General

As we get ready to bid our goodbyes to 2015 and close in on 2016, it is becoming increasingly clear – eating healthy should not be complicated. If good health is your desire, there is no getting around your diet. Remember your physical health is a direct reflection of what you eat, and how you live your life in general. Pre-packaged and processed foods may be easy to cook, but whipping up a nutritious and balanced meal from scratch using natural ingredients is an absolute must if you want to achieve optimal health. So why wait? Stock your kitchen with these natural foods that offer a range of essential nutrients for a balanced diet and add them to your diet on a daily basis for a healthy boost to your life: Lemon (Nimbu) Lemon is not only a good taste enhancer but is also packed with antioxidants and other health benefits that rejuvenates the body and mind. A daily dose of Lemon as lemonade or squeezed raw in meals boosts immunity, cleanses body and helps the overall health. To get even more nutrition out of this sour fruit, pair with lip smacking recipes for a refreshing taste and balanced diet. Almonds (Badam) There are a whole lot of benefits in a handful of almonds, popularly known as Badam in India. With energizing protein, hunger fighting fiber and many essential nutrients, almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin. They are also one of the highest sources of hard-to-get magnesium. Daily consumption of these nuts have multiple benefits including helping you manage your weight, fight diabetes and keep your heart in a healthy shape. Fortunately, these flavour ful and versatile nuts are available throughout the year to make a healthy and tasty addition to your meals. Try these incredibly delicious badam recipes for easy, satiating and healthy snacking. Organic Eggs A source of high-quality protein, organic eggs are relatively inexpensive and are a good source of quality nutrients that many people are deficient in. Eggs are easy to cook and make for great breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can try Andae ka Halwa or Badam Cutlet for some ‘eggilicious’ snacking. Broccoli ‘Eat your Broccoli’ was a common phrase and your parents knew what was up when they told you that. This humble green vegetable is a source of multiple nutrients like fiber, calcium, potassium, folate and polynutrients that help in combating risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and other such diseases. Broccoli can be had as stir-fries, soups, salads, and casseroles. Oat Meal What better way to begin the day than with a bowl full of oats mixed with dry fruits. Considered one of the healthiest wholesome foods, Oats is not only well balanced but also great to taste. It is packed with dietary fibers and minerals such as Manganese, Magnesium, Thiamin and Phosphorous. Incorporate Oats along with dry fruits in your regular diet for multiple health benefits. Garlic With their unique combination of flavonoids and nutrients, Garlic is a must use ingredient in your daily diet. It is a good seasoning agent to add aroma and taste along with added nutrition to your dishes. Try these delicious recipes seasoned with Garlic: Taimuri Shorba, Murg Badam Korma and Badami Murg Kheema Beans High in fiber and antioxidants, beans are more than just meat substitutes. They provide myriad health benefits, and are easily available. Beans can be incorporated into a main dish (Rajma/Dal), side dish (Baked beans), appetizer (soup – Moong Dal Badami) or snack (dip). You can be creative in your meal planning when you have kidney beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, split peas and lentils in your kitchen. Spinach The green and leafy spinach should be an essential component of your daily diet. Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin that boost immunity while improving eye-health. Make your salads with spinach; add spinach to scrambled eggs; drape it over pizza or cook the incredibly yummy Palak Badam ki Subzi. Indian Gooseberry Deliciously sour and tart, Amla or Indian Gooseberry is a super food that is most commonly used ingredient of most Ayurvedic preparations. Amla is a rich source of Vitamin C and contains many vitals minerals essential for good metabolic health. To get the benefits of Amla in your diet, add a pinch of Amla powder in sweet and sour dishes, consume fresh Amla fruit or drink its juice to boost your overall wellbeing. Yoghurt It is no coincidence that the yogurt section of most grocery stores has practically taken over the dairy aisle. Yogurt provides a healthy dose of bacteria that helps boost your immune system and provides protection against cancer. Yogurt topped with blueberries, almonds, flaxseed, and honey is the ultimate breakfast-or dessert. Yogurt is also a good base for salad dressings and dips. Source by Anurup A

As a fitness professional, I’m always amazed (and puzzled) with the conflict people seem to have with losing weight, yet they refuse to stop eating junk food. An interesting thing I have noticed over my many years helping people to lose weight is that almost every single person that has told me that they are “attempting” to lose weight, almost always has their house filled with all sorts of junk food instead of whole unprocessed natural food. It is not uncommon for people to tell me that they are trying really hard to lose weight, but I will still notice boxes of apple jacks and fruity pebbles on their counters, cakes, candies, and chips in their cupboard, and sodas or syrupy juices in their refrigerator. So the question that always stumps me is that if all of these people honestly wanted to lose weight so bad, why in the world do most people still have their houses filled with junk foods instead of healthy food? Interestingly, the answer usually is that they do not want to give up their favorite foods because they think that eating this junk food allows them to “live a little”… if you ask me, it sounds more like dying a little with each bite! My take on it is that eating junk foods has nothing at all to do with enjoying your life… In reality, when you give up junk foods you actually enjoy life more because you feel better and are more energetic every day. In addition, getting into better shape by not eating junk food can obviously help improve the way your body looks (and therefore increases your confidence), thereby making you enjoy life even more. One thing that many people fail to realize is that eating healthy does not have to mean eating bland and boring food. Instead, when you learn to enjoy natural unprocessed food and start exploring all of the varieties of natural food that this planet has to offer us, you learn that you can enjoy the natural flavors of real foods more than overly processed aggressive tastes that are so common with excessively sweet and salty junk food. An example of this is that the other day I wanted an unsweetened iced tea while out on the road, but all that the store had available was these bottles of heavily sweetened iced tea. Well, I have not bought a fully sweetened iced tea in probably at least a few years now… I have actually gotten used to drinking unsweetened iced tea and have learned to appreciate the natural taste of tea without needing sugar or other sweeteners. Whe I drank this bottled sweet tea, I almost gagged because it was so syrupy sweet, it was absolutely nasty. A similar example… I used to need a lot of sugar in coffee, but after a slowly reducing the amount of sugar I would use in coffe, I can now actually drink black coffee and enjoy the natural flavor of it without needing sweeteners (although I rarely drink coffee). These are just a couple examples of how once you start appreciating the natural flavors of real food, you find that you no longer need the super-aggressive salty, sugary, or artificial flavors that have been ingrained in us by the food companies and all of the junk food they push on us. My belief is that everyone should actually enjoy what they eat, and can do it without eating overly processed junk food… Actually, people are often surprised to hear that a lot of the foods that they think are junk food, I have healthy alternatives that they never thought of. A few examples: Junk food: a chocolate candy bar, a chocolate donut, or a piece of chocolate cake Healthier alternative: a couple pieces of extra-dark chocolate (greater than 70-75% cocoa content only)… this is higher in fiber and much less sugar than milk chocolate or even dark chocolates that are less than 70% cocoa content Junk food: Deep fried and breaded chicken fingers and fries on the side (loads of nasty trans fats) Healthier alternative: grilled chicken breast strips with peanut dipping sauce and vegetables on the side Junk food: a cheap fast-food burger on a processed refined white bun Healthier alternative: A grass-fed burger (higher in CLA and omega-3 fats) with raw grass-fed cheese on a sprouted grain roll How about that for eating healthier yet still very tasty foods! I hope that what you get out of this article is that there is more to life than eating junk food, and eating junk does not necessarily mean that you’re “living a little” as so many people say. Instead, I feel the opposite is true. Eat healthier and discover the natural flavors of real foods (not processed) and you’ll soon discover that you no longer need junk food. Enjoy! Source by Mike Geary

In today’s scenario, every person wants a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to maintain and improve people’s health and well-being or we can say how you can maintain a balanced and nutritious diet. There are many such factors that affect your health, some of them that you can’t control such as your age or genetic makeup but you can bring changes in your lifestyle. By taking a few steps towards a healthy life, you can protect yourself from various types of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or other serious disorders. Along with a healthy lifestyle, you can only get positive waves out of it, like better feeling, have more energy to do some interesting, more relaxed, looking good, have a nice toned body, strong muscles, healthy and beautiful hair and skin, and you will always be happy and you feel positivity in all around. A person who is healthy and takes care of themselves that person doesn’t smoke, tries to maintain a healthy weight, eats healthy food with plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber and exercise on a daily basis. And the healthy person also knows how to manage stress, doesn’t drink too much, and also gets good quality sleep each night. Basically, he/she does everything in moderation all the time. So, if you live a healthy life then you should take a step forward for a better change in your life. But, you don’t have to change everything at the same time, have to make small changes in order to proceed in healthier lifestyle such as adding fruits to your meal and go for a walk every day etc. So, there are different ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle: • Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables: Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and definitely include fruits and vegetables with your meal. Because fruits and vegetables are very important to us, they give us vitamins, minerals, and fibers. For example, a full glass of fresh fruit juice at breakfast, an apple, and different vegetables at each meal. • Drink water daily: A person should drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day. Because drinking water has many advantages, such as reducing weight, for hair, for our skin, etc. • Do exercise daily: Exercise is very important for every person’s life. You can do many types of exercises every day, such as cleaning the house, gardening, going for a walk, cycling, stairs climbing etc. • Reduce the quantity of salt and sugar: Consumption of excess salt in the food can cause high blood pressure, so we should use less salt. And sugar gives us sweetness, but this can lead to diseases like diabetes. So we should use the minimum of sugar as well. • Use grains in your diet: Use more grains in your diet because they not only provide the necessary nutrients to keep you and your family healthy and strong, but there is also dietary fiber in whole grains, which helps in reducing heart disease, cancer, diabetes. • Don’t smoke: Smoking is harmful to our health because it increases the risk of lung cancer, kidney cancer, and heart attack, etc. Avoid foods that are bad for your healthy lifestyle: • You have to avoid sugary drinks. • Avoid pastries, cookies, and cakes. • Ice cream is the most delicious foods but it is not good for your health, so avoid it. • Avoid oily food like French fries and potato chips etc. • Avoid drinking too much alcohol. Source by Pinkal Rana

You don’t have to be vegan to eat vegan food. In fact, it’s great to try healthy snacks from time to time, especially if your diet mainly consists of meat and fast food. You’ll be surprised at how delicious and fulfilling healthy food can be and if it doesn’t make you change your eating lifestyle altogether, it will help you make more nutritious choices in your diet. Try these 4 awesome vegan snack recipes: Quick Cinnamon Apple Chips What you need: 2 red apples, thinly sliced 2 teaspoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon In a bowl, sprinkle apple slices with sugar and cinnamon, tossing to coat fruit evenly. Arrange apples in a baking sheet so that they don’t overlap. Bake in a pre-heated oven (200F) until dried and crisp (but still pliable), about 2 to 3 hours. Serve immediately. Garlic, Lime and Avocado Hummus What you need: 2 ripe avocados, cored and peeled 2 cloves garlic 2 cups canned chickpeas 1/3 cup tahini 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 3 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon cumin Kosher salt 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro for garnish Red pepper flakes, for garnish In a blender or food processor, combine the avocados, chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lime juice and olive oil. Season with kosher salt. Blend until mixture is smooth. Transfer mixture into a serving bowl then top with chopped cilantro and red pepper flakes. Best served with whole wheat bread or chips. Healthy Trail Mix Snack Balls What you need: 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter, melted 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips 1/4 cup mini M&Ms 1/4 cup chopped peanuts 1/4 cup raisins 1 tablespoon honey Kosher salt Mix together the old-fashioned rolled oats, peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, M&Ms, peanuts, raisins and honey. Season with kosher salt (depending on your desired saltiness). Stir until ingredients are well-combined. Scoop into small balls (about a tablespoon in size) and arrange in a plate. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 to 2 hours. Green Apple Nachos What you need: 2 green apples, cored and sliced into wedges, chilled 1/4 cup all-natural peanut butter, warmed 2 tablespoons granola 1 tablespoon dried cranberries Arrange apple wedges on a serving plate. Using a spoon, drizzle generously with warmed peanut butter. Top with granola bits and dried cranberries. Serve immediately. Whether you’re a vegan or not, these quick vegan snacks will surely want to make you eat healthier! Source by Adrian T. Cheng

To be healthy, the first and most important steps are to accept that you need to make changes to your present lifestyle and eating habits. Once you understand that, the next step is to come out with an action plan to follow. This action plan should be based upon your personal fitness goals. Implementing this plan is an important step in your journey towards fitness and health. By making your goals concrete will help you to be more motivated and sticking to your plan. Create your personal healthy eating plan by following the 4 tips given below; 1. Be realistic in setting your goals Do not make the common mistake of setting unreasonable and difficult goals for yourself. Once you are unable to reach your goals, you will feel discouraged and might even give up on your diet plan. Be more realistic when setting up your goals but that does not mean making it easy for yourself. Example: If you work long hours, you cannot expect to cook healthy meals all the time. When creating your goals, think about all this details. Decide exactly how much weight and amount of fat you want to lose. Make them reasonable, neither too easy to achieve nor too difficult to attain. It is difficult to accurately determine your body fat percentage without using expensive medical equipment, it is better to monitor your change in body fat or muscle with measurements. Before you start your healthy eating and exercising plan, record the measurements of your waist, hips, thigh and upper arm. And check them again every two weeks or so to monitor your progress. It is also difficult to accurately determine your caloric needs without using medical equipment. To be sure how much you should be consuming, consult a professional or your personal trainer. 2. Proceed gradually After you have developed your goals, implement the changes gradually. Example: Your goal is to stop your habit of eating chocolate with munching on carrots or bananas. But do not cut off your chocolate completely from the first day of your diet plan. Think on how to gradually reduce the amount of chocolates you eat. This will prevent you from your irresistible cravings. Eating foods that are both healthy and yummy, encourage you to follow through with your plan. Prevents mindless eating by taking your time when eating and enjoy every bite of the food you eat, helps you realize when you are full. 3. Be honest to yourself Whenever you concede to your cravings, be honest about it. Admit that you have eaten things you were trying to avoid and make the effort to make up for it in your next meal. Your integrity helps to cover up for times when you conceded to your craving in foods you had decided not to eat. It can help you to monitor what you eat everyday and be accountable to your diet plan can also help you to stay on course with your diet. 4. Snacking on healthy foods Munching on snack between meals help to increase your metabolism but ensures that the snacks you eat are healthy. They help you burn more calories and keep you from overeating. Snacking on healthy foods also gives you a constant supply of energy throughout the day. Coming out with an eating plan can take time. Follow the 4 tips given above to reduce your planning time and by using the ideas to help you create and stick to this plan. After you have perfected it and vigorously sticking to your healthy diet plan, you will reap the benefits that come with eating a healthy diet. Source by Mo Salle

Everyone is conscious about their weight and wants to be fit and sexy. Losing weight could be difficult if you are not aware of how to live a healthy lifestyle. We know that foods are the best way to satisfied are craving. There are people who eats a lot to distress their self. Who doesn’t like to eat? Everyone wants to eat different cuisines. Most cuisine has different way of recipes and ingredients. One good healthy food is Russian Food particularly their salads made of healthy green vegetables with olive oil. Russian Food, Latvian food, and Polish food are somehow fatty but they also have healthy foods like vegetables and salads which can be good for a healthy lifestyle. In order to have a healthy lifestyle, a person needs to discipline his self. Without discipline you will not be successful in achieving your target weight. Discipline encourages you to live a healthy life. Attaining a healthy life style not necessarily to be a vegetarian. You can live a healthy life by choosing the right foods to eat. Minimize oil and fatty foods. Eat fish, bread, milk, and vegetables. All cuisines around the globe have particular recipes which give you a satisfying feeling without getting fat. All you have to do is get to know them and apply them in your eating habits. You don’t need any healthy lifestyle consultants if you know how to discipline yourself and understand the foods you eat. This can be done with self determination and courage. Aside from food, you also need to avoid smoking and drinking. Smoking kills! Drinking too much beers and other alcoholic beverages can cause you diseases and will make your lifestyle unhealthy. You also need regular exercises and maintain a good schedule for eating habit. They said whatever food you in take will shows on your body profile. If you want to have a beautiful skin and pretty faces then you must start realizing how to eat good foods by understanding and studying them. Get to know what the best is for you and check what cuisines have good recipes which fit for your healthy lifestyle. What are you waiting for? Start living a healthy life if you love your life. Don’t wait when it’s already too late. Make it happen right now by following the simple easy steps mentioned above. Foods are good when you know what’s the best for you. Source by Deborah Mc Lean Smith

I’ve been writing about the benefits of eating organic food for months. I’ve focused on why this food is so essential to healthy living and how it makes us sparkle inside and out. One thing I haven’t focused on is why your everyday non-organic food is so BAD for our health. I decided to go online and check out the ingredients that can be found in the food that many people consume on a daily basis. It is more important than you think to read the ingredients that are in your food. Chances are if you can’t read the label, you probably shouldn’t eat it. Here some are examples of popular foods and products along with their surprising ingredients. This is sure to make even the biggest skeptics think more about switching to pure organic food. Remember, you can feel comfortable that the food you are eating is safe when you switch to organic and you don’t need a chemistry course to translate the ingredients! Gum, Instant Coffee, Tea, Pudding, Gelatin Desserts, Non-Dairy Creamers All of the above could contain an additive known as acesulfame K that caused cancer in laboratory animal testing. This is an artificial sweetener that is better known as “Sweet-One” or “Sunette”. Aspartame has also been known to cause mental retardation if the phenylalanine reaches a toxic level in the blood. Bread, Canned/Bottled Drinks, Crackers, Cereal, Butter, Potato Flakes, Shortening, Seasonings, Soup Bases, Candy, Pet Food, Baked Goods and much more… The above contain BHT and BHA, antioxidant chemicals that are used as preservatives in foods containing fats and oils. They keep the fat from oxidizing and turning rancid. These chemicals could contribute to the development of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the state of California have publicly recognized BHA as a likely carcinogen. Meat Sodium Nitrite and Nitrate are found in meat to preserve freshness. Meat containing these chemicals can be a huge contributor to illness when cooked at high temperatures. Nitrate coverts to nitrite that in turn transforms into nitrosamines when it fuses with other compounds under high heat and this can cause cancer. Chips and other snack foods: Jif Peanut Butter, Tide Detergent, Crest Toothpaste, Folgers Coffee Always check the ingredients! Olestra can be found in the foods and products above. Would you jump off a cliff if your friends told you to? Then you should also say no if they offer you anything containing Olestra. This disgusting additive is used as a fat replacement and is terrible for your health. It causes diarrhea because it sticks itself to all of the essential vitamins and minerals in your body that are used to help protect you from cancer, heart disease and blindness. Once it has clung itself to your vital nutrients, it flushes them out. As if this is not enough, Olestra is the gift that keeps on giving since it also inhibits your body’s ability to absorb more vitamins. Talk about getting yourself malnourished over night! Fruits and Vegetables, Juice, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Meat including chicken, beef and pork I can’t stress enough how important it is to buy organic produce to avoid pesticides. Pesticides build up in your system and are toxic. They prevent your body from releasing waste and block the absorption of nutrients. Many say that there may possibly be a link between pesticides and the increased cases of autism that have occurred over last few years. Quorn-Brand and Some Other Meat Substitutes: This product contains mycoprotein, that may sound healthy but it’s not. It is mold. That’s right, mold with added chemicals to make it look and taste like meat! The creators claim that it is a mushroom product but in fact it’s mold that is grown in large tanks of liquid. They glamorize it a little stating that it undergoes “fermentation”. Seriously, who in their right mind would even consider turning this fowl product into “food”, never mind sell it for a profit? If you want real protein without the meat, organic beans are a great way to go. There is a huge variety and many different ways to prepare them. Soda I define soda as liquid trash. Soda may taste interesting, but is it that good that we should risk our lives to drink it? There is hardly anything natural about it and the high-fructose corn syrup rots our teeth. Many brands of soda contain sodium bicarbonate and citric acid (not the natural kind found in fruit, etc.). These chemicals together can change into a carcinogen under heat or light. I think I’ll stick to water. I saved the best for last… Propylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol can be found in… Cosmetics, Food Seasonings, Lotions, Hand Sanitizer, Hair Color, Massage Oils, Hair Gel and Hairspray, Popcorn, Deodorant, Mouthwash, Medicine, Lubricants, Baby Wipes, Toothpaste, Pet Food, Salad Dressing, Cake Mixes, Soda, Sour Cream, and Fat-Free Ice Cream. These chemicals contribute to the following: Infertility Birth Defects Nerve Degeneration Heart Problems Brain, Liver and Kidney Abnormalities Metabolic Problems Propylene Glycol is also used in anti-freeze, electronic smoke machines, hydraulic fluid and as a solvent for pills (most notably Diazepam). So, why go organic? I think the question here is, why not? Learn more about the value of organic food on these television networks: Food Revolution on ABC Fridays at 9:00 p.m. EST Future Food on Planet Green Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. EST Source by Frank Bilotta

The problem with most diets is they make us feel deprived. We always think about what we can’t have and what we are missing out on. It doesn’t serve us to try and diet this way. We end up obsessing about food, and become tempted to cheat, which can derail our healthy eating plan and cause us to gain instead of lose extra weight. What we need is a healthy eating plan that leaves us satisfied and happy. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you live with a healthy plan. Don’t Skip Meals Unless you have a healthy eating plan that calls for replacing the calories of a meal with a shake or snack bar, don’t skip meals. Fasting and starving yourself is physically and mentally difficult. If anything, you will want to eat more (of the right kinds of food) not less. Eat foods that are satisfying in small amounts throughout your day, and turn that food into fuel for your daily activities. Your healthy eating plan will allow you to eat until you are full. Do Plan Meals Your healthy eating plan allows for a great deal of variety of tastes, flavors, and textures. Plan your meals ahead and give your healthy plan structure and consistency. We are less likely to cheat if we have structured meals and don’t need to “grab something” to eat on the go. If you are going to be away from home, take a healthy snack along to curb your appetite until you can eat your regular healthy meals. Don’t Buy on Impulse When you go to the supermarket, have your list in hand and stick to it. Your healthy eating plan allows you to get creative and cook fabulous meals that are healthy and good for you. Don’t blow it by grabbing anything that looks good in the store. Chances are you’ll regret it later. Don’t go to the market hungry either as this can escalate cravings and the desire to buy on impulse. Don’t Try To Do It On Your Own It is difficult to stick to a healthy eating plan; but if you try to do it all on your own, you can be setting yourself up for failure before you even begin. Enlist the help of a friend, spouse or partner, or co-worker. This support system will help keep you honest, and give you someone to confide in. If your person is also trying to do the healthy plan, it can be a great way to support each other. Plan menus, shop, eat and work out together. A little friendly competition can’t hurt either. Don’t Weigh Every Day It can be very discouraging to see that scale stay at the same number day after day. Healthy weight loss on a healthy eating plan will have you losing about 1-2 pounds weekly. So, give yourself a break and weigh in once a week or once every two weeks. Celebrate the successes of your healthy eating plan, and reward yourself by sticking to it for another week. Source by Kate Trillin

What will one get out of healthy living? Just a longer life expectancy, a stronger immunity system, lesser risks to life-threatening diseases-basically a sound mind and body. It is needless to say that choosing this way of life brings about a lot of life-changing benefits. Want to know how to lead a healthy lifestyle? Here are some of the things you need to do: Eat Healthy Food One of the main factors that cause an unhealthy lifestyle is unhealthy foods. Such foods also increase the risk of acquiring heart diseases. Avoid food that is full of unhealthy fat: trans and saturated fat-these will cause one’s cholesterol level to rise and thus increasing the risk of getting cardiac diseases. Sweets, junk food, soft drinks, sugary juices should be taken minimally. It is advisable to increase white meat such as fish, vegetables, fresh fruits and fresh juices in one’s diet. Make a habit of eating whole foods instead of processed ones. Eating healthy is the first step to living healthy. Exercise Healthy living would not be successful without any physical activity. Most people nowadays have no intention of exercising-thinking that it is not worth the time. But exercising to achieve a healthier life does not need to be a full-scale work out. Even small activities such as taking a stroll or walking one’s pet, biking to a nearby destination, doing daily chores such as cleaning the house, gardening and/or mowing the lawn and can make a difference. However, for best results, it is advisable to go to the gym two to three times a week or exercise at least thirty minutes daily. Go offline At least once or twice a week, keep away from technology. Being online keeps people from moving; and sedentariness can be very unhealthy. Instead of playing video games or chatting with people on Facebook, do something fun and active with one’s family or friends. Go outdoors, play ball games, have a backyard barbeque cook out, play catch, go to the spa, take a swim-anything that will be enjoyable and does not involve the use of modern technology. This will not only keep one moving and active, but it will also help one improve his/her social skills. Socializing and enjoying the company of others will improve one’s self-confidence and personality per se. Remember, living healthy does not only include a fit body, but also a sound mind. Get Healthier Habits From the word itself, “lifestyle” means way of life; routine. Living healthy does not stop at eating healthy, working out and socializing-but one must also have healthier habits and/or hobbies as well. It is advisable to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking-if one is unable to rid oneself of the habit completely. Make it a habit to get enough sleep. It is the body’s way to re-charge itself-just like how a battery does. Practice positive thinking and avoid being anxious. How to lead a healthy lifestyle? Simple. Have a sound mind and body. Source by Lisa S Scott

Making sure our kids eat healthy food has, rightly so, become a national obsession and I am sure, like most parents, you want healthy lunch ideas to help your kids be motivated, full of energy and reaching their true potential. There are some really outstanding reasons for making sure our kids eat healthy and here are two of the most important. 1. Studies have shown that kids that eat a healthy lunch are more motivated at school and basically do better. This is what we all want for our kids and it is great that we have the power as parents to easily make this happen! 2. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in North America – 5 million youths aged 6-17 are clinically obese. By introducing your kids to healthy eating early on, you are gifting them with a life full of health! Of course there are many other reasons which I won’t list. I assume if you are reading this you are already convinced of the value of providing healthy food and snacks for your family! So what are some tips for helping you provide healthy meal options for your children? 1. Well first of keep healthy snacks lying around the house. Kids are natural grazers and if they do not have healthy snacks available they will sneak in unhealthy options. In fact, I would suggest that you have a cupboard cleanse and try to remove any unhealthy snacks, so the kids can’t see them and you are not tempted to “give in” at a stressed moment. *Some great healthy snack tips are: – Humus and vegetable sticks – Salsa and re-fried beans mixed together to create a great snack or a dip for toasted pita triangles – Toasted pita triangles and low fat ranch dressing – Sweet and crispy vegetable slices like carrot and red pepper All of these are quick, easy to make and keep in the fridge ready for when you need them. 2. Another key healthy eating idea is making food that is easy for your kids to eat AND easy for you to make. You are very likely a busy person, so don’t overstretch yourself, there are many great quick, easy options available. * Easy Tip: Wraps are easy and kids love them. Try adding a few new ingredients this way. My favorites are baked tofu, peanut butter and snow peas wrap and turkey breast, mozzarella, cucumber, avocado and alfalfa sprouts wrap. Both mix ingredients kids will have tried before and new ones. Try swapping peanut butter for cashew or almond butter for variety. 3. Try and prepare as much in advance as you can. It is unlikely that you are able to come home from work and put 100% effort into your kids meals or prepare masses of food first thing in the morning. So, pick a time when you can give it your full attention and prepare a few days in advance. Some things like sauces and dips will keep for a while, so work out when is a good time for you to get your cooking mojo on! When you can cook, is also a great indication of what type of lunches to make. If you really only have free time on the weekends for anything complicated, choose things that will keep and need very little extra preparation first thing in the morning. * Top Tip: Many meals are freezable, which is a good tip for after school meals. Cooking a large casserole, soup or stew and distributing into bags for the following week is always a great idea. For school lunches, try getting your ingredients ready a few days before. Cooked chicken and turkey breast will keep for 3-4 days. Also you can make any dips like ranch dressing 3-4 days in advance. Tuna mayo will also keep, but I suggest that you keep it well sealed as it can make your refrigerator smell! 4. Try to keep your child involved in the healthy eating process whenever possible. If your child hates sweet things (unlikely but sometimes it happens!) do not force them, look at savory lunches instead and vice versa. You want to introduce your kids to new types of food and food experiences and this can be an enjoyable process for everyone. Picking things they really can’t stand will be like hitting a brick wall every meal time. 5. A good tip to get kids started with new food experiences is to use portion control. Mix a small amount of the new food together with something you know they like and slowly introduce a variety of food this way. Just remember it is OK for your little one to not like everything, I know I don’t and I am sure you are the same! For example, if try adding avocado and celery to a tuna mayo salad. Great healthy lunch ideas that your kids will love are easy to find if you follow these rules: Keep it simple, don’t overstretch yourself, get your little one’s input and introduce things slowly. You will be a family full of healthy eaters in no time! Source by JR Holt