The Why? There are probably more than 100 reasons why to eat more vegetables. I don't want to get boring or teachy-preachy, though. So, I'm going to boil it down to 10 quick reasons why: 1.Colors 2. Flavors 3. Crunch 4. Creamy 5. Sweet 6. Delicious 7. Filling 8. Fun shapes 9. Inexpensive 10. Nutritious The How? There are at least 50 ways to eat more vegetables. Here are 10 of my favorites: 1. Add some sliced cucumbers to your breakfast. 2. Pack a big handful of carrots, radishes, celery into your lunch. 3. Keep a couple cans of tomato juice or V8 in … [Read more...] about How to Eat More Vegetables
Name that Fruit/Veggie: A Game of Healthy Choices!
Game Rules: 1. Look at what I bought at my local Farmer's Market yesterday. 2. Try to name everything. 3. Try to work each fruit/veggie into a healthy meal or snack. Hints: 1. Fresh fruits can be a part of breakfast, lunch or dinner...or, a snack. One easy way to prepare them is to wash in cold tap water, peel (depending on the fruit) and eat. 2. Fresh veggies can be eaten raw, in most cases, or cooked. One easy way to cook them is to wash in cold tap water, cut and microwave. Solution to the Game (left to right): 1. Santa Rosa Plums - Very sweet and a tiny bit tart. … [Read more...] about Name that Fruit/Veggie: A Game of Healthy Choices!
Easy Breakfast Recipe with Blueberries!
Blueberry Nutrition is Awesome No doubt about it - there is a ton of good nutrition in blueberries. Fresh ones from your backyard or the local Farmer's Market taste best; however, even the frozen store brand at your grocery store are loaded with awesome nutrition. In one cup (fresh or frozen), there are only 85 calories, 4 grams fiber and 1 gram protein. All this comes without any fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol or sodium. Sound good? What's even better is that hiding beneath its great nutrition is powerful antioxidant value in every serving of blueberries. To learn about … [Read more...] about Easy Breakfast Recipe with Blueberries!
Grocery Shopping 101: Fruits
Why Fruit? Good nutrition is all about enjoyment and variety. Fruit is a crowd pleaser as it offers variety, healthy carbs, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water. A big bonus in fruit is the natural sweetness as well as an abundance of antioxidants. These natural plant elements can strengthen all your health and help guard against heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and inflammation-- a sweet deal! Grocery Store Tips 1. Enter the store with a list of at least 3-5 fruits for your shopping cart. Choose 2 fruits that are in-season and then add 1-3 more colors to the mix. Remember, … [Read more...] about Grocery Shopping 101: Fruits
Seasonal Vegetables = Smart Choices
What's in season now? Fields of vegetables are growing strong in Monterey County's Salinas Valley of California right now. It is a sight to see -- spinach, lettuces, fennel, artichokes, carrots and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower stretch for miles on end. Why is seasonal a smart choice? Seasonal produce is a great choice for satisfying flavors and top-notch nutrition. Shop for the abundance from California as well as the local region of North Carolina. It's a wonderful way to appreciate what America's agricultural areas are doing for us every single day. … [Read more...] about Seasonal Vegetables = Smart Choices
Need a Nutritional Goal? Vary Your Food Colors!
Looking for a Nutritional Goal? A fun, visual goal is to add more colors to your meal plate. This just happens to be the theme of this month's National Nutrition Month ~ Eat Right With Color ~ and, handy tools can help. If you have already mastered the colorful food goal, then try this online Rate Your Plate challenge to target a different, positive nutrition goal. Even for those who eat well, there are usually areas for improvement. Perhaps you need more fiber, more vitamin D, less salt or less saturated fat. It's always best to choose and work on one goal at a time for realistic and … [Read more...] about Need a Nutritional Goal? Vary Your Food Colors!