Most of us are familiar with the Ramen every night diet. It isn’t a plan to lose weight, rather a plan to actually afford food, and it has been made famous by college students or anyone just starting out with only a limited budget. But the Ramen Noodle diet isn’t exactly a healthy one. The “meal” contains high levels of sodium and carbs and pretty much zero nutrients. Yes, it will fill you up for less, but it isn’t something you can use to feed a family and keep them all healthy. Another source of cheap food that people often … Continue reading →
Fruit and vegetables experts agree, are good for you. They can cut the risk of some cancers, help in regards to heart disease and provide all sorts of benefits yet, they are sadly underrated by many people, which I find hard to understand. Fruit and vegetables are among my favorite foods. When it come to fruit, I’m a big wrap for apples, especially Jonathans because they have that tarter taste. But they don’t keep as well as some other apples, and have limited shelf life, which is why orchards have stopped growing them as much. Cameos and Sundowners, and Granny … Continue reading →
A little decision in Santa Clara County, California has restaurant marketers worried. Ok, they’re not that worried. After all, it’s only one little county. However, taking away from the toys from unhealthy children’s meals is something that many people see as a dramatic step towards healthy food, or towards limits on personal choice. This depends on your point of view, of course. I was listening to an interview with food marketers and childhood health advocates both debating the merits of such a ban. The food marketer spoke in favor of personal choice: parents should be able to choose what to … Continue reading →
Okay, whenever I hear something touted as being a superfood or a superfruit, I admit I get a mental image of a little cape, and little tights . . . but maybe they’re on to something this time. Pomegranates aren’t your most common fruit. I think I’ve had one, maybe twice, in my life. They’re kind of hard to eat and you can’t just walk down the street munching one (unless you’re more talented than I am). But look at what they can do for you: Considered one of the healthiest fruits in the world, it contains a huge array … Continue reading →
Okay, there probably isn’t one answer to the question: How do I get my kids to want to eat healthy foods? Different strokes for different folks, and all that. What works for one kid may not work for another — even in the same family. But here are some tricks to try to get your kids to love the foods that are good for them! Talk to your kids about what each food does for them. I’ll always remember that “carrots make your eyes sparkle” (in other words, are good for vision) and pizza crusts would make my hair curly. … Continue reading →
Want to give your shopping cart an overhaul? Remodel the foods in your cabinets and fridge? Start with these tips for healthy shopping. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. This is an old rule, but one well worth remembering. Everything looks good when you’re hungry! Don’t shop when you’re stressed or depressed. You may be more likely to give in to unhealthy impulse purchases. Make a list and make it organized. If you’ve been to the same store for years, you have a good idea of where everything is. Organize your list based on where things are in the store — … Continue reading →
Sometimes, I’m too impulsive. I’ll get a spur of the moment idea and run with it. That’s how I found myself in a classroom again. I wanted something to do while my kids were in school, so I thought it might be a good idea to take classes, full-time, at a university. My goodness, I wasn’t prepared for it. For eight years, I did what I wanted, when I wanted. Suddenly, I was studying for hours and I had no social life. It wasn’t long before I missed those afternoon naps I used to take… and it showed. I hadn’t … Continue reading →
If you are trying to make healthy lifestyle choices, you may think you have to give up some of your favorite foods. Not true! There are lots of ways to make your favorites lower in calories, fats, and sodium. Love mashed potatoes? Mash white potatoes with low-sodium and/or fat-free chicken broth instead of milk, butter, and salt. Mash sweet potatoes with orange juice instead of butter for a touch of sweetness. Making a stir fry? Fat-free Italian salad dressing makes a flavorful sauce without adding a lot of fat and calories. Use fat-free sour cream, fat-free yogurt, and fat-free cream … Continue reading →
In previous blogs I told you about how several major hotel chains including Marriott and Westin have gone nonsmoking. In addition, I’ve discussed how some hotels have implemented more rigorous cleaning procedures to combat germs. Now it seems at least one major hotel chain is taking their guests’ health concerns to a new level. Loews Hotels has just announced that they will be following the lead of a growing number of fast-food chains and the city of New York — it will ban artificial trans fats in food it offers. They make history by becoming the first hotel chain to … Continue reading →
I love seeing the AP Press reports on days when articles like this hit my in box. Today, ten major food and drink makers including Campbell Soup, McDonald’s and Cocoa-Cola will be doing more to promote healthy foods and exercise in their child-oriented advertising campaigns. These companies actually account for more than two-thirds of all child-targeted drink and food commercials on television. They are going to reduce the use of recognizable characters (think Little Mermaid, Shrek and others) in their unhealthy food campaigns. They will not advertise in schools. They will make sure that their online games (for advertising purposes) … Continue reading →
