at least, lip service towards) healthy lifestyles with managed calorie intakes, frequent exercise, and even target nutrition, one would think that the "obesity epidemic" would be feeling the effects. Statistics, however, show otherwise. While some blame (perhaps rightly) these disappointing numbers not on fat, sugars, or calories, but on the layers of artificial additives on virtually all fast food items, others researchers have begun to look at the fast food trend as part of a larger, social change. In their eyes, modern American culture makes it all but inevitable that diets will fail, people will relapse into unhealthy habits, and the obesity rate will continue to increase.


A Different Point of View
American people today live in an environment where low cost and convenient access often take precedence over nutrition. Television and radio airwaves are replete with advertisements, and billboards are covered with fast food propaganda, but the core of the issue is the public mentality. People are much more likely to dine out than ever before. A disintegrating nuclear family tradition means less gatherings around the dinner table, at least at home. A misunderstanding of what low-carb, low-fat, or low-sodium actually means leads to people rationalizing their unhealthy diets. A steady trend towards larger portion sizes has subtly influenced people to eat more without ever realizing the difference.

And fast food companies may only be partially to blame. Though it is true that fast food restaurants are a prime source for unhealthy food, in another sense these companies are only responding to the economic demands of the American public, according to Rudolph Leibel, an obesity expert from Columbia University. If the public attitude truly changes (that is, in a way more profound than simply hiding behind sham diets, rationalized food choices, fancy catchphrases, or a salad every few days), Leibel argues, the fast food menu will change along with it.

The question, then, is - how does one go about changing one's viewpoint and lifestyle? One way is by circumventing the vicious cycle of relapse and rationalization. Instead of choosing "healthy options" off the local McDonald's menu, eating true home-cooked meals is a much better and sustainable solution. Remember - the key is not how well a diet works in the short run, it's how long you can keep it up in the long run.


For home-cooked meal recipe ideas, visit http://www.cdkitchen.com

Joseph Devine


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1155012

How to Eat for Good Health on a Cruise Ship

Multiple stories of cruise ship disasters may leave you hesitant to book a cruise; however, it is still a vacation of choice for many people. If you are conscious about your health or weight, though, another cruise ship disaster might be the around the clock food that is often a featured attraction on many cruise ships. You can still eat for good health while on a cruise by following a few simple guidelines.
To be sure you eat for good health, stick to your regular routine as much as possible. Just because food is available 24/7 does not mean you have to dine at every time and place food is available. If you normally eat three meals a day, keep the same schedule while on the ship and avoid adding excess calories between meals.
Be conscious of how food is prepared. To make meals more appetizing chefs add a lot of butter, oils, salt and other things you may not use when cooking at home. To eat for good health it is best to eat dishes with as little additional preparation as possible.

Fill up on salad and soup to minimize how much of the main course you need to be satisfied. This trick only works if you choose broth soups, not creamed soups, and are careful with the high fat/high calorie salad toppings such as croutons, cheese, bacon, and salad dressings.


Stay away from the appetizers before dinner, as you can pack on hundreds of calories in a few bites of appetizers. Save your calories for something more enjoyable and filling at dinner. As the name implies, appetizers will also "whet" your appetite, causing you to eat even more at dinner than you would otherwise.
When dining at a buffet do your best to review the entire buffet offerings first to get an idea of which selections would make the healthiest menu options.

That way when you go through the buffet line you will be able to plan your meal around the best protein and complex carbohydrate selections. Don't worry; you will get plenty of fat! If they do offer any good fats such as fish, avocados or walnuts, that would be a good choice - unless the fish is fried.


Be sure to eat enough protein, as this will help fill you up and keep you satisfied until the next meal. Then, fill your plate with vegetables as close to their natural state as possible. If you are lucky enough to have raw vegetables use humus or guacamole as a dip instead of ranch dressing. You will benefit from the protein in humus and the good fat in guacamole, and the fiber in the raw vegetables.

Once you are through the buffet line, move away and eat your dinner as far away as possible from the buffet table. This will eliminate the temptation to get another helping of that oh so yummy casserole that is oozing in high fat cream sauce. And of course avoid the temptation of the dessert table!

One area to be especially aware of is hidden calories in beverages. Avoid all soda and sweetened beverages, and watch the fruit smoothies - they are loaded with sugar. Also, drinking sugary beverages actually makes you thirstier, rather than quenching your thirst. If you drink alcohol the best drinks are wine or tequila, without any mixer. Most alcohols are low in calories; it's the mixers (soda, tonic, etc) that add the sugar and calories.
In addition to being conscious of your food choices, plenty of physical activity will help to work off those extra calories that you can't avoid. Take advantage of the on ship gym or some off ship excursions to get in some exercise while having fun.

These guidelines on how to eat for good health will ensure that your health and weight will not be a cruise ship disaster. Another cause of weight gain, however, is stress, so whatever you do, remember that you are on vacation and don't stress over every calorie. If you do give in and indulge one day, just get back on track the next day and eat for good health as much as you can.



And you can get a free mini course on the top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your health at http://www.healthwellnessconnection.com, where Mary Ann MacKay shares her research promoting optimal wellness through nutrition, diet, exercise and living a healthy lifestyle.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5688661

Healthy Recipe That Can Help Your Diet - Grilled Indian Chicken

This is a recipe that you should read with interest, because this food's nutrients are what you would require in your daily diet regimen, so stop, sit, and read. It will only need a little of your time to finish reading this recipe. So, make sure that when you have read this and want to try cooking it, you should entirely follow the recipe so that nothing could go wrong in your cooking. This recipe has yogurt in it; it means that it has fewer calories compared to using margarine. Here is the recipe.


Ingredients:
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 scallions, greens included, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• fresh ground pepper
• lemons or lime wedge, to garnish

Cooking the Food:
1. Prepare your chicken. Cut it into 1 inch pieces. When done, place it in a medium bowl. Set it aside; you will use it later after you are done mixing your marinade.


2. In another bowl, mix the yogurt, turmeric, paprika, cardamom, lemon and lime juices, olive oil, ginger, garlic, cumin, scallions, salt and pepper. Mix it well until all of the ingredients have been combined together. A well combined marinade would give your chicken an even flavour.


3. Once done, pour the marinade over the chicken and mix it well with your hands. Coat the pieces well so that the marinade will be distributed evenly on the chicken. Put the chicken in the refrigerator for 2 hours to marinate.


4. While you are waiting, you can prepare the grill and turn on to medium heat. This should be prepared for you to cook the chicken later. If you are using a common grill, it would still be okay. Just add medium sized coals and burn it up.


5. When the grill is ready, take out the marinated chicken from the fridge and you can thread the pieces of chicken onto skewers and place it on the grill. Cook for 5-7 minutes; turn the chicken skewer frequently while you are cooking it. Baste the chicken with the left-over marinade after you have turned the chicken. When the chicken is done, place it on a clean plate.
6. To serve, add with lemon or lime wedges to spice up the look. Now you are prepared to eat your own cooked food.



Now that you have read the recipe, you can try cooking it. It is really easy to cook your food once you have read the instructions carefully. This recipe has 29% calories, 13% sodium, and 110% of protein. Well, from the looks of it, this really gives your body a lot of nutrients. You can put this on your diet regimen if you want. But for now try cooking it, and taste it for yourself. It really tastes and looks delicious.


Sherry Haynie is a health and fitness enthusiast who is fond of writing about food and diet, and also topics such as grill whole chicken and grilling a steak.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4897350

Colon Healthy Recipes And Foods For Meals


Having a healthy colon is the key to long term health and finding good colon healthy recipes is one way to help keep your body healthy. While it might be difficult to actually locate recipes that are labeled to be healthy for the colon, you can learn to recognize them by the ingredients that they contain- namely fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, a healthy recipe will contain little or no white flour and white sugar. Perhaps the best recipe for colon health, however is to include lots of fruits and vegetables in your meals as described below.
The large intestine or colon is where the results of the entire digestive process gather up to leave the body. Due to poor eating habits, most people have an unhealthy colon resulting in constipation. If your colon is not in tip top shape, food can get trapped in the lining and start to rot. It can also become hardened in there and can even be trapped in your colon for years!
Of course, food plays a big role in the health of your colon. There are many arguments for the pros and cons of a vegan diet, however when it comes to colon health, a vegetarian way of eating has many benefits.
Animal foods are hard to digest where plant foods are quite easy to digest. So, colon healthy recipes will include little or no animal foods and be based mainly on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In addition to good colon health, using recipes made with these foods will have a pronounced effect on your overall health in general.
Vegetables and fruits are very colon friendly and can be processed or digested quite easily by the body. They contain a variety of vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes and fiber- all things that are essential to good health. Fiber, in particular, is good for your colon health as it adds bulk which helps to pass the food along the digestive tract.
One simple and easy breakfast recipe could be a fruit salad with oatmeal (not the packaged or instant stuff). Natural fruit juice can be quite healthy too although it does not have fiber and drinking a lot of water will help with the digestive process.
Always try to include a salad for lunch with lots of dark leafy greens. Stay away from the iceburg and try to include romaine lettuce and spinach as these have more vitamins. Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and kale are great additions to any salad. Don't forget the olives and artichokes for a little zest. Instead of bottled dressing which is probably loaded with sugar, try olive oil and vinegar- you might even mix in some fresh herbs and create your own salad dressing recipe!
For snacks, stay away from anything that comes in a package and go for raw nuts, fruit, veggies or even a nice fruit smoothie- made with real fresh fruit, of course! If you need something crunchy try spreading all natural peanut butter on celery (this can also help to satisfy any cravings for sweets).
Colon healthy recipes for dinner follow the same common sense rules. Try cutting down on the red meat and eating fresh fish along with a salad and perhaps some steamed broccoli, zucchini and carrots. If you need something more substantial try adding brown rice, corn on the cob or potatoes.
Just like with any other aspect of your health, eating nutritious healthy foods is a sure fire way to keep your colon, and your whole body, in good health.
Lee Dobbins writes for Colon Articles where you can learn more about keeping your colon healthy as well as get more information on colon healthy recipes.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/534685

Fast Healthy Recipes - Asian Green Bean Stir Fry


If you work all day, the last thing you want to do when you get home is to slave in front of a hot stove to prepare dinner. However, you don't want to fall to temptation and drive through the take out window for some sub-standard fast food. If you are trying to eat healthy and watching your weight, you want to eat foods that are nutrient rich, giving the most goody for the calories you consume.
The below recipe is great for a quick snack or as an accompaniment to a main entrée. It's a great complement to chicken, fish, pork or beef.
Asian Green Bean Stir Fry
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound green beans, cut 1-inch portions
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables (thaw if frozen)
1 tablespoon black bean-garlic sauce (found in Asian food section of most large grocery stores)
Directions:
1. In large frying pan heat sesame oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add green beans and crushed red pepper.
3. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until seared, stir often.
4. Add water, cover, reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook 3-6 minutes, stir occasionally, cook longer for tender vegetables.
6. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, add stir-fry vegetables and black bean-garlic sauce.
7. Cook until heated through, stirring often.
8. Dish is ready when the majority of the liquid has evaporated.
Serves approximately 4,1 cup servings.
Health Benefits:
Beans are rich in fiber and protein but also a great source of iron and Vitamin B6. Low in fat and calories, providing antioxidants that protect the heart.
Karen Ficarelli is the founder and CEO of Fitness4Her.com, a diet, exercise program and women's fitness blog, developed especially for women. A sports nutritionist and personal trainer, Karen has a treasure chest full of healthy recipes that will keep you eating healthy and lean.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3414551

Favorite Healthy Recipes For Kids


Parents know that it is challenging to come up with fast and healthy recipes for kids. Kids can be very finicky eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables and grains. Moms, Dads and chefs all over the world are always swapping new ideas for meals and ways to ensure a child will eat healthy and good tasting food.
One of the biggest challenges facing parents is how to get a child to eat their vegetables. Instead of pouring fattening melted cheese all over broccoli, try hiding the unpopular green villains. Mix the veggies with chicken and a cream sauce and then roll it up in a doughy casing. Use either a tortilla (corn or flour), a crepe, or a pita pocket.
A Quiche made out of eggs, lean bacon and vegetables is both easy, quick and relatively cheap. Buy a ready-made pie crust at your local market and in a large mixing bowl, combine 5 eggs, broccoli (or any other vegetable) and cooked bacon pieces all together. Then pour the mixture into the pie crust and stick it in the oven at 425 degrees for a half hour. This is a healthy and delicious treat for the whole family.
Kids always crave certain foods such as pizza. A pizza can be made very healthy and made quickly. You can really go wild with the veggie toppings and load a ready-made pizza dough full of them. First cover the dough with a marinara sauce, sprinkle mozzarella cheese (an naturally low-fat cheese) over the sauce and then pile on the veggies. Stick the pie in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
Chicken nuggets are also a favorite. When baked instead of fried, these are very nutritional meal items. Set your oven to 400 degrees. Take raw chicken tenders and dip them into beaten 2 or 3 egg yolks. Then take the nuggets or tenders and dip them into breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs that are commonly sold at grocery stores work great. Place the chicken on a greased pan and set in oven for a half hour. Grilling the chicken nuggets is also a great idea. This dish goes great with rice, mashed potatoes or just a little bit of fruit as a dessert.
A popular breakfast recipe for little ones is whole grain pancakes. Kids will think you are feeding them a sweet snack instead of a healthy meal. Whole grain pancake batter is sold right along side the regular pancake batter at your local grocers. Instead of fatty maple syrup, opt for a non-preservative berry spread to top the pancakes.
For a midday snack: apple sticks, strawberries, and other sweet fruit will always win them over. Children and teens are natural fans of fruit and often don't request any additional toppings or dipping sauces. If their favorite fruit is not in season, frozen fruit is just as nutritious and delicious when thawed.
Remember that a child will crave what he or she is fed the most often. There are many healthy recipes for kids that will always be a hit. Your children will thank you for it, someday.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6641305

Looking for Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner? Try These Spanish Meatballs


Trying to choose quick healthy easy recipes for dinner can sometimes be cumbersome, especially you're in a mad scramble to get everything prepared, cook a meal the whole family can enjoy all the while making sure it's nutritionally dense and well balanced. 
With this Spanish meatballs recipe below you can rest assured because it's a quick and healthy easy recipe for dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Healthy Easy Recipes for Dinner: Spanish Meatballs
Serves 4
Ingredients
• 500g organic lean minced beef
• 1 large organic or free range egg
• 2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes
• 2 organic beef stock cubes
• 1 litre of boiling water
• Dried Herbs de Provence (or a good selection of dried mixed herbs)
• 1 white onion, finely sliced
• 1 garlic clove, finely sliced, extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, salt and ground black pepper
Method:
1. Mix the mince with the egg and half the onion chopped. Season with 1 stock cube and black pepper.
2. Roll the mixture with your hands into ping pong sized balls and fry in oil until almost cooked (the meatballs can still be slightly.
3. pink in middle as they are going to simmer in the sauce). Be sure to turn them around now and again so they cook evenly.
4. Take the meatballs out and put them on a plate to rest.
5. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan, retaining the bits of meat that are left in the bottom of the pan.
6. Add the rest of the chopped onion and some finally chopped garlic and sauté for a further 2 minutes until golden.
7. Add the 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and a good sprinkling of mixed herbs.
8. Add in the water and crumble in the final stock cube. Season with salt and pepper if required.
9. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens a little.
10. Add the meatballs and mix them well with the tomato sauce. Let them cook for another couple of minutes.

These meatballs are delicious and can be served with some steamed greens such as broccoli, asparagus, spinach or any other of your favourite veg. If you do find yourself craving some pasta or spaghetti you can have them with some 'miracle noodles'. These little gems are low calorie and low carb which means they are perfect if you are carb conscious and looking to drop a few pounds or maybe even if you're looking to lose a stone fast. That's not to say that carbs should be avoided altogether, definitely not. I hope you enjoy this healthy recipe idea for dinner and that you give it a go. Hasta luego.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7514148

Five Simple Healthy Recipes for Kids


Those of you with children may find it difficult to offer healthy recipes for kids throughout the entire day. This may be especially troublesome these days if your children have already developed some poor eating habits or if they are among friends who are consistently eating fast food and bags of potato chips.
However don't worry, with a little bit of persuasion and vital teachings from your part, you can open your children's eyes to the wonderful world of healthy nutrition.

This is the perfect opportunity to educate your children about the importance of eating healthy, and what the long term repercussions can be if a person does not monitor what they eat. It's never too early to educate them about healthy nutrition in the hopes that from your teachings they grow up taking care of their bodies and never have to worry about health related issues of being overweight or obese.
Here are some healthy recipes for kids to get you started building your arsenal of meals that will be conducive to a nutritious and well balanced life. As you explore these options, take note of what your family enjoys eating and additional possibilities that you may think of. Often merely tweaking a few ingredients can produce an entirely new meal without needing much extra work.

1. Beef Bowl with pudding dessert. Grilled or baked strips/chunks of meat with a layer of brown rice, beans, and any vegetables you know your family prefers. You can even add beans if you'd like, or potato wedges instead of rice. As a dessert, a small helping of pudding with a dash of whipped cream and a cherry to top it off.

2. Grilled chicken wraps with jello dessert. These can be fantastic choices to offer your family because aside from the grilled chicken, you can include a variety of vegetables or other low calorie options that will taste great such as lettuce, beans, brown rice, tomatoes, onions, or even some shredded low fat mozzarella cheese. Use a whole wheat tortilla instead of tortillas made with refined flour.

3. Whole wheat pasta with turkey meatballs and frozen yogurt dessert. Instead of eating the standard pasta made of refined enriched flour, opt for 100 percent whole grain pasta since it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and high in fiber so you will eat less of it to get full. Ground turkey is also better for you than regular ground beef, or you can ever select the garden meat variety that is vegetarian to make your meatballs or meat sauce.

4. Soup and Salad. There are a variety of soups such as vegetable, lentil, and minestrone that are all healthy and great tasting. Spice it up for kids by throwing in a few goldfish crackers and they will happily eat it all. A bowl of soup and a salad with their favorite toppings and a light salad dressing, PRESTO... you have a healthy meal on your hands.

5. Tuna pita pockets with applesauce dessert. Whole wheat pita pockets provide the perfect "container" to place an assortment of healthy edibles within, and kids will treat it just like a taco. Tuna with lettuce, olives and some parmesan cheese can be a great starting point.
The healthy recipes for kids listed above are all far better and lower in calories than the majority of fast food or pizza delivery options available around you. Use these meals as building blocks to get you thinking of other possibilities you could prepare for your children. Depending on the age of your kids (5-10), you may want to get a little creative with the presentation of the meal. It's the simple things that matter, 
so think how you can present the healthy meal in a way so that they will start asking you to cook this meal again in the future. Sometimes by merely adding a decorative garnish such as a fruit cutout or curly orange/apple peel can inspire your child to want to eat the meal. If adding that little extra is all it takes to get them eating in a healthier manner, the minute or two spent on the future. 
Sometimes by merely adding a decorative garnish such as a fruit cutout or curly orange/apple peel can inspire your child to want to eat the meal. If adding that little extra is all it takes to get them eating in a healthier manner, the minute or two spent on the presentation is well worth it.

If your children are older (11-18), then definitely a more serious conversation should take place. You can even gather specific articles and pictures from the Internet that will work wonders for motivation. Nothing works better than a graphic representation of a coronary bypass surgery.
Keep in mind as you build your library of healthy recipes for kids, maintain an ongoing recipe book where you continually add new healthy meals that your family enjoys. Pretty soon you will have a book full of healthy recipes for kids and if you want, you can even let your children decide which meals to cook out of the recipes you have collected. This way they will feel more connected to what is prepared and served that day.
Gregory L. Gomez, M. Ed, has been teaching 5th grade in the LAUSD for 12 years and has recently embarked on a journey to lose weight, eat healthier, and finally get in shape! Follow his progress on http://HealthyChoicesInLife.com as he strives to lose 60 pounds through dedicated exercise and eating healthy. From healthy eating guides to a step-by-step manual to help tackle the process of losing weight, readers will find the latest information to combat the rising obesity epidemic and start getting into shape at http://HealthyChoicesInLife.com/why-cant-i-lose-weight.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7394562

Losing Weight Made Easy With Healthy Breakfast Recipes

How many times have you heard the old adage, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Odds are you have probably heard it plenty of times in your lifetime. But what does it really mean and how does it affect your weight loss goals? Most importantly what can you eat for breakfast, that is both nutritious and delicious, and still stay on track on your diet?
The reason it is so important is that it allows you to set the day right and give you the energy and mental stamina to get you through the morning. Having said that, this does not mean you can load up your breakfast plate with high fat and highly processed foods. This will only sap the energy from you and actually do the reverse of what a good breakfast should. This is why having healthy breakfast recipes in your arsenal is so important for you and your family.
 Healthy breakfast recipes will help you and the family lose weight and give you the energy you need to start the day.
Any healthy breakfast recipe should consist of all natural hearty foods that will keep your stomach full throughout the morning and give you the energy to excel throughout the day. Having an abundance of energy is a wonderful by-product of using healthy breakfast recipes in the morning.
Healthy breakfast recipes will keep you from overloading on the sugars and fats which tend to slow you down and not give you the energy boost you need and want. A personal favourite of mine is creating a whole omelet with some yellow peppers, salsa, and some low fat cheddar cheese. As a side, I like to have some fresh fruit consisting of grapes, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. 

I also enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with my regular cup of coffee. This healthy breakfast recipe is all natural and will surely give you the energy you require to get through the morning. A breakfast like this, first thing in the morning, will allow you to lose that weight without feeling that you are missing out anything good. This healthy breakfast recipe is chalk full of protein, natural sugars, and enough good calories to give you the strength and energy to conquer your challenges all morning.
Losing weight is a challenge and the challenge often stems from having to eat a diet consisting of too few calories or depriving oneself from tasty foods. However, there are healthy breakfast recipes that allow you to eat delicious meals with the right amount of nutritional value and caloric intake to help you not only lose weight but give you the right amount of energy required to succeed every day.
Breakfast is a very important meal in any diet plan. This is why having a selection of healthy breakfast recipes to choose from help you and your family eat healthy, lose weight, gain the daily energy required, and not get bored of eating the same food over and over again. It is these benefits that healthy breakfast recipes gives to you that makes it an essential part of your diet plan.

If losing 10% of Your Weight, in Body Fat, in the next 30 days is of any interest to you, or someone you love, then this FREE Report is a must have!
This report will help you easily lose fat and gain muscle by giving you some nutritious and delicious healthy breakfast recipes which will make losing that extra weight an enjoyable and tasty experience!


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Cooking Healthy Recipes - Tips in Healthy Cooking

Healthy cooking is in nowadays when people are becoming more and more conscious of what they eat. Of course, eating healthy is one of the important things that you have to remember always if you don't want to suffer later from diseases and other health problems.

Indeed, opting and switching into cooking healthy recipes can be of big help for your health. If you are starting to have that change in your lifestyle into a healthy one, you can actually start from small steps. Hera are simple tips that you might find useful in your quest to stay healthy with your food.
- Make sure to get fresh ingredients for your recipes. If you are looking for the healthiest, go for organic vegetables, as this would mean no pesticides or chemicals that can ruin your healthy recipes. If organic vegetables and ingredients are not available in your area, make sure to wash your vegetables thoroughly before using them to get rid of chemical residues.

- Cut down on salt. This can be one of the important tips in cooking healthy recipes. You can also increase or add more herbs to your recipe as an alternative to salt and you will be surprised that it does not show any change in flavor.

- Increase vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of nature's vitamins, minerals and many other important nutrients needed for the body. Eat in variety as you can never get most of the nutrients you want in just a single vegetable or fruit.

- Avoid fats as possible. Go for more fibrous foods. If you can't totally avoid fats, go for the unsaturated ones. If you need to use oil, use olive oil or canola oil as these are the healthier forms of oils. Check labels of processed foods as well. These are places where saturated fats may be hiding.

- Find alternatives. If you do not want to put meat on your cooking, you can also find alternatives to meat. Among the healthy alternatives to meat are soy protein, or TVP, also known as textured vegetable protein.
- Watch your process of cooking. Aside from the ingredients, you also have to take into consideration the process whereby you cook your food.
Cooking healthy recipes should not just be about ingredients but also the manner of cooking. Among the healthy ways to cook healthy food are baking, steaming, broiling, baking, grilling and braising. Although it may not be good to grill your food regularly.

- Cut down on processed foods. They are usually those that are high in sodium which is a culprit in high blood pressure and other problems as well.

- Use natural herbs and fat-free sauces to help you make a healthy recipe. Indeed, herbs can replace other processed spices in the market. Go for natural ones as well.


These are just a few on the many things you can do to practice cooking healthy recipes. Indeed, you have a choice and as soon as you have learned what to look for in your healthy cooking, you will eventually make it a habit to go for healthy ingredients, healthy recipes and healthy methods of cooking.
Carolyn Anderson loves healthy cooking. If you want to learn healthy cooking, check out Fun With GF-LG Food. Also check out Healthy Urban Kitchen, a manual that can teach you how to shop and cook healthy food.


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Easy Healthy Recipes - Good Food Means Good Health

Easy healthy recipes are good food that brings good health. Sometimes, these foods are better compared to those you buy as a take-out. Here is a step by step guide on making a few dishes that are really fast to do and are guaranteed good and healthy.
The first one is a typical dish that is turned into a plate full of nutrients. It still tastes delicious, and importantly it is as good as its classic counterpart, but does have fewer calories and less fat. The secret ingredient of this lighter Mac and Cheese is pureed winter squash.

Heat the oven to 375°F. With a cooking spray, cover the baking pan. Suggested pan size is nine by thirteen inches. Boil a large pot of water, put the macaroni, and cook for about five to eight minutes. Check if it is tender and firm and drain it to a large bowl. On another pan, cook together with minimum heat the frozen squash and milk. Stir occasionally. Defrost the squash.

 Increase the heat from low to medium heat and wait until the mixture is almost simmering and bubbles are seen on it. Turn off the heat, remove the pan, and stir in all the other cheese: ricotta cheese, jack cheese, and cheddar cheese. Mix with it the following: salt, mustard and pepper. Combine this mixture with the macaroni. Sprinkle combined bread crumbs, parmesan, and oil on top. Bake for twenty minutes and broil for three minutes.

The second easy healthy recipe is a favorite Chinese dish for take out. Would you believe that you can make a home counterpart that is healthier? Here are the ingredients and the directions in making sesame chicken that is better served with brown rice.

Mix the following: vinegar, soy sauce, scallions, chicken broth, sesame seeds, parsley, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Add the mixture to a previously cut chicken strips. Chill for one hour. Heat oil in wok. Stir fry carrots for one minute and jicama for another three minutes.
Remove the vegetables and stir fry drained chicken for two to three minutes. Move chicken to the outer edge wok. Place chicken marinade to center of wok. Heat until it simmers. Now, add vegetables to wok. Put frozen pea pods. Cook for one minute.

The last easy healthy recipe is called fish fillet with Spanish sauce. Good thing is that the sauce can also be used in spaghetti, omelet, meat loaf, and hamburgers. You will surely love it.

Saute onions until tender. Add ingredients: vegetable oil, bay leaf, canned tomatoes or juice, salt, diced and seeded green bell pepper, black pepper, whole cloves, and granulated sugar. Cover and simmer for thirty minutes. Thicken with flour that was previously mixed to a smooth paste with water. Take away the bay leaf and cloves. Reserve this as sauce for fish. Dip fish into milk. Mix black pepper with sifted and dried bread crumbs. Roll each piece of fish into the mixture. Put fish in low baking dish and brush with oil. Bake at 350°F. Add Spanish sauce and serve.
With a lifelong passion for health, I enjoy sharing my personal experiences with diet and exercise. I also enjoy reviewing products, enjoy my latest reviews on which 36 range hood and 48 range hood [http://48rangehood.com] units to choose for your kitchen.


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Healthy Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Pizza

Before you reach for the phone to order pizza drenched with saturated fat and sodium, try my chicken tortilla pizza. This is a recipe I make when I know everyone in my family is going to be running in different directions. It's so easy to make them ahead of time.
They'll keep for several days in the fridge so everyone can just reheat them when they come home, or store them in the freezer for later. You can also cut them up and grab a slice for a quick snack, satisfying those pizza cravings without all the fat and calories.


CHICKEN TORTILLA PIZZA
1 whole wheat flour tortilla
¼ cup part skim mozzarella cheese
1/3 cooked, shredded chicken
¼ cup pizza sauce
¼ cooked green pepper
Preheat oven to broil. Poke tortilla with a fork several times on both sides. Lightly spray tortilla on both sides with olive oil cooking spray or an olive oil spritzer. Place on cookie sheet and put under broiler until the tortilla just starts to brown. Flip the tortilla and crisp the other side. Remove from oven. Add sauce, cheese, chicken, and vegetables. Return to broiler and cook just until the cheese begins to melt.

 Nutritional Info - 1 pizza

300 calories
7.6 g fat
3.5 g saturated fat
571 mg sodium
4.5 g fiber
29 g protein

Time Savers
Use the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own.
Make all the ingredients on the weekend and just assemble and cook the pizzas at dinnertime.

Options
Add mushrooms or any veggies you like.
Betsy McGuire invites you to visit http://www.chickpeawellness.com/ and sign up to receive her mind, body, and spirit blog the day entries are made. You can also "like" Chickpea Wellness on Facebook and receive new articles on your wall.

Copyright 2012 Chickpea Wellness, LLC


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Quick Healthy Recipes

Here are some quick healthy recipes ideas. These are recipes can be prepared in just a few minutes. They are hardy and nutritious. When you get home from a hard days work you may be too tired to cook a big three course meal. With these easy meals you will not be sweating over the hot stove.
Preparation is really important for making these tasty dishes.
To be prepared plan your menus in advanced. When you go grocery shopping have a list ready of the ingredients you need for the dishes you are planning to make. If you do this it will really speed up the entire process.

Hamburger is easy item that you can use for many different food dishes. It does not take long to cook some cheeseburgers. Everyone likes cheeseburgers. They are good for you and they taste great. You can slice onions and tomatoes to go with the cheeseburgers.
Butter and toast the buns. Bake beans and french fries go well with cheeseburgers. You can get bake beans in a can. Heat them up in a sauce pan. You can buy frozen french fries and heat them up in your oven. This is a meal that your entire family will enjoy.

Tacos are easy to make and fun to eat. Buy some taco shell and heat them up in the oven. In the meantime, fry some ground beef and use a packet of taco seasoning to give it an authentic Mexican flavor.
Grate some cheddar cheese. Chop some tomatoes and onions.
Fill the taco shell with the ground beef then put on the grated cheddar cheese. Top it off with the chopped tomatoes and onions and then spoon some salsa sauce. You can make burritos the same way just replace the taco shells with burrito shells.

Italian food is quick and easy to prepare. Spaghetti only takes a few minutes to boil. You can buy spaghetti sauce in a bottle. It only take a couple of minutes to heat it up in a sauce pan. Grated Parmesan cheese can be sprinkled on top. Heat some french bread in the oven. Make a salad of lettuce with carrots and green peppers. You will have a quick delicious meal with this spaghetti diner.

Cut up some broccoli, onions, mushrooms and stir fry it in a frying pan or a wok. Add some wine and soy sauce for a nice stir fried. Boil some white rice. Serve the vegetables over the rice for a delicious Chinese stir fry.

A favorite of many people is macaroni and cheese. This is a good hardy meal all buy itself. It is easy to make. All you need is elbow macaroni, some milk and medium cheddar cheese. Just follow the simple directions. Macaroni and cheese is a good filling meal. Make sure to leave room for desert.
The secret to quick healthy recipes is planning ahead. Plan your menus for the week and get all the supplies with one trip to the grocery store.
Then you will be all set to feed your family a tasty meal.

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Healthy Recipes for Healthy Living: 4 Meals You Can Whip Up in 20 Minutes or Less

It is no longer a daunting task to whip up a healthy meal for you and family. Even if you are always on the go, with very little time to enter the kitchen, you can still eat healthily. There many meals that you cool in about 20 minutes or less. It does not really matter if you are working on a tight budget. You can still enjoy great and nutritious food.

Before you prepare a meal, you need to understand what constitutes a healthy meal. If you want to enjoy a balanced meal, you must throw all the wholesome grains, vegetables and great sources of protein into the equation. You must also ensure that you provide room for at least 4 servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.

It is important to have protein in your food at all times. Try to avoid eating large amounts of red meat. If you can avoid eating red meat altogether that would be great. Go with boiled eggs as an alternative. Here are some healthy recipes for healthy living that you can consider.



3 Bean Salad
3 Bean Salads are common during the summer season although they can be eaten all through the year. 3 Bean salads are very easy to prepare. You just require a mish mash of all your favorite salad ingredients in a bowl and then you throw in a can of mixed beans. This is not the same as baked beans. It is important that you use healthy mixed beans.

Home Burgers
Homemade burgers take a little below 30 minutes to prepare. They may not sound exactly healthy because we chomp them most times at fast food restaurants. However, it all depends on the type of meat that you are using. A healthy choice is lean meat, avoid the fatty ingredients and only include red hot peppers and tomatoes.

Lasagna
It is easy to whip up some lasagna if you purchase pre packed sauces. If you want to even save your hard earned money, you can go further and cook in large quantities and freeze for storage. You can serve your lasagna with omelets or salads.

Soup
The great thing about making soup is that you can add all the nutritious veggies on the planet alongside onion or garlic and you are ready to serve. In addition, you can also add stock or serve with wholesome grain rolls.


Eat healthy and live longer. If you stick to only healthy meals, your body will show great signs of wellness and improvement. Avoid sugary drinks and fatty snacks for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Eat only at home and slow the process of aging. Get all the nutrients your body require in one swoop.
Saule Health has been an authority on vitamins and nutrition for over 5 years. Covering topics from diet and weight loss to general health.



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Lose Weight With Delicious and Healthy Chicken Recipes


The importance of lean protein in a weight loss diet is a fact most people accept today. This is why foods like chicken and turkey breast are staples in many healthy people's diets.
 It is this lean protein that allows a person to lose fat and gain muscle as it helps nourish the body with the right amount of protein. However, eating chicken the same way, all the time can get boring, fast!

As a result, having healthy chicken recipes to draw upon, to spice up your daily eating routine, is an invaluable tool to have. Making tasty nutritional meals from your healthy chicken recipes list will ensure that you and your family eat healthy every day without sacrificing variety and taste.

Using a different recipe daily will allow your taste buds to experience something different on a daily basis and keep you motivated to continue with this healthy routine. Using healthy chicken recipes regularly will allow you to see the benefits as your waistline starts shrinking.

Using different techniques to make chicken meals means that you do not have to eat this lean protein the same way every day. Your chicken meal does not have to be baked or boiled all the time.
 Healthy chicken recipes will open your eyes to new ways of making this healthy, high protein lean meat which will carry you on to your weight loss goals.

A favourite meal of mine is marinating a chicken breast in olive oil, salt, black pepper, paprika, and white wine. I let the chicken breast sit in the marinade for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better) and then put it on the barbecue. 
This healthy chicken recipe is sure to enhance your weight loss dining experience. It is made with all natural ingredients, tastes great, and most importantly is good for you and your family.

Getting your hands on some good and easy to apply healthy chicken recipes will go a long way in ensuring the success of your weight loss journey. Getting new and creative ideas on how to cook this healthy lean protein meat is a necessity if you want to stick to your diet and achieve your goals.
 These guides will introduce you to recipes and methods of cooking chicken that will ensure you will not get tired of eating healthy.

There is one fact that all dietrs must come to terms with and that is, everyone must eat. Therefore, what you eat is of great importance if you want to lose weight. Healthy chicken recipes will help you come up with creative and delicious recipes that will make you look forward to your next meal. 
Healthy chicken recipes mean that eating healthy does not have to mean eating boring. So pick up your chicken recipes and start losing fat and gaining muscle today!

If losing 10% of Your Weight, in Body Fat, in the next 30 days is of any interest to you, or someone you love, then this FREE Report is a must have!
This report will help you lose fat and gain muscle by giving you some nutritious and delicious healthy chicken recipes that will help you lose fat and gain muscle!


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Health Benefits of Quinoa and Some Quick Recipe Ideas


Quinoa Nutrition
It is high in fiber and protein and low in fat. It is one the few sources of complete of protein making it a popular food for healthy vegetarians. It is full of minerals and vitamins and best of all unlike most other grains, it is completely gluten-free.
Although it is a seed, it is often referred to as a grain. It has a nutty flavor and the texture is somewhat fluffy and a little soft. It is extremely versatile making it adaptable in many recipes. A whole cup of quinoa is quick to make taking only 15 minutes. I do recommend as in other grains and seeds that you soak the quinoa overnight. By soaking grains and seeds, your body is able to digest better and efficiently.
Quinoa recipes
Basic recipe requires cooking it with two parts water and one part quinoa. Combine water and quinoa in a saucepan, bring it to a boil, and then let it simmer for about 15 minutes. You can substitute chicken or vegetable stock for water. One way to know when the quinoa is done is when all the grains have a transparent color to it. It is cooked very similar to how you cook rice. this is a basic way of cooking quinoa and from here you can create some yummy recipes.
The most common type of quinoa is beige, cream color but there are also red and black variety available. Quinoa is quite reasonable is price so I do recommend buying organic.
It can be turned into a hot breakfast cereal with cooking it as mentioned above and adding thinly sliced apples or raisins, milk or a little cream with some brown sugar.
Saute some diced carrots, garlic, green onions, celery, and sweet red pepper in a pan. Add salt, pepper, oregano, and any other of your preferred spices to taste. When the vegetables have been cooked for about 5 minutes, add the cooked quinoa. You can add some olive oil or a little bit of butter. Enjoy as a complete meal or as a side dish.
You can make a great stir fry recipe. Use Sesame oil or tea tree oil as that is a great oil to use for oriental cooking and flavor. Add oil to a pan and saute with garlic, grated ginger, green onions, snow peas, broccoli, bok choy, and any other vegetables you want to throw in there from your refrigerator. Add soy or tamari, and chilli sauce. Tamari is basically soy sauce without the gluten so I prefer to buy that over the traditional soy sauce. You can also add steamed shrimp or chicken to this. Pour over quinoa and enjoy.
You can substitute half of your all-purpose flour for quinoa flour in your baking and instantly make your baked goodies healthier. You can also use this substitution technique for making waffles, flatbreads, and even oven baked chips.
You can pretty much substitute quinoa with any other grain especially rice. Because of its high content of protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins, it is a superfood that should be part of your diet.
Jaya Patel has a health and wellness online store. She is a blogger for all things healthy and non-toxic. She is dedicated to empowering others to achieve holistic health for them and their families through their food choices, cleaning products and personal care products. Examples of topics she writes about are home remedies for various ailments, super foods that pack the most nutritional punch, natural and alternative therapies, non-toxic and truly natural products for your home, skin and hair.




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Weight Loss Secrets: Diet, Nutrition, and Healthy Living


Weight loss secrets that consist of nutrition and diet product has helped many people nurture a healthier and better lifestyle by supplying essential minerals and vitamins in the diet. Nutrition and diet is substantial for everyone, especially for runners, or for those who work hard. If you're on a diet, or you're sick, or you regularly eat fast food, you have to really pay attention to what you and your family get from the food, whether it meets the standard diet and proper nutrition for your body or not.
Nutritious diet is important for everyone because these foods provide the nutrients the body needs to stay healthy, grow, and work well. In 2005, the dietary guidelines for US citizens, introduced something called "nutrient density," a term that sounds complex but simply refers to how many nutrients are contained by a food. Nutrient density is absolutely important, especially when nutrition and health has become primary consideration.
Experts believe that the nutrients can help avoid heart attack, fight some cancers, and even slow the aging process in particular ways. And if you're like most of us, did not get enough to eat unhealthy foods, you may be trying to trick your body by providing nutritional supplements to make up for the guilt of not paying attention to your diet.
Even the best weight loss secrets will give better results when coupled with regular exercise and proper nutrition, because when people consume a healthy diet and do some exercise, they will feel better, have so more energy and more immune to health issues. Health and nutrition products can help to ensure the proper level of nutrition to be given to your body so that your body remains healthy.
Nutritious snacks can be very important to your overall health and nutrition. When you eat snack, you can fill in nutritional gaps, if you increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. 
This will help you keep your mood stable, and helps suppress appetite and control weight. However, too much snacking can also be a bad thing as well, and can definitely contribute to adding some excess weight to your body. If you're searching for a major culprit in US's obesity epidemic, the majority of nutritionists will tell you to stick a poster on a wall: a picture of glass of cold, bubbly soda pop.

Good nutrition is one way to improve the body for health. As you can see, the habits of good nutritional and adequate caloric intake are very important. However, it is expected to also keep the intake at least some dairy products because they represent a lot of good sources of nutrients, such as calcium and protein. And good nutrition is synonymous with good health.
In the end, it all comes back to each of us to learn all that we can learn about these weight loss secrets, and then apply that knowledge for the good of our lives. Nutrition puts us on the path to good health, and good health is something we all want to live and be happy. 
For a more detailed information, diet, nutrition, and healthy living plans, motivation and specific weight loss secrets, please visit http://www.weightlosssecrets90.com/

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