If Your Kids Are Anything Like Mine, Empower Them to Make the Right Choice

By Bibi Kasrai 

If your kids are anything like mine:

Because I am a health food educator and mom to two teenagers, people assume that my family eats healthy 24/7. I wish that would be the case but let's debunk this myth.

My family lives in the US of A and like any other family is more influenced by TV, commercials, video games, peers, school, internet, billboards, smell of junk food stores, well anything besides mom. If we don't change as a society our kids won't change either and that's why I really admire what the first lady is trying to do, even I must say I started my business a year before she came to the White House.

My kids like burgers and fries and full fat ice cream topped with junk like any other kid given the choice. How can we fix this?

Long ago, I realized that we can't change it by force feeding them broccoli and cauliflowers. They will hate it and hate us too. So I started to change them marginally by teaching them how to make chocolate chip cookies only a bit healthier with no white sugar and with fewer and darker chocolate chips that have flavanoids. Adding a bit of flax seeds to them. They actually loved it.

Also, keep in mind that opening and closing the refrigerator is an epidemic of their generation. I think they do it when they don't know what else to do with themselves. So the best tip I have for you is to have some washed and chopped veggies and fruits ready to be eaten on a shelf they can see so when they open that door they have no choice but to go for them.

Empower them to make their dinner. For example, If they like French fries, teach them how to make oven baked fries, which have less calories and actually taste better too. Or introduce them to very easy to make kale chips. Simply deveine them, rub them with olive oil and salt and put in oven on 200 degrees for 10 minutes and voila.

I have learned that peer environment works best for any type of learning. I have observed at my own summer camps that when kids are together they would even eat stones if the kid next to them tried it. My daughter has tried things like salsa, hummus, vegetable chili, zucchini pancakes and kale chips at camp, which she would have never had at home!!! And then she has a Eureka moment and screams: mommy I tried salsa and I really liked it.

How You Can Cut Calories From Fast Food

By Mira Burton

From the moment you walk through the door it's safe to say you're fighting a losing battle. Fast food chains aren't famed for their healthy options. Nonetheless there's plenty to get by on.

First things first, cut out the chips. They're one of the highest sources of saturated fat out there, and you could just about stuff yourself with chicken instead and get better results. Fortunately, most chains offer substitution deals on their meals now, chips for beans or corn on the cob, for instance. Straight away you've shaved about 400 calories off of your meal, and it only gets better from there.

Now, fried chicken isn't healthy. Frying isn't healthy at the best of times, and most fast food outlets are using so much oil they might even be responsible for the fuel crisis. If you must eat fried chicken, go for a drumstick. Prices are the same and they have a smaller surface area, which means less deep-fried badness. A KFC drumstick comes out at about 140 calories, with 8g of fat, 2g of it saturated. It's hardly good for you, but a couple of those with beans and corn might even let you stay under 500 calories for a surprisingly filling meal. You're not going to set any records in the field of healthy eating, but it's better than nothing. Or it's better than chips, at least.

If you have to pick a fatty side try the coleslaw. The medium tubs most places give you might even out at 200 calories, just under if you're lucky. But coleslaw is pretty much just cabbage and carrots, both of which are stuffed with handy vitamins, potassium and fiber. Again, you could do better, but at least you're not doing worse, right?

Moving back to chicken, it's not always served on the bone. There are plenty of nuggets and sandwiches floating around out there, Now, if you're happy to eat a small meal nuggets might suffice, they usually come in at around 220 calories for four, and with a diet drink and non-fried side you might just get away with it at under 500. For something more filling there are usually friend and grilled sandwiches going spare. Firstly, pick the grilled option, obviously. Try and stick to one with less mayonnaise and bread if at all possible. Bear in mind fried options often are generally smaller, to try and even the calories out in the menu. Grilled is still the healthier choice, though.

Fast food isn't healthy. We all know it, as much as the advertising campaigns would have us think otherwise. But you don't have to go hungry after a long day's work, or eat alone when your friends are finished. Think about your meals, and you'll usually find a sensible option among the chaff.

Staying Healthy - Picking the Leanest Cuts of Meat

By Mira Burton 

As a rule, if you're looking to cut down on the calories without making the jump to vegetarianism you're going to be eating poultry and fish. Chicken is remarkably healthy, and as long as you through away the skin a nice breast cut will serve you fine. Fish has just about no fat at all if you have the sense not to buy it from the chip shop, but the taste isn't for everyone.

The fact is, sometimes you just need your red meat. In the interests of promoting healthy options though, you can look below for a few tips on getting the leanest cuts around.

Officially, to qualify as lean a cut needs to have about 10% fat content, with less than 4.5% of which being saturates. Moving into extra lean cuts they can't have more than 5% fat content, with the 'of which saturated' limitations dropping down to a measly 2%. Remember, as a baseline for choosing meat darker means better. While everyone likes to see that pretty marbling effect in their steak, those white streaks in red steaks are just rivers of fat. In mince the pinker the appearance the more white fat is mixed in, ideally ground meat should be as dark as possible.

Now, when you're picking out beef and veal it's always best to go for the round cuts. A six-ounce eye of round beef steak will treat you to about 7g of fag, 2.4g of which is saturated. The 50g of protein on top of this makes it an EXCELLENT steak for protein, though the sirloin tip side steak is leaner still.

There is a catch to lean beef, since it tends to be less flavourful and considerably tougher. This isn't to say it's bad quality, especially if you're a decent chef, but you'll likely need to marinade a lot of them. The top round steak comes highly recommended, however. It's the second leanest out there, while also being substantially more tender than other cuts from the round and sirloin.

Moving beyond the realm of beef, there's a few other things to consider. Lamb is pretty in demand, and leans towards being incredibly tender to boot. Head to the butcher and ask for a cut from the shank of the leg. With a little trimming to cut down on fat these cuts qualify as lean while having a pleasantly strong flavour.

As ever, you should always be aware of what you're eating. Lean cuts are nice, but sometimes you just want to indulge in a tender Rib-eye or T-bone. In general it's best to just look out for marbling and stay healthy. Trying to cut down on fat doesn't mean missing out on red meat.

Nutrisystem 2013 Reviews

By Dino Gomez 

Nutrisystem is a weight management system that has been around for decades now. The concept behind Nutrisystem is to provide a weight management meal plan which combines the convenience of having healthy meals delivered straight to the dieter's doorstep. Healthy meals are chosen by the dieter according to his customised meal plan and his preference. And while Nutrisystem is for men and women, Nutrisystem for men proves to be the most popular product since men on the go are mostly too busy to prepare their own healthy meals.

The features of the Nutrisystem for men product:

Foods are prepared and delivered to your doorstep

Foods are guaranteed to be flavorful and fresh all the time

Members may avail of an auto delivery discount

Members get unlimited access to the Nutrisystem site for support

Foods are delivered for free

Orders may be processed upon priority

Members may also call their counsellors via phone

Meals are inspired by chef creations

Members may customise their meals based on their preferences

Meals arrive frozen and will take a few minutes to thaw through the microwave.

There are instructions to tell customers what to do as well as the nutritional information for the meal.

Men are allowed to eat up to 1,500 calories

Pros and cons of using Nutrisystem

Pros:

1). Dieters will never have to shop, cook, and prepare meals on their own which often leads to higher caloric meals than what is healthy for them. Since meals are portioned and are tailor made to suit a woman or a man's calorie needs, there are less mistakes in eating the wrong types of food and portion sizes are correct for a healthy diet.

2). Members may choose from a wide variety of meals and desserts. Dieters will never run out of delicious and nutritious foods to eat. All meals are delivered frozen to retain their freshness and flavour. It is also easy to reheat since you just have to place it in a microwave oven and wait.

3). Meals may be customized up to months in advance; you may even manage your meals and your deliveries form the members' exclusive site.

4). Members also get access to helpful information like the right kind of food to eat in between eating the Nutrisystem meal deliveries as well as exercise tips and tricks to lose weight.

Cons:

Although the Nutrisystem weight management system is convenient for members, there is no assurance that dieters will be able to lose weight just by following these meal options. The members are left unsupervised most of the time with their diet in between the scheduled Nutrisystem meals. Most who tried this dieting system were able to take the required maximum calories that were instructed for them but were quick to return to their old heating habits.

Raw Food Weight Loss Success Stories - Meet Dave and Angela Minus 400 Pounds

By Angela R Parker 

The raw food diet has helped people enduring the worst of health problems slim down quick. Simply eating the excellent foods mother nature designed for you will trim your waist line naturally - And might just eliminate all your other health problems along the way.

Results are rapid and outstanding.

Dave - "the raw food trucker"

In 2008, Dave weighted over 430 pounds and felt - literally - "like he was dying." Dave had been suffering the rough side-effects of the (S.A.D.) Standard American Diet for years. Diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, failing kidneys, high blood pressure are just a few of the horrible ailments he endured after a life of poor eating. He was taking over 25 medications to cover up the health problems of his obesity.

But only 4 days after starting a raw living diet, Dave was able to stop taking those medications doctors told him he needed to survive. He immediately experienced a greater level of energy and expressed that his depression was simply floating away.

Fast forward to 2010, Dave had lost over 230 pounds on the raw diet. The abundance of nutrition in natural foods also cured his cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Today he rests at an ideal male weight of about 180 pounds.

Dave is wonderful testament to how easy the raw food diet is. He consumes his healthy dose of fresh living foods while trucking extreme distances.

Angela Stokes - "deflated like a balloon"

Angela is another individual who had fallen victim to the horrible weight-packing properties of cooked and processed foods. In 2006, she weighted over 300 pounds and "was in a lot of pain a lot of the time." Her mobility was restricted by her weight and she carried a poor self image linked to her obesity and skin problems.

After reading a book about the benefits of the raw diet, Angela made the switch began reaping the rewards immediately. After over five years of being alone, she was dating within a month of switching to a natural diet. Rapid cleansing from living foods cured her skin problems as she dropped weight.

Skip to 2008, Angela had lost over 170 pounds eating the raw diet. "I'm happier than I've ever been," she says. She is now a prominent figure in the raw food world, helping thousands lose weight fast and get healthy like she did through the power of living foods.

What does this mean for me?

Dave and Angela are just 2 examples of millions that have discovered the amazing benefits that only the perfect design of nature can provide. They lost over half a pound a day on average and over a pound a day in the initial stages of their transformations. The way raw food has remedied their cases of extreme obesity and poor health means that anybody can experience the excellent benefits of a natural diet.

Raw foods have mother nature's balanced combination of enzymes, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. They will:

Slim you down naturally and quickly

Maintain your ideal weight without the "yoyo-ing" effect of other diets

Cleanse your body and cure other problems, from Angela's acne to Dave's colon cancer

5 Super Weight Loss Foods (Also Suitable For Vegetarians and Vegans)

By Laura Ng

Let's cut to the chase.

Carrot

Carrot is one of the best plant-based weight loss foods due to its low calorie but high nutritional content (such as vitamins A, C, beta carotene and fiber). It fills you up easily, preventing you from heaping on excess calories.

Tip: Carrot is more nutritious when eaten cooked than raw as cooking breaks down its tough cellular walls. This enables your body to convert more beta carotene into vitamin A.

Apple

Like carrot, apple is also relatively low in calories and high in fiber. You can eat one or two as one single meal but do not consume apples for all your meals. You need a balanced mix of all weight loss foods to obtain multiple vitamins and minerals for good health and effective fat loss.

Banana

Banana contains a good amount of natural sugar (sucrose, fructose and glucose) and fiber that together, provide you with sustained and substantial boost of energy within minutes. This boost of energy in turn kick starts your metabolism for fat loss.

Reminder: Banana works effectively in an active body. If you eat lots of bananas but refuse to move, the excess calories in the fruit will get stocked up in your fat reserve when not expended via exercises.

Whole Grain Bread and Biscuits

I always choose whole grain bread and biscuits as they are rich in vitamin B, iron and fiber. The goodness of fiber, whether soluble or insoluble, is plentiful. You're aware that constipation is a common problem in obesity and during dieting (with meat-laden diet). Fiber not only gives you a feeling of fullness but also helps to prevent constipation by flushing out toxins from your body.

Fiber also stabilizes your blood sugar and controls your food cravings as it slows down your sugar absorption into the bloodstreams. Thus fiber plays an extremely important role in your weight loss diet. Keep your body free of toxins and you'll lose weight easily and naturally.

Coconut Oil

Unlike other oils, coconut oil contains fat-burning fat. It helps to regulate thyroid function and boosts your metabolism to effect weight loss. I was skeptical at first when a doctor told me that. But after few years of consumption, I am convinced. All you need is to replace your existing cooking oil with coconut oil or you can also add 1 - 3 tablespoonfuls into your diet, and you can start reaping the weight loss benefits of this powerful metabolism-boosting food.

Weight Loss Secret: Lose Weight With Ease

Everybody knows that losing weight is a continuous process that involves diet and exercises. Irrespective of the sex (male or female) of the person intending to lose weight, a lot depends on an individual's dedication and determination. There are numerous weight lose secrets applicable for both men and women these secrets include:

1. Take regular walk: Walking is a physical exercise and very useful for those who intend to lose some fat. Walk as much as you can even if it is simply around your garden. Daily walk will help to produce stronger legs that will find it easy to accommodate the stress of jogging when you choose to begin.


2. Drink a lot of water: This is important, especially when doing exercises in warmer climate. Take a bottle filled with water every time you go out.


3. Eat breakfast: This is an important aspect of your life that you should not forget. Never be in a hurry that you eventually skip your breakfast. It provides you the vigour and strength needed to get you through the day. Ensure that you take your complete set of meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Supper). These meals help to keep your body strength as you attempt to lose weight. Food is the fuel that the body requires to function; with insufficient food, your body will not function well.


4. Eliminate sugar from your diet: Avoid sugar as much as you can. Do not include sugar in your tea or coffee. Reduce your intake of processed food as they continue a lot of hidden calories. Replace these processed foods with fruits and vegetables. This will help increase the rate at which you will succeed in losing weight eventually.


5. Increase your Vitamin and mineral intake: Take a multiplicity of vegetables and fruits supplies. They will supply your body with vital vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that will help you stay healthy. They will also serve as fibres which will assist you lose weight. Do not limit your vegetables and fruits to green coloured ones; try a multiplicity of colours - red and yellow peppers and purple cabbage.


6. Maintain a food journal: This is an important Weight Loss Secret that should not be neglected. By keeping an honest and accurate record of your meals, you can keep track of the quantity of calorie intake and determine how to eliminate the extra calories.


7. Have an attainable goal: It is easier to keep up with losing weight if you make your goals practical and attainable. Do not place your target at losing five pounds in a week rather aim at losing a pound in a week; that way, you get to lose five pounds within a month.