Make Healthy School Lunches
All kids should have a healthy school lunch, but many schools just won’t provide it for one reason or another. If your kids’ school won’t provide a healthy lunch, it’s up to the parents to come up with a healthy lunch from home. Since this is your kid’s health we are talking about, I believe packing a lunch is well worth the effort! The Sandwich There’s something special about the simple yet delicious taste of a sandwich. You can make it as healthy as you want, and it doesn’t need to be too complex. I suggest using whole wheat bread, using a brand that doesn’t use a lot of ingredients or any processed sugars. Avoid using white bread at all costs! Here’s some quick and easy sandwiches that you can make for your kids for their school lunches: • Deli – Get...
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How Carrie Underwood Lost 20 Pounds And Kept it Off!
American Idol = Weight Gain Carrie Underwood, along with many contestants who compete on American Idol, gain weight during the show. The contestants gain the weight for several reasons, such as the stress of the competition, bad food given to them, and long bouts of waiting for their vocal coaches to work with them. Carrie ended up gaining a total of 20 pounds! How Carrie Underwood Lost 20 Pounds Carrie has a simple yet effective approach to her weight loss. It worked well for her, and maybe it will work for you too! Of course, to make any weight loss program work, you have to just stick to it and be consistent! • Start a Food Journal – Carrie Underwood bought a spiral notebook (nothing fancy or expensive!) and just started to write down every little thing she ate. “I discovered...
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Nutrition For Dummies vs. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Total Nutrition
I have found that many people would like to learn more about Nutrition and how to eat healthier, but they just don’t know where to start. I am a huge advocate on becoming self-educated, especially when it comes to Nutrition. You need to know how to take care of yourself! To help you get started with your Nutrition education, I have reviewed the following two books: -Nutrition for Dummies (4th Edition) written by Carol Ann Rinzler -The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Total Nutrition (4th Edition) written by Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N. I have provided a complete list of the table of contents, and my review for each book. In the end, you make the call on which book would be right for you. I’ll also give you my opinion about which one I would choose! Table Of Contents...
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Best and Worst Food at The Cheesecake Factory
Let’s talk about the best and worst meals from The Cheesecake Factory that you should take a chance on. Oh wait, there’s no way of really knowing what is the healthiest choice, since The Cheesecake Factory is über secretive about their calorie and overall nutritional information. Why? Probably because you would be shocked and disgusted with the amount of calories, fat, and sodium used…and might not go there anymore. Whatever their reasons are, here’s an idea of what the nutrition information is for some meals at The Cheesecake Factory. I wish I could provide more details, but I only had so much to work with! Please note that all of the nutrition information that is provided in this article may not be 100% accurate, since The Cheesecake Factory doesn’t provide any official nutritional information! Check out their statement below: At this time,...
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Is McDonald’s® Healthy Now?
Earlier this week, McDonald’s® announced that they are launching what they call, “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices.” Does this mean that McDonald’s is now a healthy place for you and your kids to eat? Highlights from McDonald’s® Press Release Here’s a quick look at a little piece of the press release: Menu changes underway include the addition of more nutritionally-balanced choices that meet McDonald’s reputation for great taste and affordability, along with an increased focus on providing nutrition information that enable customers and employees to make simple, informed menu decisions. – McDonald’s® Main Changes Coming to McDonald’s® 1) McDonald’s will start to include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal®. The new Happy Meal will automatically include both produce (apple slices, a quarter cup or half serving) and a new smaller size French fries (1.1 ounces) along...
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Why You Should (Still!) Eat Raw Sprouts
Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritionally dense foods in the world. Once you understand how healthy sprouts are, you would agree that they are an amazing super food that everyone should be eating – preferably raw. What are the Risks of Eating Raw Sprouts? In recent news, the media has deemed it unsafe to consume raw or slightly cooked sprouts due to a fairly recent salmonella or E. coli outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory warning consumers of the possible risks of eating raw sprouts. In my opinion, these warnings were created based on misunderstanding and fear rather than logic and reality. Let me explain… The FDA discovered that the seeds and beans themselves are usually what cause the salmonella or E. coli breakouts in the first place – not the sprouts. If bacteria is...
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Why Energy Drinks aren’t Safe
Have you ever read the ingredients list and nutrition facts for popular energy drinks? I am betting that most of you don’t even know what half of those ingredients are, because if you did… you wouldn’t even consider drinking an energy drink again. What’s in Energy Drinks? Here’s a list of common ingredients used in popular energy drinks Inositol – This has been known to raise phosphorus levels, which results in calcium deficiency if taken in excess. Niacin/Niacinamide – These are forms of vitamin B3, which you actually don’t want to take too much of since it can cause some serious health concerns (such as vomiting and diarrhea). Caffeine – This is a common drug which studies have proven that it raises your heart rate and blood pressure. This can be extremely dangerous for those who have high blood pressure already, and...
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Health Benefits of Berries
One of my favorite things about Summer is the abundance of all sorts of berries! Plus, since the Affordable Care Act is getting more attention, more folks are trying to practice healthy habits. With that being said, I decided that it would be a good idea to highlight some of my favorite benefits of berries, which I hope will encourage you to continue eating these delicious Summer treats! Strawberry – This berry is full of vitamins C, K, B1, B6 iodine, pantothenic acid, manganese, biotin, and folic acid. Strawberries have been linked to the prevention of coronary heart diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Açaí berry – This berry is full of antioxidants, which helps with the removal of harmful toxins in the body. When you remove toxins from the body, it prevents you from feeling lethargic. If you aren’t feeling lethargic, you’ll be more likely to...
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Best and Worst Food at Panera Bread
When you (occasionally) eat out, it’s important for you to understand what the best option is at the place you are eating. Best Food at Panera Bread You have plenty of healthy choices at Panera Bread, you just need to know which ones you should choose and which ones you should pass up. Here’s a couple of healthier items that you may want to consider the next time you choose to eat out. Tuna Salad on Honey Wheat – Full If you are looking for a yummy sandwich without all the guilt, this is it! Calories: 470 Total Fat: 16 g Protein: 19 g Sodium: 980 mg Carbohydrates: 65 g Fiber: 5 g Smoked Turkey Breast on Country – Full You can have a whole sandwich for 420 calories (unlike others, where you would have to order a half sized to...
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Healthiest Fats and Oils
Fats and oils can be either really bad for you or they can actually be really good for you – You just need to learn which ones to choose to incorporate in your diet. Oh, and when I say “diet”, I really mean how you choose to eat for the rest of your life. Your Body Needs Fat A lot of people don’t realize that your body needs fats and oils, and if you pick the right type, it can be extremely beneficial for your health. Your body needs fat! Good fat helps to protect and hold your organs in place, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver. Fat helps insulate and regulate body heat, helps your brain function properly, and initiates a hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK), which contributes to satiety (helps you feel full). Now that you know...
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