Healthy Recipes with Healthy Foods

1. Try to cut back on your snacking. Choose your snacks carefully.
2. Do not eat late at night. Avoid late dinners.
3. Set a schedule, and stick to it. Try and eat at the same time everyday.
4. Chew, chew, chew your food before swallowing.
5. Go about 4 hours in between main meals. Give your stomach some time to digest and rest before eating again.
6. Eat a salad or something raw before eating your meal.
7. Eat a wide variety of foods, fruits and vegetables, and plant based foods. Eating spicy foods will increase your metabolism.
8. Drink plenty of water.
9. Don't skip any meals.
10. Eliminate eating on the go, sit down and enjoy the meal. When you do not pay attention to what you are eating, you tend to overeat.

Many families are on the go, and are don't think too much about what they are eating. Getting proper nutrition and eating the right foods is important for everyone in the family. The following suggestions for food choices will help you and your family eat healthier.

Vegetables and fruits are low in fat, contain fiber, minerals and vitamins. Instead of eating vegetables served with a cheese, cream or butter sauce try eating them steamed, raw, baked, or tossed with salt, pepper and some olive oil. Fruit is best fresh or canned in light syrup, but try and stay away from coconut.

Try avoiding French fries or hash browns. Instead try using mashed, broiled or baked potatoes and sweet potatoes.

You want too avoid the following grains:
White bread, rolls, biscuits
Scones, pastries, doughnuts
Sugar cereals
Snack cracker, potato chips
White pasta, white rice, fried rice
All-purpose white flour

Try incorporating these grains into your families meal instead:
Brown rice, whole -wheat pasta
100% whole wheat flour
English muffins, whole grain bagels
Low fat, whole grain breads

When preparing meats or fish use the following methods: Broil, baking, and roasting are the healthiest ways to prepare. You can also poach and steam.

Pork, Beef, Lamb and Veal - Try buying lean cuts and avoid high fat sauces and gravies.

Poultry - Remove any visible skin and fat. Chicken breasts are the best choice.

Fish - It should always be fresh, and never have a bad smell to it.

Dairy- You should use skim or low fat milk. The same goes for cheese.

Healthy eating is an important habit you want to get your children used to. If we don't start at an early age we may be promoting bad eating habits and letting our kids gain unnecessary weight. Our children will learn to be healthy from watching us be healthy as well. Here are some tips to encourage our kids to be healthy.

1. Make sure you are serving your children kid size portions. Just because something is healthy does not mean you can still eat too much of it in one sitting.

2. Pay attention to what they are drinking. Sugary drinks are nothing but empty calories and can add unnecessary calories into your child's diet.

3. Monitor what your child is eating when they are at school. Pack their lunch the night before. Make sure to add vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. You can add an occasional treat.

4. When you go grocery shopping avoid sugary treats. Instead of ice cream try Italian ice, or pretzels and popcorn instead chips.

5. Don't get mad if your child does not eat everything on their plate. They might be full and can not finish everything. If they get hungry later give them some fruit, cheese, or vegetables. They need to learn when they are full on their own. Forcing them to clean their plate will hinder that process.

6. Let your child have an occasional treat. If they are banned from treats they are going to gorge on treats when you are not around. Have treats for special occasions.

7. Encourage your kid to be active, go outside with them and play. Physical activity in your daily routine will help your kids learn to be active.

After a long night of fasting, your body needs healthy nutrients to get started right. You want to stay away from refined sugars and anything that has a lot of saturated fat. Try and get at least 5 grams of protein or 5 grams of fiber in your breakfast, getting both is optimal. Below are ten healthy breakfast ideas for you to get your day going with the right fuel.

1. Oatmeal- You can add nuts and fruit for a little extra flavor.

2. Smoothies - These are good if you are on the go or wake up late and have no time to make a big breakfast. Protein shakes are also another good idea if you are on the go.

3. Whole wheat, bran or muffins made with whole wheat. You can add some blueberries or a banana for extra flavor.

4. Eggs- You can make an omelet, scrambled eggs, breakfast casserole, or put the eggs in a whole wheat pita.

5. Breakfast burritos- vegetables, egg whites, salsa, low fat shredded cheese all wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.

6. Cold cereal - Try brands that have less sugar, and serve it with topped with fruit.

7. Multigrain pancakes or waffles, with fruit and yogurt or topped with peanut butter.

8. Low far cottage cheese, mix in some fruit.

9. Granola bars or granola cereals.

10. Breakfast sandwiches - try using turkey sausage.

Taking the time to sit down and enjoy a meal together can have a positive effect on you and your family. It's a time to catch up on the events that happened during the day and also the time to teach your children about healthy eating. Plan out your meals for the week to cut down on time and also save money. Planning out your meals can help you with unnecessary spending. Here are some Healthy dinner tips:

1. When food shopping for your dinners, walk around the perimeter of the store first. Start in the fresh produce section. If you stay clear of the middle of the supermarket you are going to buy healthier foods instead of junk.

2. When buying meats, look for meat with out the skin or for leaner cuts. If the skin is still on remove it before cooking or before serving.

3. When shopping, prepare a list and make sure you ate before hand. Otherwise you may be tempted to buy junk food or buy items you don't need.

4. When portioning the food on the plates, put more vegetables than starchy foods.

5. Limit your intake of refined sugars at dinner, they are unhealthy and should be limited.

A few ideas for a healthy dinner:

1. Rotisserie chicken
2. Chef or Chicken Caesar salad ( use light dressing)
3. Grilled salmon ( or any kind of fish your family enjoys)
4. Grilled pork tenderloin
5. A hearty sandwich ( on whole wheat ) and a nice soup

It's easy to change the way your child eats lunch at school. One way to cut back on expenses is to make your son or daughter a packed lunch for school. Try these tips to keep your child from getting bored with packed lunches, while making sure they enjoy a healthy lunch.

Alter the fillings you put in the sandwich. Don't always use luncheon meat. Make egg, chicken, or shrimp salad. Add a piece of avocado, or change up the cheese you use.

Change the bread you are using for sandwiches, one day use whole wheat bread, then the next use whole wheat muffins, or pitas, bagels and even use fresh rolls from the bakery. Make the sandwich into shapes.

Make your own snack mix. You can make a big batch on Sunday for the week and put them in individual bags. These are even good for a little snack when they get home from school. You can add dried fruit, berries, raisins, or yogurt covered nuts. These are fun and easy to make.

Veggies and dip are always fun as well, and you can make sure your child is getting a serving of vegetables.

Cut up fruit and yogurt can be used as a little dessert. Or use cut up fruit and cheese.
If you do decide to put cookies, or a muffin in their lunch. Make them mini or with whole wheat flour.

Don't forget to put a little something special in their to make them smile.

Having a sweet tooth can affect your diet negatively if you choose candies, cookies, cakes or pies. You need to have substitutes that conquer your craving for sweets without wrecking your diet.

There are healthy foods that taste great and can help curb your sweet tooth cravings. Use the list of foods below as a guide to using healthy substitutes for calorie and fat loaded sugary foods.

Blueberries
Raspberries
Fat free, sugar free jello
Fat free, sugar free puddings
100 calorie snacks
Dried fruit mixes
Trail mix
Yogurt Parfait
Frozen fat free fruit juice
Skinny Cow Ice Cream
Fruit mixed with low fat cool whip
Smoothies
Banana Bread made with sugar substitute and low fat dairy ingredients
Strawberries dipped in sugar free pudding

Starting at a young age you can protect your immune system, simply by making sure the food you eat is healthy. Eating healthy can help your immune system by providing the needed vitamins and minerals you need to fight illness, infections, and also help your body after trauma.

Many of these are in fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Below is a list of vitamins and nutrients that affect your immune system and what foods you can find them in.

Vitamin C - Strawberries, kiwi, red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, mango, and cantaloupes.

Vitamin E - peanuts, mango, pumpkin, grapes, spinach, pear, blueberries.

Folic Acid - Beans, nuts, dark green vegetables, orange juice, banana, kiwi, and folic acid fortified rice, pasta, and breads.

Vitamin B-6 - Lean meats, fish, nuts, poultry, mango, and grapes.

Zinc - Poultry, seafood, beef, seeds, nuts, tofu, milk, and beans.

Iron - Clams, oysters, lean beef, peas, eggs, nuts, seeds, and green vegetables.

While it may be hard to incorporate all of those foods into your diets, use this handy list of the top ten foods that will boost your immune system.

1. Blueberries
2. Broccoli
3. Garlic
4. Flaxseed
5. Skim Milk
6. Green Tea
7. Soy
8. Spinach
9. Salmon
10. Tomatoes

When trying to eat healthy, many of us fail at finding healthy foods we love because certain foods can taste bland. When cooking you want to use fresh produce and different herbs and spices to give your meals extra flavor. Below are a few suggestions to give healthy foods a bit more interest and flavor.

Water - When drinking water all day every day you may start to get tired of it because it is tasteless. Try adding some fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice for a healthy fat free tasty drink.

Broccoli - add some lemon juice or melt fat free cheese on top. Sprinkle a mixed seasoning such as Mrs. Dash's or Creole seasoning on top to give it a flavorful kick.

Celery - Spread some low fat peanut butter or cream cheese on top, add some raisins.

Baby Carrots- Dip them into fat free ranch dressing for a nice healthy snack. Cover them with chunky salsa for a blend of tastes and textures to liven up this healthy low-calorie snack.

Bananas - Dip them into sugar free chocolate pudding for a low calorie, healthy version of a chocolate covered banana.

Apples - Spread fat free peanut butter on the slices, or dip the slices into fat free yogurt.

Canned tuna - Use fat free ranch dressing as a change from fat free mayonnaise.

Oatmeal - add fresh fruits, raisins, cinnamon or flavored sugar free syrup.

Fish - Top your fish with fat free salsa or a squirt of lemon. Sprinkle herb or spice blends on top (like lemon pepper or Jamaican jerk seasoning) for easy flavor that takes fish to a new level.

Having healthy skin is important to many women, but buying all of those creams can be expensive. Changing your diet can be an inexpensive way to get the healthy skin you want and deserve. Adding these ten foods can help with aging, increase your radiance and the overall appearance of your skin.

1. Citrus Fruits - limes, lemons, grapefruits, oranges help skin to feel firm, and looking young.
2. Water- helps keep the skin clear and clean
3. Mangoes - help in repairing dry skin, damaged cells, and they also promote healthy skin.
4. Carrots - enhance the maintenance and development of skin cells.
5. Salmon - hakes your skin feel soft and smooth.
6. Avocados - help in preventing premature aging, help retain moisture, prevents acne and pale complexions.
7. Green Tea - has a high amount of antioxidants, this helps reduce inflammation and protect the cell membranes. They also help with sunburn.
8. Blueberries- are one of the highest sources of getting antioxidants. They help against premature aging and skin damaging diseases, and helps your skin look younger longer.
9. Iron rich foods - red meat, eggs, spinach- Having low iron will make your skin look yellow, and causes dark circles under your eyes. Iron rich foods will help prevent this from happening.
10. Potatoes - provide copper. When copper is mixed with vitamin C and zinc it will help prevent your skin from sagging.