A Happy Healthy You in 2010: Tip 2

Healthy Food Bytes: A Happy Healthy You in 2010

Acquire new healthy habits.

Healthy Tip 2
Don’t Skip Breakfast

Make sure you eat a healthful breakfast before you leave the house every day. This way you won’t depend on a Grande Latte to fill you up in the morning. Coffee is not a substitute for nutritious food. People’s metabolisms vary – some need a substantial breakfast and some will do fine on a lighter breakfast. But, substantial does not necessarily mean eggs and bacon every day.

When you skip breakfast – or any meal - you may think you are reducing your calories, therefore, preventing weight gain, but on the contrary, when you skip a meal, your body goes into starvation mode and slow metabolism, therefore, causing weight gain. Just make your meals the right kind of meals, and you will achieve an ideal weight. We were not all made to be skinny-wafes. So that should not be your goal.

What is a healthful breakfast?
The ideal breakfast will give you quick energy and long lasting energy.

Oatmeal is probably my favorite breakfast. I add a hand full of walnuts or pecans or almonds for long lasting energy and dried cranberries or dried cherries for quick energy. In the summertime – it’s fresh blueberries. Oh, and I love a sprinkle of all natural coconut flakes – no not the kind that you can buy at Wallmart. I get mine at Natural Grocers or Whole Foods. I do not add any sweetener – you can get used to this. I buy old fashioned oats, but there are some instants that are ok – i.e. Nature’s Path. They are low in sugar and have about 4grams of fiber per serving.

Don’t have time to make oatmeal – Try whole grain toast – I prefer sprouted grains – with peanut butter – a little honey and sliced banana on top. It’s better than a jelly donut or a pop tart.

Speaking of pop tarts – don’t even buy them. If they are not in you house, then you will not be able to cop-out for a quick breakfast of junk food.

Another quick breakfast is plain yogurt topped with whole grain granola and ½ cup of berries – you won’t miss the sugar in the flavored yogurt varieties. If you must sweeten, use a little Agave Nectar. This time of year, I just buy organic frozen berries b/c regular is so darn expensive.

I buy organic whenever possible and reasonable. I give up eating out a lot, so that I can budget for clean, pure foods. Plus, I like my homemade cooking a lot better ;-)

For you egg lovers – here’s how to make them more healthful –
Beat one whole egg and one egg white (or 2 for you bigger eaters) add a teaspoon of water and scramble. Then, sautee onions, bell pepper, fresh spinach and combine for a full serving of vegetables. Add a little sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. For an extra kick, add a touch of cayenne or hot sauce.

Thanks for reading Healthy Food Bytes: A Happy Healthy You in 2010

A Happy Healthy You in 2010: Tip 1

Healthy Food Bytes: A Happy Healthy You in 2010

Acquire new healthy habit this coming year.

Healthy Tip 1
Plan ahead and stock your fridge with healthful grabs that you’ll have access to all week.

Carrot sticks
Cucumber slices
Red Bell Pepper slices
Radish pieces
Sugar snap peas
Celery Sticks

You can put a little of each in a small container or zip lock bags and store for weekly use.
Just grab one on your way to work. My confession – Sometimes I use a little (very little) ranch dressing b/c it just makes me eat more veggies.

Or, put each veggie in containers separately for quick grabs. I love non-hydrogenated peanut butter on celery and I love carrot sticks, red bell pepper sticks and cucumber with hummus (see previous posts for hummus recipes).

Take short cuts by buying pre-cut veggies. But remember, they will cost more.

Clean and chop dark green leafy veggies and store in zip lock bags for easy grabs all week. Sprinkle a little feta cheese, a few Klamata olives, pecans, and your favorite vinaigrette. You can buy it pre-washed and pre-chopped. If it’s pre-washed and pre-chopped in your fridge, you’ll be more likely to eat it more often. Try to eat at least one green leafy salad every day. Don’t overdo the salad dressing. About 2 tablespoons max for one serving.

Protein you should have on hand for easy access:
Keep boiled eggs in the fridge for the week. Use in salads or as a morning snack.

Keep nuts on hand – my favorites are Walnuts, Pecans, sliced Almonds. Sprinkle them on salads, add to your oatmeal or cereal. A small handful of nuts should be enough – they are high in fat – but good fat, which are vital to good health.

If you don’t like a particular veggie or nut, may I suggest you try them on a regular basis. You may acquire a taste for them if you keep trying. They are so good for you. And, eating a variety is very important to getting maximum amount of nutrients. We need a variety of nutrients on a regular basis to help fight sickness and diseases.

Thanks for reading Healthy Food Bytes: A Happy Healthy You in 2010