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Making Smart Food Choices With Practical Foods
By Tony Robinson, Tue Jan 10th
Everyone who is trying to follow a healthy eating lifestyleunderstands the need to buy quality, healthy and practicalfoods. Practical foods are those foods that are not only healthybut whose benefits extend beyond their mere nutritional value.Such foods are easy to use, and useful in a number of differentrecipes. Healhty, practical foods, when used on a regular basis,form a great part of a healthy diet, and may even lower the riskof heart disease, cancer and other common illnesses. One great practical food is the humble tomato. It may not lookmuch like an orange, but the tomato is actually a citrus fruitas well. As such, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and otherantioxidants. In addition, tomatoes are a rich source oflycopene, which has shown promise in preventing certain kinds ofcancer. In addition, tomatoes are easy to use, versatile, andinexpensive. In addition to fresh, in season tomatoes, which aredelicious as well as nutritious, tomatoes are available incanned and frozen varieties as well. Tomatoes can be used in somany different ways, and in so many different recipes, that itis always a good idea to have a supply of them on hand in thepantry or the fridge.
Pastas, especially the whole wheat varieties of pastas, areanother great example of functional foods. Pastas can also beused in a variety of ways, from simple preparations with simpletomato based sauces, to elaborate creations using shrimp, tunaand other seafood. Of course, pasta dishes can be healthy or unhealthy, dependingon how they are topped. Toppings such as Alfredo sauce or richcream sauces, should be avoided when trying to follow a healthydiet. As with all foods, such heavy sauces are fine inmoderation, but they should not form the bulk of your diet. Luckily, there are lower fat alternatives to many high fat pastasauces, and these low fat alternatives should be used wheneverpossible. Substituting lower fat alternatives for fatty,unhealthy foods is an important skill when it comes to creatinga healthy diet. Whole grain breads, flours and grains are also good examples ofhellathy, practical foods. Stocking up on these staples whenthey are on sale will help ensure that you have everything youneed to create the most healthy possible for yourselfand your family. Whole grain products should be substituted for more highlyrefined breads and cereals whenever possible, since whole grainbreads, cereals and grains retain more of their importantnutrients than do more highly refined foods. Starting a healthy eating program using practical foods is easy.Start by taking a personal inventory of your current diet,including where it is good and where it can use someimprovement. Learn to assess the personal health risks createdby your current diet (your family physician can be of particularhelp here). A physician or dietitian can be a big help inputting together a list of healthy, easy to use, practical foodsyou can use to change your diet for the better. It
is also a good idea to use your interest in healthy eating tocreate and use exciting new recipes. There are a great manyhealthy eating available, both on the internet and incookbooks. Seek out some of these and try using yourfavorite healthy staples to create some wonderful dishes. For some ideas on how to use practical foods morning, noon andnight, try some of these great ideas: Breakfast: Include some healthy staples, and somehealthy fruits in your breakfast. For instance, pair healthyoatmeal with blueberries, or whole wheat or wheat bran cerealwith strawberries or bananas. Try mixing a healthycereal like All Bran into your nonfat or low fat yogurt. It willperk up your plain yogurt and give it a great crunch. Fresh fruit is also a great addition to yogurt. Try buyingplain, nonfat yogurt and mixing in your own raspberries,blueberries and strawberries. You will save money and enjoy ahealthy breakfast. Instead of high fat butter, spreadyour toast with apple butter or soy nut butter instead. Alwaystry to use whole grain varieties of bread like wheat or rye.Drink a glass of 100% fruit juice with breakfast everyday. Orange juice, grape juice, apple juice and grapefruit juiceare all great choices. Blend 1% milk or soy milk withfresh pineapple for a healhy, delicious breakfast smoothie.These smoothies are great for people on the go. Lunch and dinner ideas Make a great tuna salad withgrated carrots, green peppers, red peppers, garlic and onion.Make a dish of fresh whole grain pasta and top it willhomemade tomato sauce and fresh home grown herbs. Usehealthy foods like onions and leeks, along with tomatoes, as agreat side dish. Grill healthy fish and serve with ahealthy side salad. Try some low fat soups like spinachand broccoli soup. Make a great vegetable stir fry witholive oil. Healthy snacks Of course no plan for healthy eating is completewithout some great healthy snacks. Below are some of ourfavorite healthy snacks for those on the go. A piece of fresh fruit, like an apple, orange orbanana, always makes a great snack. Keep a bowl of fruit on yourkitchen counter for easy access. Try mixing nuts anddried fruit for a great homemade trail mix. Hikers and nonhikers alike will enjoy this healthy snack. Treatyourself to a great glass of orange, tomato or cranberry juicebefore you leave the house in the morning. Keep asupply of broccoli florets, baby carrots and other bite sizevegetables, and some healthy dip, on hand. Make yourown fruit salad with oranges, bananas, raspberries, blueberries,strawberries and other favorites.
About the author:Tony Robinson is a Company CEO, webmaster husband and dad. Inhis busy lifestyle he has placed importance on health andfitness. Visit http://www.eat-healthily.com for good eating tipsand techniques to assist you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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