It's Mediterranean Month! If you want to follow a healthy eating plan from around the world, a smart choice is Mediterranean style. Flavors are fresh, fruits and vegetables are plentiful and the net result is very healthy 'fuel' for your body. When I lived in Italy 7 years ago from September - December, I was really excited about what I could buy at the grocery store and open-air markets. Boy, was it fun cooking there! Grocery Shopping for Mediterranean Foods in the USA! It's all good news if you want to find Mediterranean foods in American grocery stores these days. Look around for … [Read more...] about Grocery Shopping for Mediterranean Foods is a Smart Plan!
Earth Day is a Reminder to Eat Well, Locally!
April is Here - Get Ready for Locally Grown Food! It's a big month. April is Garden Month and right around the corner, on April 22, is Earth Day. Though I didn't grow up on a farm, as a kid I would dream about how wonderful that could be - the animals, the fields, the 'homemade' food. As an adult, I am a huge fan of local farmers who work very, very hard so that I can eat the best vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, meat, chicken and more. Local Food Has a Field-Full of Advantages! What's so great about local food? Its awesome flavors. If you've never tested that, I recommend you … [Read more...] about Earth Day is a Reminder to Eat Well, Locally!
3 More Grocery Store Tips for Good Nutrition!
Seasonal Produce is Changeable! I really hate to say 'goodbye' to fall/winter squash and my beloved citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges but the reality is that seasons are changing and so are what we see in the Produce Department. Tip: Get an acorn or spaghetti squash (shown at left) while you can because their season is fast going away. Moving On to Poultry! One of the most popular 'dinner-starters' in every grocery store is the rotisserie chicken. It makes a super easy meal at home, along with a steamed vegetable and a baked sweet potato. Tip: Pick up a fresh, whole … [Read more...] about 3 More Grocery Store Tips for Good Nutrition!
3 Grocery Store Tips for Good Nutrition!
Fresh Produce is a Good Starting Point! Just about every grocery store that I know puts the fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables in view where customers enter the store. It makes sense to get us starting our grocery basket with seasonal choices as well as nutritious ones. Tip: Pick up 1-2 fruits and 1-2 vegetables here, as a rule. Fresh Bakery Comes Next! The smell of yeast bread towers over the fresh bakery and everywhere close to it. Did you know there are fans that blow the bread-baking odors all around to entice customers to buy more? Tip: Pick up a bread with 'whole … [Read more...] about 3 Grocery Store Tips for Good Nutrition!
Store Food Wisely for Good Nutrition & Saving Money!
Why it Matters Food is most flavorful and nutrient-rich when eaten at its peak quality. That's why most of us spend time sorting through lemons, turning over broccoli florets and sifting through fresh loaves of bread before putting them in our grocery cart. Fresh is something everyone wants! What to Store at Room Temp Tomatoes, avocados, garlic, potatoes, onions, bananas, and unripe melons will be fresher if stored at room temperature. Once cut, wrap them up and place in the fridge. Then, eat in a day or two. How You Can Save By storing food in its 'sweet spot' for light, … [Read more...] about Store Food Wisely for Good Nutrition & Saving Money!
Pizza Works as a Tasty, Healthy Meal!
Pizza Ingredients to Love! What goes on top of your pizza crust? On mine, at the left, are these: Layer 1: homemade basil pesto, spread on thinly Layer 2: canned tuna, flaked apart with a fork Layer 3: canned, quartered artichoke hearts, drained of water Layer 4: fresh tomato wedges Layer 5: Parmesan cheese, roughly grated, sprinkled on thinly Pizza Meal-Makers to Add! While you could rightly argue that all the nutritious food groups are sitting on this pizza, I still feel better and fill up better with a couple of side items at my homemade pizza meal. Normally, I go … [Read more...] about Pizza Works as a Tasty, Healthy Meal!