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Maybe you can’t get enough of rich chocolate treats, or maybe you are just a sucker for suckers! The truth of the matter is that the sweet tooth craving dates back to a time when humans had to fight to get as much fat and sugar into their diets as possible. What was a great mechanism when we were still fighting to establish reliable housing and agriculture has turned around to bite us when we are trying to eat healthy!

When you get a bit of that sweet Read the rest of this entry »

With the rise of obesity and other lifestyle-related health problems, Americans are becoming increasingly health conscious. To accommodate this trend, green-themed supermarkets are taking root everywhere. Here are the Top 5 Healthiest Grocery Stores:

1. Whole Foods
This chain of natural-foods grocers has become nationally recognized for their commitment to providing organic fruits, vegetables and healthier alternatives to processed foods. They also carry some hard to find items including grass-fed meats, fresh seafood and free-range chicken.

2. Safeway
This grocery store Read the rest of this entry »

Staying healthy can be a challenge, especially when confronted with a tempting menu of decadent meals while dining out with friends or family. With a little practice, you can be sure of finding the healthiest foods on any menu to keep you feeling your best.

Valuable Veggies
Vegetable based dishes are always a sound choice because they tend to be high in nutirents and fiber, and low in calories. Look for fresh salad options, or hot dishes that include the words “steamed” or “roasted.” Avoid any dishes that feature a cream sauce or cream based dressings however, since these types of dishes are always packed with fat and cholesterol.

Great Grains
If you’re considering a pasta dish, opt for more whole grain dishes, like rice, quinoa, cous cous, or whole wheat pastas. Traditional semolina pastas are typically in a similar calorie range to their whole grain counterparts, but they lack the added nutritional value that the fiber and protein in whole grain options bring to the table.

Ask Questions
When considering your menu options, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your server is there to guide you, and the more specific you are about your dietary needs, the better they will be able to help you find the right choice. At many restaurants, you can request sauces or dressings to be served on the side, or omitted entirely. Try to season your salad and main dishes with a scant amount of olive oil and salt, and plenty of fresh black pepper. It might take a few tries to adjust your palate to this lighter way of eating, but your waistline will thank you.

Eating healthy means staying healthy, and staying healthy in the long run is an important goal for your and your family. Good nutritional choices now can limit your risks for major disease in the future, and ultimately result in a longer, happier life, lower insurance premiums, and fewer visits to the doctor. Choose wisely, and bon appetit!

This article is contributed by http://www.termlifeonly.com/.

There are phone aps to help you make healthy choices. They can determine calories based on pictures of individual items on a plate or the entire dinner plate. Some will “grade” the healthiness of your food by scanning the barcode on the product.

Just like eating junk food because it is convenient or available on the way home, you can make the healthy food choices available instead. Put granola and power bars in place of your candy bars. Keep a few nuts and wheat Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us take great care in purchasing the best produce we can buy, whether for us that means a smart selection between two brands, choosing a different market, or going straight to the source. What many of us do not often consider are the benefits of growing our own produce instead. One of the reasons we seek out natural, organic, whole foods in the first place is to avoid putting things in to our bodies that can be unnecessary or even Read the rest of this entry »

People wanting to eat healthier can start by making grocery lists that have healthier foods on them. Most grocery stores have natural food sections where people can pick up products made without additives. While there are some foods your family might be reluctant to change, you can still find many products which you can substitute for healthier ones. For instance, there are a number of products made using soy instead of real meat. The soy burgers are better for you than burgers made from red meat.Never heard of this before? Get up to Read the rest of this entry »

Getting kids to choose fresh apple slices smeared with reduced fat peanut butter over a chocolate caramel candy bar may take a little time and effort on your part, but it is doable. Involving your kids in choosing healthy food options is the first step to getting them there.
Take your kids along on grocery shopping trips and get them involved in making decisions for family meals. Take the opportunity to teach them about the different fruits and vegetables in the produce department and how to select the best produce. Make a game of it by trying a new fruit Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing to eat healthy is a wise decision, but saving money while eating fruits and vegetables can be somewhat troublesome to those who are not sure how to buy the best produce. Smart produce shopping is not difficult if you are willing to put in a bit of effort.

The best thing to do is to buy as much local produce from local growers as possible. Look for farmer’s markets and fresh market days in your local newspaper or on the Internet. Frequently, there will be local producers selling excess to the general Read the rest of this entry »