You think your are eating healthy?

Tina - posted on 07/29/2011

I need to be smart here myself, being diabetic, and having osteopenia as well. So I do little to eating of the sweets and the chocolate, i.e. I avoid them as I can't have them. That helps there if I stay away from the extra carbs in the starches . Use real fruits and make your own juice if you can do so. Avoid the caffiene and sugars if at all possible, or at least be very careful what you do allow yourself to eat. Small portions are key here and not always easy to do. Avoid the extra helpings of the food, and save for a second or third meal if needed . Fresh foods, are better and yes they do take a bit more time in preparation but are worth it if you can manage the time to do so. Use a little honey for sweetner instead of the artificial sweetners, though I do have the Stevia, I use it sparingly, and even though I do also do have the 'Splenda' for cooking I don't do that very much as in baking recipies that call for a lot of the sugars. I do not make much very often . When I do I try to make it so that it won't be staying in the house if at all possible, i.e. take to pot lucks, church activities or if you have a hobby that you can take refreshments to for group meetings . Read carefully on the lables and be willing to juggle what you are willing to get by with, i.e. one week the one, and the other the next time.I don't usually have the artificial flavored food, but take a little of the real thing instead and balance it out with the opposite flavor so as not to get too hungry with eating the sweet stuff. Don't know if that has been helpful but hope it is at least a little bit.

Heather - posted on 07/24/2011

also check you meats. Buy those that indicate hormone and antibiotic free. These will cost a lot more, but they are far healthier for you. Get veggies at farmers markets and try to always cook for yourself. Read Omnivores Dilema by Michael Pollen. He is a recognized food expert. Many ofr the tips you read here from not eating anything you grnadma wouldn't see as food to shopping around the outside fo the market are from his writing.

Keara - posted on 07/08/2011

I personally don't like to buy anything that comes with an ingredient list. I buy the ingredients and make it myself, but there are some things you just can't avoid. In my opinion the best way to eat healthy is to go all natural, organic, locally grown, as much as you can. Try to buy your fruits and veggies from the local farmers market or smaller grocery stores that you know buy and sell locally, less shipping means its fresher, will last longer, and has less chance of pesticides and preservatives, if you still eat meat, find a good, local butcher, who again, buys and sells locally, and if you can, find out where the meat comes from. Does it come from a factory farm where they are kept in small stalls and injected with antibiotics and fed grain and slaughtered in large groups? or are they happy cows on a small farm that roam free in large fields happily munching on grass... happy cows taste better and are actually better for you. Same goes for all the other animals. Avoid anything that has been processed, once its processed its no good anymore. No cheese slices, buy a brick, no premade burgers, buy ground beef, and believe it or not its actually better to buy the cheaper fattier ground meats because the fat removal process to get lean ground meats is just like any other processed food... and remember that just because it says organic or all natural on it doesn't mean it actually is... if you need recipes go to allrecipes.com its my favourite website!! lol

Betty - posted on 07/05/2011

I always read the ingredient list before buying something. If there is something on it that is not real food I do not buy it. There are so many chemicals in various foods. I know this is hard for a lot of moms but I make almost everything from scratch so I know what is in it. I use whole grains instead of white anything if possible and organic for as much as I can.

Sally - posted on 07/04/2011

Rule 1 for eating healthy--If your great grandma would not have recognized it as food, don't put it in your mouth.
Rule 2--If anywhere on the label it says "food product" do not put it in your mouth.
Rule 3--If it has more than 5 ingredients and any of them are unpronounceable, do not put it in your mouth.
Following these three rules will make most people's diets much healthier.
Good luck

Melissa - posted on 07/04/2011

i have been doing weight watchers which has got me eatting healthier. i find eatting more fruits, more vegtables helps. The fat free isn't "bad" for you, it's all about making choices. If you look at butter- margarine- olive oil for cooking, olive oil is your best choice because it's got better health benefits. I have been eatting more whole grains, brown rice over white rice, multigrain pasta over white pasta. Read the labels on products, Fat free has better options usually, they usually do increase something else though. I believe John Tesh just did something on his website about this too. Look his website up and i believe he might have something about this.

Ruth - posted on 07/02/2011

Like others have said, one of the best things to do, for starts, is to cook yourself--avoid the boxed, canned, and frozen "helpers" as much as you can. There are some canned things I use frequently--tomato sauce, tuna fish, various canned and frozen vegetables, etc. Whenever I make dinner I try and ask myself, "Where are the vegetables in this meal?" and if there aren't any, I find a way to add them. It can be salad, it can be a plate of cut-up carrots, celery, cauliflower or broccoli, or even warmed up frozen peas or green beans. Personally, I prefer my vegetables with a lot of seasoning, so I tend to make a lot of stir-fry and vegetable curry.

Another trick that I use for junk food is not to buy it pre-made. If I want brownies or cookies, I have to make them. If I want cracker jack, I have to make it. The internet is full of recipes, and it will taste better. You probably won't eat them as often, too--having to make the junk food means a lot more effort than just opening a box.

Ellen - posted on 07/01/2011

All I can tell u about food is fresh fresh fresh, smaller portions. Home made deserts u know how much sugar u put in . Always have a salad be for eating main meal dont nagg ur kids to eat just leave it on their plate thay will eventually eat it as the yrs go by.fiber whole wheat bread I buy one whole milk and one 2% milk. cold cuts keep low every other week. portion controll always best. ur fighting the way this country .

Jane - posted on 07/01/2011

Do what they call "shopping the perimeter." Most grocery stores put produce, meat, fish and dairy around the walls of the store with canned, bottled, and boxed items in the center on the shelves. So shopping the perimeter means to only shop in those departments around the edge, which are where untreated, unprepared food can be found.

Next, take home your finds and cook them yourself. You will know exactly how much sugar, salt or soy are in your food then. You will also avoid dyes and preservatives this way.

To make life easier, when you make something such as spaghetti sauce, make a big quantity and then freeze some of it to use in future meals.

Katy - posted on 07/01/2011

Eating healthy is pretty easy, even if you don't want to go vegitarian or gluten free, or any of those other diets.
Switch your pastas to whole grain, they are full of protein. Switch your meats from pork and beef to fish, chicken or turkey, you can still make burgers, meatloafs, anything with much less fat. Switch from creamy dressings like ranch to olive oil and vinegar based, my families favorite is Garlic Expressions but there are a million. Switch from fried foods to baked or grilled. If you have fast food switch from nuggets, fish, and chicken to burgers loaded with veggies and switch from french fries to salads, again mind the dressing. Keep a lot of fresh fruits and veggies around for meals and snacks. That can get pricey so find a fresh market in your area to cut costs. Instead of loading your food with salts or sugars try using other herbs and spices: garlic, onion, cumin, basil, parsley, cinnamon, honey, anything ur family finds tasty! Just these simple things can make a big difference and you won't have to make big sacrafices or do much label reading, which can be a big pain in the tush. Good luck and congrats on wanting to do better for your family!

Kate - posted on 06/27/2011

Read anything by Michael Pollan!

Megan - posted on 06/27/2011

If you really want healthy food, buy fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and prepare it yourself. We have food allergies in our family, so I have found that steering away from anything packaged, even gravies is the best thing. They have so many hidden additives and fats, sugars etc that just don't need to be there

Maria Angeles - posted on 06/27/2011

I think that most foods are safe to eat in moderation. Today it makes it easier because food nutrition and content is on labels. It is best to stick to the basic food groups, watching serving portions. Stay away from fat free, saturated fat, and processed foods. It is best to drink water, or flavored with fruit juice, rather than too much soda. We do need some fat in our diet, so it is safer to use vegetable oils, like safflower or olivel Staty away from lard or "vegetable" shortening, it sounds healthy but is no longer oil form; it is solidified, so no longer healthy. Just remember to read labels and use moderation of food groups.

Lindsay - posted on 06/26/2011

Honestly, what I've found over the years is that the absolute best foods to eat are those that are organic, and raw. They have the most nutrients, the least amount of additives/processed ingredients, and the best taste! We buy about 98% organic at this point, and we're working towards a more raw diet. This would mean plenty of fresh, organic fruits and veggies, whole grains, nuts and seeds, etc. Of course, I do still love my ice cream and cheese, but there are alternatives to those as well. You can get coconut milk ice cream, soy or (for you) almond milk (I don't drink cow's milk), and I'm not sure about cheese because the only non-milk cheese I've eaten is made up of soy-protien. Watch out for some yogurts, which actually have lots of sugars in them. And foods that are made from flour should be checked out to make sure that the flour hasn't been bleached or "enriched." Just a few tips, I could go on but I'd need to consult a bunch of articles and websties where I found all this info to be sure I'm correct, lol!

Fawn - posted on 06/24/2011

Check out the eat clean books by tosca reno all the recipes are clean and healthy no proscessed ingredients. Most of the time diet and fat free mean more sugar so it makes up for the lack of flavor.

Stephanie - posted on 06/24/2011

If you know anyone that is diabetic, ask them for their recipes. My great Grandmother is diabetic, so when we go visit her, we always eat healthy. I don't know any recipes off the top of my head, however, I could probably get a few and let you know later.

P.S. When she cooks I even eat foods I don't tend to like , such as squash. I hate the stuff, but when she makes it it is amazing :)