Motivate Yourself to Eat Healthy

Posted on 23 February 2009 by Summer

Ronnie Nijmeh asked:




Eating healthy is something that we all know is important to our well-being yet, instead of preparing healthy meals, we stop at the drive-thru or we eat packaged foods or fried foods that are high in saturated fat and carbohydrates.

If we indulged every once in awhile it probably wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but too many of us indulge in these foods all the time and we are paying for it in the way of declining health and weight gain. Poor diet has even been linked to depression, so eating healthy really is important. Healthy affirmations can help your eating habit improve and can lead to a healthy lifestyle starting today!

Health Affirmations Pick up Where Will Power Leaves Off

Will power is not something that you can rely on alone when you are trying to make a positive lifestyle change. Everywhere you go there will be temptations to eat foods that aren’t all that good for you and it can be hard to resist every time. Instead of relying on will power alone, strive to have the support of loved ones or a personal coach. You can also begin using positive affirmations to stay focused on your goals.

Affirmations are statements of your ideal behavior, feeling, response, and actions. You can use these health affirmations as a personal mantra to get you to where you want to be where your diet is concerned.

Your health affirmations could be something as simple as, “When I eat well, I feel well.” Other people need to establish their power over food so something such as, “I have the power to choose the foods that will nourish my body. I am in control of my choices!”

As you can see, these are very straight-forward statements and when you believe in them they give you the power to change your life by making the right dietary choices. You can use your health affirmations as a sort of backup, so if your will power wanes, you’ll still be able to make the right food choices between your support network and your positive affirmations!

The problem that a lot of people have when it comes to eating healthy is that we say to ourselves, “one piece won’t hurt” or “I already messed up today so it doesn’t matter” but these are negative thoughts that actually work against your goal to feed your body the food it needs to nourish and energize you.

When you use positive affirmations, you can avoid temptation and turn negative thoughts or thoughts of defeat into positive ones. When you use free positive affirmations or affirmations that you create yourself, you give yourself power over the temptation that you likely have never had before.

Health affirmations work, so long as you believe in them. When looking for free positive affirmations that you will use, make sure you believe them. If you can say them genuinely, you are more likely to follow through in both thoughts and actions.

Remember that even with affirmations you may not always be perfect, and that’s what your support network is for. With the help of positive affirmations and your loving support system, you have the power to change your life, one food choice at a time.

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Why Eat Healthy? – Tips to Help

Posted on 16 February 2009 by Summer

MaryLee Leahy asked:




As I get older I realized I am reaching that critical age. I hear of more and more people around my age suffering from blocked arteries, having to have heart by pass surgery or have had heart attacks and I’m only in my 40’s! Scary!

More young people are suffering from illness that used to only happen in the older generation. People in their late 60’s, 70’s or higher, not before they reached 50 and definitely not while they were in their 40’s.

They say people are living longer but in what condition are they living in I ask?

Today’s society expects easy assessable food therefore people are eating convenient food rather than cooking. It is easier to stop off and grab a ready made meal, fast foods or take away on the way home, than to cook.

Also more people are eating out, going to bars and restaurants for their meals. But all this means is, they are eating foods that are higher in fats and sugars or meals in lovely rich sauces, which are high in fats or food that is high in cholesterol such as seafood.

Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying you cannot enjoy these types of food, but not on a daily basis.

Eating these types of meals every day can lead to higher cholesterol levels, diabetes, blocked arteries and heart problems to name a few. Today these have become a young person’s illness.

I know myself I have cut my family back on our fat intake and am looking at a healthier way of cooking and preparing our meals.

Yes I am cooking more meals rather than going out or buying convenient ready made meals.

I look at healthier choices such as lean meats, adding more fish and poultry and less red meats. I have even started having more vegetarian meals but I still like to get my protein from meat so will not completely cut meat from our diets. I have no problems with vegetarians, that’s great it is your choice but I like meat.

I am also looking at healthier oils over butter and lard. I prefer to use light oils when cooking and olive oil in dressings as the olive oil is better for you when it has not been cooked.

Try to cut back on sauces and use more herbs and spices for flavours.

When making a sandwich choose healthier bread or buns such as whole grain or brown over white. Use more filling and flavourings such as chopped herbs or ground seasonings (not salt) or pickle spreads that are low in salt and sugars, and cut out the use of butter or margarine.

Remove the skin from your chicken pieces when cooking or when you roast a chicken then remove the skin once cooked do not eat it. I know it’s tempting to eat but it is high in fat! This goes for turkey, goose and duck as well.

Trim the fat off your meat to make it leaner or if it comes cooked with the fat on then don’t eat the fat, cut it off. Fat is fat and you are only needing a little amount for a healthy body, and you will get enough from the meat itself.

Having a healthier lifestyle is easy and by using these little tips will be a good place to start from.

Remember we are supposed to live longer so let us do it with a healthy body. Stop abusing your body with foods it cannot cope with and go healthier. Your body will love you for it.

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Tips For Eating Healthy on a Budget

Posted on 11 February 2009 by Summer

Jen Turner asked:




Eating healthy on a budget is not that difficult – it just takes some planning! Many people think that eating healthy means that you have to spend extra time cooking night after night coming up with fancy meals – but that is far from the truth! In fact, healthy meals can often be made very quickly and inexpensively.

Compared with dining out, cooking a healthy meal at home each night is not only better for your family but will save you money. When you eat out you really don’t know what ingredients are going into the food you are ordering and even if it looks healthy there could be many additives in there that simply are not good for you. The only way to really know what you are feeding your family is to make it yourself.

You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to get your family eating healthy on a budget. Some of the best and most healthy meals are actually quite economical! Foods such as pasta, rice and bean based meals with added vegetables and protein can be put together rather quickly without breaking your budget.

If you have children then it can become difficult to avoid junk food. Television commercials and magazines inundate kids with messages about junk food disguised as nutritious food, and often you are so worn out at the end of the day that it just seems easier to go out for fast food. Now, doing that once a month might be OK but if you are doing it once or more per week then you are not only spending too much money but you are eating too many unhealthy meals.

The best way to ensure that you are eating healthy on a budget is to plan your meals in advance and then start shopping for healthy ingredients around the sales. Start looking through some of your cookbooks or online for some healthy recipes or simply experiment by making your favorite recipes healthier. Experiment by using low fat ingredients such as reduced fat cheese in recipes, try cooking brown rice instead of white and whole wheat pastas. Another good substitute is baking cookies with whole wheat flour. Around here we enjoy peanut butter cookies and oatmeal cookies baked with whole wheat flour and you can’t tell the difference.

These are just a few tips for eating healthy on a budget. Get creative in your kitchen and you should be able to come up with several more!

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Eating Healthy

Posted on 09 February 2009 by Summer

P Banas asked:




During her pregnancy, your spouse eats for herself as well as for the baby. She requires not just an increase in the quantity of food she eats, but food that is nutritious, to help the fetus grow and develop.

Below is a list of the components she requires in her pregnancy diet, along with their common food sources:

Carbohydrates: These constitute the body’s main source of energy. Common sources include potatoes, rice, cereals, beans, bran, and pasta.

Protein: Protein is essential for the production and growth of cells in the body. It is found in meat, dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk, eggs, soy, food grains, and legumes.

Fat: Fat is a source of energy and aids the absorption and digestion of fat-soluble vitamins. It is found in meat, vegetable oils, cream, butter, margarine, nuts, and peanut butter.

Calcium: Calcium is used for building strong bones and teeth. Its common sources include dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt, calcium-fortified orange juice, soy products such as tofu, and nuts.

Vitamin A: It ensures healthy skin, eyes, and bones. Common sources include carrots and leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B6: It is essential for the formation of red blood cells. It is found in chicken, pork, ham, nuts, green beans, wheat germ, and bananas.

Vitamin C: It has a role in maintaining health of the gums, teeth, and bones. Common sources include citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.

Vitamin D: It helps in the absorption of calcium and maintains teeth and bones. It is found in fortified dairy products, margarine, cereals, and bread.

Folic Acid: It is essential for the production and maintenance of cells and for cell division, especially during pregnancy. It is found in spinach, leafy vegetables, beans, peas, fortified breakfast cereals, and sunflower seeds.

Eat Healthy