Posts Tagged ‘ healthy eating ’

Be In the Know About Organic Cooking

Jun 16th, 2008 | By Food Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

Organic CookingI am fascinated with eco-friendly products, from clothing to vehicles to finding new ways to make life more organic and environmentally safe. Now I can cook organically with foods purchased at a local farmer’s market and specialty grocery stores.

There are a lot of different and amazing foods out there with various benefits and flavors that can enhance all of your meals. The Organic Cook’s Bible is just the thing to have on your kitchen counter.

When I first leafed through this book, I was excited to see a lot of new items I didn’t know about and how easy it was to incorporate into my meals. I love trying new recipes, and this book not only provides details of the fruits, vegetables and meats, but it also gives delicious recipes with a twist, such as Rosemary Pesto. It also teaches you how to pick the best produce when grocery shopping.

Organic produce is free from conventional pesticides, fertilizers, fecal matter, and any type of sludge from the sewers (are you grossed out yet?). Animals have not been fed hormones or antibiotics, which can still exist in the meat eaten by humans. When labeled organic, the food has followed strict rules and regulations and have been certified to be free of such possible contaminants.

I purchased this book and love it! It’s a great book to have at the coffee table as well for friends and guests to skim through. I refer to i before grocery shopping to see what new dishes I can cook up. Take a step towards a more organic lifestyle by eating organically. Remember, you are what you eat.


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Chew On This

May 25th, 2008 | By Food Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

Chew On ThisWe eat to live, not live to eat. We also tend to mindlessly munch on snacks during computer or television time, as well as wolf down a meal when we are rushed and especially hungry. Sometimes we feel sad and start to eat. A lot. What happened to experiencing our food?

A step to greater satisfaction with food and better weight management is mindful eating. While it is hard, try to have one meal or snack where you are truly enjoying the texture, taste, and smell of what you are eating. You will soon realize that only three bites will have you satiated and full.

To enjoy your food, here are a few things to think about before chowing down:

How hungry are you? Assess your hunger level and determine how much you should eat before you even put anything on your plate. Therefore you already took a mindful first step towards control.

Eat slowly That means setting your utensil down before you take another bite. It takes longer but gives you time to chew, taste, and swallow.

Really taste the food Let the flavors dance in your mouth. Feel the texture along your tongue and palate. Observe the colors. By doing so, you will notice your taste satiety, and become fuller faster.

Stop before you are full It takes your body some time to signal to your brain that you are full, so start listening more carefully to your body. If you feel full, you probably ate too much already.

For a list of great foods to include and enjoy in your diet, check out my post on five foods that can change your life.


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Five Foods That Will Change Your Life

May 5th, 2008 | By Style Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

Make these five foods a staple in your regular diet, and you will reap the benefits.

Living in a world that currently has the most opportunities for us, we should make it a responsibility of ours to be discriminating eaters. We make 20 food choices a day, which makes about 7,300 choices a year, all which are open opportunities to do something wonderful for ourselves. We can choose foods that we love, and make sure that the foods love us back.
five foods that will change your life

1. Blueberries

Our bodies go through constant oxidation as free radicals are developed, causing damage over time. Oxidation comes with time, by the toxins we take in, foods we eat, and aging. The more oxidation that occurs, the increased risk of heart disease, cancer and signs of aging that will develop. Antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, vitamins E, A, and C, prevent and slow down oxidation. Supplements are good, but natural foods are better. Blueberries contain vitamin C, folic acid, fiber, and tons of antioxidants. Studies have shown it helps improve short-term memory, and half a cup is only about 40 calories. You can’t beat that. It is always best to eat them as fresh as possible.

2. Olive Oil

I know there have always been antagonists against fat, but olive oil is a good fat. There are three types of natural fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated. Mono- and polyunsaturated fats are good for the heart, as it lowers your bad cholesterol. Extra virgin olive oil is the best, as it is processed without chemicals or added heat. It contains polyphenolics, which are a kind of antioxidant that prevents oxidation. Olive oil tastes great in salads, as part of a marinade, or a great dipping sauce for whole grain breads.

3. Broccoli

This is one of the more popular vegetables in our culture. It helps the immune system and prevents heart disease due to the phytonutrients it contains. It also has vitamins A and C, as well as calcium and folate. Make sure it is cooked lightly so you do not lose the nutrients in the cooking process. They are great tossed in salads, raw with some salad dressing, or in a stir-fry dish.

4. Whole Wheat Bread

Whole grains are vital sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber that help prevent the risk of heart disease, cancer and even diabetes. The trick with finding good whole wheat bread is through the ingredient list. The first ingredient should be some whole grain, whether it is rye or oat or whatever it may be. Some breads can trick people because the bag screams heart healthiness, but its first ingredient is bleached enriched wheat flour, which is far inferior to the ones I’m talking about.

5. Salmon

Our bodies cannot make omega-3 fatty acids, so we have to get them from outside sources. These fatty acids help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Salmon is a rich source for such fatty acids, and also provide vitamins A, C, and B6, along with riboflavin, calcium, iron, and protein. It’s incredibly easy to cook salmon if you are in a rush, and there are many ways to prepare it. I like to smother it with Dijon mustard, garlic, Italian herbs, and lemon juice and then pop it in the broiler. Delicious!

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Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy!

Apr 7th, 2008 | By Food Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

eat_drink_be Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy!

Read this book to gain knowledge and tools on living a healthier and better life.

I just finished Walter Willett and Patrick Skerrett’s Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy. The book is essential for someone who is serious about changing the way they eat and how they shop for food. I loved how the book starts off by breaking down the myth about the food pyramid that used to dominate our diets and how it breaks into chapters focusing on what is healthy weight, how fat can be good for you, the differences between carbohydrates, and even includes delicious recipes. It has up to the minute nutrition studies about how our bodies work and what our bodies need to live a healthy life. It provides us the knowledge and tools so that we can make better choices in our lives regarding what we digest. In a single day, we have several dozen choices regarding food. Can we make the better choice?