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Freshest Diet Tips

High fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is in many foods in today’s society. It’s getting harder to find healthier options for a consumer. High fructose corn syrup is not good for the body. Studies have revealed that use of it can lead to problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Eliminating as much HFCS from the daily food intake is the best way to improve health.

1. Read, Read, Read

One way to help cut down or eliminate HFCS from your daily diet is to look closely and read the labels. Make sure to read labels of foods that are going into the shopping cart. Many foods are deceiving to consumers. Manufacturers make labels this way. If they confuse the shopper, chances are the shopper will still put the food into the cart and purchase it. Look closely and you will be surprised how many products have high fructose corn syrup in them. Here are some examples of foods that one would probably consider healthy, but actually contain HFCS:

• Kid sized yogurts
• Breakfast bars
• Fruit snacks
• Breads
• Ketchups
• Processed meats, like sausage and ham.

2. Choose Wisely

When grocery shopping, choose wisely. Fill up your cart with more natural foods. The more processed the product, the worse for the body. When picking products that appear more naturally made, just remember to still read labels. The FDA is allowing companies to put “natural” on their advertising, even when high fructose corn syrup is included as an ingredient. The best option is to pick up foods that are organic in nature. Foods that are labeled organic can be thought of as safe from high fructose corn syrup. The FDA has states that the product cannot have the corn syrup in them and be listed as organic.

3. Avoid Sodas, Juice Boxes and Sports Drinks

Most sodas, juices or sports drinks have HFCS in them. Make sure to look at the labels closely. If soda is a must, opt for ones that use real sugar or artificial sweeteners and not the corn syrup. During Passover, Coke makes a very special version that contains artificial sweeteners. These yellow capped bottles are produced for the Jewish population who are restricted from eating corn during this time. They do not have high fructose corn syrup in them.

4. Eliminate Fast Food

Cutting fast food from a daily diet is an easy way to eliminate high fructose corn syrup. At McDonald’s for example, high fructose corn syrup is in every menu item, and that even includes the croutons for the salads. Instead of figuring out what does not have the corn syrup in it at the fast food restaurants, it’s best to just avoid them altogether.

Cutting high fructose corn syrup from foods is the best way to improve health. Reading labels very closely is key. Manufacturers are making it more difficult to pick out healthy foods. Go organic. It’s healthier and may cost a little bit more, but the old saying is true, cheaper is not always better. In this case, it truly is not better for your health.

The movies are one of the greatest past times…great for families, dates, nights out with friends…but those tempting movie snacks can throw any guest into a calorie overload. To think our biggest concern with the popcorn is the outrageous price; it’s the nutritional sabotage that we should be most worried about! Your best bet is to take a cue from Granny and pack your own snacks to shave off your movie snack calorie intake, or choose one of the not-so-horrific snacks at the concessions counter.

Eat before You View

Have lunch or dinner before you head out to the theater, and avoid eating a fattier, heavy snack like nachos or a gigantic tub of popcorn.  You’ll be able to stave off your hunger, as well, making you more likely to get through the previews and still have some of your treat leftover.  You may even consider getting your seats and buying your snack during the previews…most people eat at least half of their snack before the previews have even started!

Put that Big Purse to Work

Grab a coffee before the flick, or pack an apple and a bag of pre-popped popcorn in a light or low-fat variety to get yourself in the movie spirit.  Be sure to arm yourself with a bottle of water, too! We often mistake hunger for thirst, and the water will keep your mouth busy. Gotta have chocolate at the theater? Bring a snack-sized serving of chocolate chips for only 80 calories in 1/4 of a cup. You’ll even get a bit of iron with it!

Choose Wisely

Sometimes, half the fun of going to the show is the marketing genius that is the concession stand. Although there are few, try to choose one of the better options to make good choices before the movie starts rolling.  Some choices will probably surprise you!

Soft Pretzels

Choosing a soft pretzel is one of the surprisingly healthiest options at the theater. Weighing in at 290 calories, it’s practically a meal, but is likely fat free, or very low-fat.  Ask for some mustard instead of the cup of fake cheese, and you add minimal calories.  Popcorn, on the other hand, packs up to 600 calories and 39 grams of fat.

Junior Mints

A half of this box is only contains 170 calories, and just 3 grams of fat, so if it’s a chocolatey snack that you’re craving, this is the way to go.  Other chocolate snacks have 240 or more calories and always more fat.  Just be sure to share with your date!

Jujyfruits

These little fruity snacks are lower in the calorie range, and have no fat, where most movie snacks are loaded up with even the saturated variety. 1 serving has less than 200 calories, however, there are only about 20 pieces in a serving, so portion out your snack.

Drink Swap

Swap the usual vat of soda for a diet soda or a bottle of water.  Having a drink keeps you busy, and less likely to need a snack.  If you must have a drink or still need to munch, promise yourself to wait until after the previews, and you may not even end up going.

Head to the theater on a full tummy, and you’ll have the willpower to make a healthier choice. Bring your own snacks and get the best of both worlds!

Just because your spouse may be a non vegan, it doesn’t mean you can’t prepare vegan dishes at mealtime. There are a variety of vegan dishes out there that can be just as delicious as animal and dairy based meals. The trick is to get creative and take full advantage of herbs and spices to create tasty vegan meals that the entire family can enjoy.

Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera

Pasta is a base that can be decorated and seasoned with a whole variety of options. It is cheap and very versatile. Whole wheat pasta is a healthier alternative to traditional white pasta. All you have to do is boil some pasta, let it drain, then drizzle a little bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking. For the primavera sauce, chop up a variety of vegetables, such as zucchini, tomatoes, onions and broccoli. Saute them in a pan with a little bit of olive oil and sea salt. Once they are cooked to your taste, pour the vegetables on top of the pasta and mix it through. Top the dish off with some dairy-free cheese for a healthy, nutritious vegan dish!

Vegan Margherita Pizza

Your non vegan spouse won’t object to eating pizza – even if it lacks pepperoni. Start with a pizza shell, which can easily be found at most grocery stores. Drizzle it with olive oil and sea salt, then cover it with tomato sauce. You can make this sauce yourself by boiling some canned tomatoes, then adding olive oil, garlic, basil and salt. Top it off with some dairy-free cheese, and bake for about half an hour.

Stuffed Green Peppers

Not only is this vegan dish healthy, but it looks professional too! Core some green peppers, and clean out all the seeds. Boil some rice, then add olive oil and salt to it. Saute some mushrooms, red peppers and corn together in a shallow frying pan, then add them to the rice. Mix the rice mixture up, then fill the green peppers. Bake the stuffed peppers in the oven for about half an hour for a delicious vegan meal. To spice things up a little, sprinkle some dairy-free cheese on top of the peppers just before popping them in the oven for even more flavor.

Vegetable Lasagna

Lasagna is a hearty dish that is hard to resist. Boil some lasagna pasta strips, then let them drain. Prepare some tomato sauce by boiling canned tomatoes into a sauce pan, and add garlic, olive oil, salt and basil. Slice some zucchini and eggplant cross-wise, and season them with some salt and pepper. Line a greased lasagna dish with the pasta strips, then add the sauce, vegetables, and some dairy-free cheese. Repeat the process with another layer lined the same way, until you have reached the top of the lasagna dish, or have run out of ingredients. Top the lasagna with more sauce and dairy-free cheese, cover it with aluminum foil, and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Grilled Vegetable Fajitas

Your non vegan spouse shouldn’t miss the meat with these delicious fajitas filled with grilled vegetables. Cut up different colored peppers, zucchini and portobello mushrooms, then grill them for about five minutes per side. Place them in a bowl, and drizzle olive oil, balsamic vinegar, parsley flakes and salt, then mix them together. Warm up the fajitas, then place the vegetable mixture over top. Finish the dish off with some dairy-free cheese if so desired.

New mothers find themselves searching for post pregnancy diet plans, and most of them feel uncomfortable with the extra weight that remained after giving birth.  If you are one of them, you don’t have to worry, because with proper diet and exercise, you can have your pre-pregnancy body back. But before you begin any diet plans, you must first assess yourself and your priorities.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Just as you gained the weight gradually as you progressed through your pregnancy, your weight loss must also be gradual.  Losing weight after giving birth is not an overnight feat.  It takes careful planning and discipline.  Because of a new baby to take care of, post pregnancy diet plans often take the back seat for new mothers. But, this should not discourage you because anytime is a good time to start getting back into shape.

Breastfeeding Your Baby

If you are breastfeeding, then chances are you would need to increase your intake of healthy foods, including protein, vegetables and fruits, because you’re not only feeding yourself but your baby as well.  But take heart, because studies have shown that breastfeeding your baby can actually make you lose weight naturally.  Although this may ring true for some mothers, some breastfeeding mothers fail to lose weight even when they’ve been breastfeeding for months. So, it is best to breastfeed and have a diet plan as well.

Diet Tips for Breastfeeding Moms
When you are breastfeeding, you must keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water everyday. You must also watch how many calories you take in daily. A 2,500 calorie diet should be an adequate daily count. This is important so you don’t exceed your calorie needs and gain more weight in the process. It is advisable to take small meals, that is 5 to 6 smaller meals a day, compared to 2 or 3 large meals. You must include an adequate amount of protein during each meal to increase your metabolism. It is best to minimize eating sugary foods, as they increase your fat reserves.

Diet Tips for Non-Breastfeeding Mothers

If you are not breastfeeding your baby, then you can resume the diet that worked for you before this pregnancy. It is important that you are eating complete healthy meals that will provide your body with adequate vitamins and minerals to help you take care of your growing family. Include vegetables, fruits, cheese, meat and fish in your meals. Don’t eat your meals hurriedly, as you may have a tendency to under eat, which would make you crave more foods during the day.

Exercise for New Mothers

If you delivered your baby traditionally, you can start light exercises after six weeks from your delivery date. And, if you delivered by cesarean section, after eight weeks your body should be ready to sweat it out.  It would be best to get yourself evaluated by your obstetrician first, so you can be confident that you are doing the right thing.