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The Habit of Healthy Eating and Exercising
Most of us have developed bad habits when it comes to how we eat. Junk food. Snacks. High calorie drinks with no nutritional value. These are all tough habits to break. The habit of eating healthy and exercising is probably one of the toughest habits for people to develop. Why is it that this is such a complex task? It may all come down to your mindset first. As with any habit you have to want to make changes. If you don’t have a strong enough desire to lose weight and get healthy, you most likely won’t form a strong enough habit. It is very easy to view weight loss…
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Why You Should Avoid Processed Foods
If you’re trying to eat better, understanding why you should avoid processed foods should be the number one step on your list. Understanding how processed foods are less nutritious is an important part of the shift to healthier eating. Why Are Processed Foods Bad for You? Do you love fast food burgers, baked goods and delivery pizza? If so, you are eating processed foods. When you take a bite out of an apple or eat banana, you are enjoying a food that is free of processing (as long as the apple is not dipped in caramel, and the banana is not found in banana cream pie). What Is a Processed…
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Three Ingredient Banana Cake
With three very spotty bananas on my counter, I knew I had to act fast or they would be compost. Just, fyi, I am not much of a baker or cook. I do have a favourite banana bread recipe, but I knew I had to find something easier and faster than my old standby. Pinterest to the Rescue! I turned to my Pinterest account and found an intriguing recipe for three ingredient banana cake from creeklinehouse.com. (See the original pin.) I had three ripe bananas, eggs, and a cake mix that had been in my pantry for far too long. I figured I had nothing to lose. After assembling my…
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Twelve Healthy Foods for Women
Healthy Foods For Women And Why You Need Them Women’s health depends upon a lot of different factors. Between hormones, our busy lifestyles, and the stressful demands placed upon us by society, it is easy to fall into unhealthy habits. Overworking, over-exercising, and neglecting to practice self-care are just a few ways that women can compromise their health, and by extension, their lives. Luckily, the road to a healthy and balanced life has a simple beginning: the right diet. Read on to learn about twelve healthy foods for women including a brief explanation of just why we need them. Eggs Filled with tons of nutrients and vitamins, egg yolks are…
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Healthy Cooking – Salt and Seasonings
Salt and seasonings can turn an ordinary meal into a work of culinary art, but many people are concerned about getting too much salt in their diets and timid about experimenting with herbs and spices. Salt can cause problems with high blood pressure and water retention or bloating. While you do need some salt in your diet for good health, those of us who enjoy fast food and prepackaged snacks typically get way too much. When shopping for ingredients, look for items labeled as “low sodium” or “sodium free.” By choosing lower sodium foods, you can control how much salt you add to your meals. When you must use salt,…
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Healthy Cooking – The Pleasures and Perils of Sugar
Sugar is definitely an area where most of us tend to have too much of a good thing. Your brain needs to have sugars in order to function. But this doesn’t mean you need to have that doughnut! Eating processed sugar provides a great jolt that makes you feel fantastic while it lasts, but then leads to a crash as blood sugar levels drop right back down again. Some people are more sensitive to this than others. I personally have felt a natural sugar crash from eating a whole apple by itself. Having some protein tends to moderate this for me. Maybe have some cheese with that apple? Children seem…
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Healthy Cooking – Using a Slow Cooker
Using a slow cooker to prepare healthy meals can make life easier for any busy cook. This is a healthy way to cook and can really be a time saver in your life. With slow cookers you can add ingredients to the pot, set the temperature, and then walk away for hours. This can be especially helpful if you have a job outside of your home or just a very busy schedule. You can put healthy foods in to cook but then you can continue with your activities knowing that you’ll have a great meal for dinner, ready to eat at the end of the work day. The biggest complaint…
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Techniques for Healthy Cooking – Steaming
Steaming is very healthy and flavourful way to cook. It is especially good for cooking fresh vegetables. You can purchase a special steamer that plugs into the wall or you can convert an ordinary pan into a steamer by inserting a special steaming basket made of metal or bamboo. With steaming, you just add add some water to the pan, then add the steaming basket. Your veggies go on top of the basket so that the water doesn’t actually cover the vegetables or even touch them. You’ll then need to put a lid on your pot to keep the steam in. As you heat the water at the bottom of…
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Healthy Cooking – Grilling – Baking – Broiling
When it comes to healthy cooking, several methods that give great taste and good health are grilling, baking, and broiling. None of these methods add extra fat to your food and they all impart a wonderful flavour and texture to your meals. Grilling One of the healthiest ways to cook is to use your grill. Here in Canada, many people grill outdoors year round, even during the cold and snows of winter. Most outdoor grills use charcoal or propane gas. Gas grilling is quicker than using charcoal, but doesn’t have the same flavour as charcoal. Grilling can also be done indoors. There are many indoor grill models available for purchase.…
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Healthy Cooking – Healthy Fats and Substitutes
Many times when people decide to eat healthy foods, they try to eliminate fats from their diet. However, your body needs healthy fats and substitutes in order to function properly. The fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K, and F are absorbed by the body with the fat that we eat, and are also necessary for the metabolism of certain minerals. To understand how dietary fat is important, you’ll need to know the difference between saturated fats and unsaturated fats. Saturated Fats Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are animal based. You find these fats in meats and dairy products such as bacon, butter, and lard. These are the fats that…
