Is Lobster A Healthy Or Unhealthy Food?

In our modern day, it seems that nearly everything we eat carries the risk of being unhealthy. Eating fish has known health benefits, yet some species of fish may contain unsafe levels of mercury and PCB's. Eating fresh fruit is known to be healthy, yet many fruits are sprayed with chemical pesticides the residues of which are of questionable risk. The same can be said of vegetables.

Whether the above mentioned food items are healthy or unhealthy is beyond the scope of this article. It does point out, though, that the debate continues on which foods contribute to good health, and which foods pose a health risk. This article will present information for the reader to determine which camp lobster belongs in: healthy or unhealthy.

Let's start with the few arguments that put forth the case that lobster is unhealthy. There are not many. We've read that one doctor advises against eating lobster because it may contain parasites and viruses. Nothing like pointing out the obvious. Every living creature on Earth may contain parasites and viruses, which is why any animal-based food product should be cooked before being eaten. Cooking eliminates this risk. One risk that cooking will not eliminate is excess levels of mercury. No matter how much you cook any fish or seafood item, it will not remove mercury. How much mercury does lobster have?

Before we answer that question, we need to look a little at mercury and the reasons it is in seafood to begin with. The FDA states in their report 'What you need to know about mercury in fish and shellfish' that 'nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury' and that 'Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans.' What can be gleaned from this report are two facts. One, that all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. Two, Mercury occurs naturally as well. If mercury occurs naturally, it is probably safe to assume that all fish and shellfish have always contained traces of mercury. Which begs the question: are mercury levels in fish and shellfish any higher now than they were 50 or 100 years ago? The answer is that scientists do no know for sure, as tests for mercury in fish were not done back then.

Regardless, the FDA lists four fish varieties that have higher level of mercury than all others: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. They also list five that are very low in mercury: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish. Lobster is closer to the 5 on the low end than the 4 on the high end. Even the 4 fish varieties that have higher levels of mercury are safe to eat in moderation for all people other than pregnant mothers, and mothers nursing infant children. It is only these 4 varieties that should be avoided in the two circumstances just mentioned. Lobster is not included in the list of fish to avoid when pregnant.

The final argument against lobster that we have heard is not based on science at all. The argument is that lobsters are bottom feeders and eat decaying and rotting fish that sink to the bottom. The logic of the argument is that since lobsters are eating these things that aren't healthy for people, people shouldn't be eating lobsters. The problem with this argument is that it is not based on facts. The fact is that lobsters eat mainly live food. Their primary diet consists of live fish, clams, crabs, mussels and sea urchins. Lobsters do eat dead bait in traps, but humans eat dead fish too! Ask any lobsterman, and they will tell you: the fresher the bait, the better it will 'fish.' This is trade language which, when translated, means that if you put fresh bait in your traps it will attract more lobsters. Old bait does not attract many lobsters at all.

When fish gets old and borderline saleable at a seafood market, it begins to emit an ammonia smell. At that point, which can be about 5 to 7 days after being caught, it is no longer appealing to humans. It is the same for lobsters. They prefer live, fresh food, but will eat dead bait in traps if it is fresh and not old. This last argument against lobster as a healthy food is the weakest and not based upon fact at all, but rather on fallacy: lobsters eat primarily live food, not decaying, rotting dead fish.

Now we'll look at the factors in favor of lobster being a healthy food. There are several health reasons that lobster should be eaten. The first comes from the American Heart Associations Page on Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids which recommends eating fish at least 2 times per week. A quote from the American Heart Association is worth sharing here, 'Fish is a good source of protein and doesn't have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do.'

Lobster is indeed an excellent source of lean protein. 100 grams of lobster meat contains 98 calories, 21 grams of protein, and only 0.6 grams of fat. Contrast that to 100 grams of white, skinless chicken meat which has 168 calories, 31 grams of protein, and 3.6 grams of fat. Gram for gram, even skinless chicken contains in excess of 500% more fat than lobster. Lean beef contains more than 10 times as much fat as lobster. Obviously, lobster is an excellent source of lean protein.

Lobster is more than just a lean source of protein. Lobster also contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with good heart health. There are several valuable benefits from a diet which regularly contains Omega-3 fatty acids. Again quoting from the American Heart Association, 'The ways that omega-3 fatty acids reduce CVD (cardio-vascular disease) risk are still being studied. However, research has shown that they decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure (slightly).' The report further states, 'Large-scale epidemiologic studies suggest that people at risk for coronary heart disease benefit from consuming omega-3 fatty acids from plants and marine sources.' Lobster does not contain as much Omega-3 fatty acids as salmon, which has the highest content, but is a good source nonetheless. In summary, lobster is high in protein, extremely low in fat, is a beneficial source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are healthy for the heart and reduce the growth rate of plaque.

Lobsters feed primarily on live food: fish, crabs, clams and mussels. Lobster have a very healthy diet which would be beneficial to humans, not harmful to them. There you have the arguments for and against lobster as a healthy food source. The evidence suggests lobster is a very healthy food choice. Not only is it very healthy, it tastes absolutely extravagant. Enjoy your lobster!

About Author: G. Roy is a former recreational Maine lobster fisherman and owner of the site Lobster-s.com. If you enjoy this article, Please stop by for a vist. You'll find everything you ever wanted to know about the king of crustaceans, including many lobster recipes.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Succeed With Healthy Meals

The biggest excuse I hear when it comes to eating healthy, is it's much easier to eat unhealthy. Well having a quick healthy meal is just as easy to come by then having a quick unhealthy meal. Lets take a look at some of the main reasons people have this negative thought engraved into their mind. At then end I will share a quick healthy recipe I have used for ages.

Fast food restaurants and advertising are the worst factors when trying to eat better, healthier meals. Turning on your television or computer to see advertisement after advertisement from the hundreds of eat quick and unhealthy franchises makes it hard to focus on choosing healthier foods. In order to kick the notion that eating healthy is hard, a number of factors can come into play. Everyone should realize it is just as easy to create a quick healthy meal.

Knowing what healthy food is, is usually up in the air. Getting a basic knowledge of what is and isn't healthy can quickly change your eating patterns. A quick healthy meal is something that may take a bit to learn but when it is learnt, can make all the difference in the world. There are many different sources for finding out healthy alternatives, so take a look around and learn what is good for you to eat.

Being organized is another big thing for seeing success in eating better. You are probably thinking, how can being organized help me eat better? Well, it has been known for years that having foods planned in advance will help you stay on track and succeed. By this, I mean, wright out what you are going to have each day.Even do it for a week at a time. The only way to make this work though, is being organized, and have all the food available to you when it comes time to cook. It's to easy to mess up and not have the right food at home, next thing you know, you will be sitting in the nearest fast food drive through.

A trick I use to help make it even easier on myself not to fail at this, is do everything all at once. What that means is, usually I will choose a day where I have a bit of free time and do a big batch of something for the whole week. This makes it easier to whip up a quick healthy meal on the go. An example is, I will take out 10 chicken breasts, season and cut them, and then fry them up in a pan. After all the chicken is cooked, I throw it into a container and toss it in the fridge. Now, I have chicken to make a quick healthy meal all week. I usually will cook something that will work for many different meals. It is easy to use chicken in any type of meal.

Now for the free recipe. This to me is a simple quick healthy meal that anyone can create and enjoy. What I will do is just explain how I put it all together. I won't say how much of the ingredients I use because it will be different for each individual that makes it. Make your portion as big or as little as you want. So, the meal is going to be a Chicken Caesar in a Pita. I take a chicken breast out of the freezer; put it into the microwave for a minute to let it thaw out. Cut it into little chunks of your desired size. I use some olive oil, granulated garlic powder, and some hot sauce to season the meat. Throw the meat into a medium heat frying pan. I stir the meat regularly, after about 5 or so minutes the chicken should be done. From there, I cut up some roman lettuce and grate some cheese. I will mix the chicken, cheese and lettuce in a bowl and add some caesar dressing on top. Put a lid on the bowl and shake it up until fully mixed. Once mixed, I fill up a pita with the contents of the bowl. And there you have it, one quick healthy meal. The total time for all this is about 10 - 15 minutes at the most.

Brett Nordin is the proud owner of the blog 'Health and Fitness For Anyone' and is dedicated to revealing his knowledge and information to you. To find out more please view his blog site http://healthfitnessforall.blogspot.com/

Healthy Meals To Lose Weight

Eating healthy meals to lose weight that also are tasty doesn't have to be an elusive proposition. It does take a strong determination on your part to resolve to do so. There are tons of recipes out there, healthy and not healthy. It is sometimes time consuming to weed through to the ones you really enjoy plus are healthy meals that will help you lose weight.

Having healthy meals helps you to lose weight partly by decreasing the desire to eat unnecessary calories. Our bodies often signal our brains that we need to eat because it is missing a certain nutrient. If we answer that signal by eating more of the wrong things devoid of nutritional value, your body will signal again. This can contribute to continual weight gain. Of course, our body doesn't plainly say, "hey, I really need some vitamin C in here, could you eat an orange please?" We need to be aware of the value of our choices. We need to make a conscious effort to provide our bodies with well rounded meals. If we don't do this, our bodies can't be expected to function at their best. We will likely at some point develop health problems either from poor nutrition, weight gain or both. This affects our overall enjoyment of life.

Simple Changes To Make Meals Healthier

Changing your daily habits to include healthy meals each and every day may take some effort at first, but once you slowly change these habits, it will get easier. There are a few simple changes that will automatically cut out a lot of extra calories. These are minor changes that can have a major impact. They are things that should be considered in your overall plan to lose weight.

1. Use olive oil as much as possible when needing oil or a vegetable oil. No lard or saturated fats.

2. Avoid frying foods whenever possible. Baking is much healthier.

3. Avoid pure butter and even margarine (as most are full of chemicals). Use a butter specially made without transfat whenever possible. It is much more healthy for your heart.

4. Avoid meats with a lot of fat in them. Cut off the fat whenever possible.

5. Sit down when you eat. If your family resides with you, sit down together for meals.

6. Eat slower, chewing each bite at least 15-20 times before swallowing. This will help you enjoy your food more and give your body a chance to know when its full, avoiding overeating.

7. Limit your intake of sugary drinks like sodas and juices. They add unhealthy calories and actually cause you to want to eat more due to the fluctuation in blood sugar levels. Alcohol can have a similar effect.

Healthy Meals, Healthy Snacking, Healthy Lifestyle

In addition to choosing healthy meals, to lose weight will include watching your snacking habits too. Healthier snacks between meals will help you feel better and keep your blood sugar level more balanced. These are all lifestyle changes. It doesn't mean you can't have a piece of cheesecake or a bowl of ice cream now and then. On the contrary actually. If your daily nutrition level is good, then it will actually allow an indulgence now and then in a snack that is less than nutritious.

Healthy Meals Begin With Your Resolve

Deciding that you are going to have healthy meals to lose weight is half the battle. Some days you will be tempted to revert back to maybe some unhealthy habit, but resolve that you will find healthy meals that you enjoy. This will likely require some trial and error, but you will find them. Same thing goes with your snacking choices. Many diet plans out there can help you lose weight, but most diets are not healthy and they aren't a plan for lasting weight loss. Only a lifestyle change that you make enjoyable will do that. So deciding on healthy meals to lose weight will be part of that overall health plan for your whole life.

Being a RN for over 2 decades has given me a certain perspective on health and wellness. It is wonderful to be able to contribute to someone feeling better in their health and even help some to build wealth for those looking to work in a rewarding career. http://www.besthealthfunwealth.com

Cooking Healthy Meals - Make A Weekly Meal Plan For Cooking Healthy Meals

I have really grown to enjoy cooking and I do my best at cooking healthy meals for my family. One thing I have found to help me do this is to make a weekly meal plan. It keeps us from eating out too much (which also saves money) and helps with our waist lines too.

So at the beginning of a new week this is what I do. I sit down and make a shopping list for each meal I want to prepare for the week. Once you have everything you need for cooking a healthy meal it makes it hard to back out of making it.

Our breakfast I like to keep simple since we have a hard time getting going in the morning. I like to stick to eggs, turkey bacon or sausage, some veggies to mix in with the eggs, original plain oatmeal (for our toddler) and milk. Some things that I consider basics.

For lunch I like to keep things on hand for sandwiches; lunch meat, cheese, peanut butter and jelly (for the little one). Usually what happens though is we end up with leftovers from dinner so I don't have to pick up too many extras for our lunches.

Now with dinner I like to mix things up a bit to make them a little more interesting and flavorful. I can't say that I'm the most creative person when it comes to cooking healthy meals for dinner. I grew up eating a diet of meat, rice and vegetables. So I don't always know exactly what I want to prepare each week.

What I do though is pull out my collection of recipes from magazines and cookbooks to get some ideas. Yes I use them every week and if you choose the right ones I have found many gear towards cooking healthy meals.

Personally I like to choose any where from three to five meals that I want to prepare. After I know what they are I write down the ingredients that I don't have on hand and add them to the list. Having a list to follow keeps me from forgetting what it is I need to buy and prevents me from grabbing a bunch of things that we don't need.

We still choose eat out once a week because we like to have that break from the kitchen and it is also a treat to eat something that I normally would not prepare at home. We also enjoy entertaining or dining with our friends and family on the weekends. This doesn't stop me from cooking the healthy meals I've planned; I just share them.

As I have already expressed I really enjoy cooking. It makes me feel good that I am taking care of my family by cooking healthy meals. By dining in it puts you in control over how you prepare your meals.The most beneficial tools that I have found do this are recipes from magazines and cookbooks. Visit www.formyhealthyfamily.com to see the cookbooks that I use for cooking healthy meals.

Make Your Own Healthy Meals

Learn to Conquer Your Fears: Make Your Own Healthy Meals

Making your own healthy meals can be intimidating, but it really doesn't have to be. Did you know there are more healthy meal options than eating grilled chicken and salads everyday? There are!

Tips to Make Healthy Meals

Most of us are not chefs in the kitchen. In fact, it's safe to say that very few of us actually like to cook. If that is the case, follow the tips below to create your edible masterpiece. Soon you will be a healthy cooking whiz. Good luck!

Stay away from processed ingredients. Processed ingredients are high in trans-fats, preservatives, and other chemical additives that are dangerous to humans. Instead, make sure you choose to make your meals with natural ingredients. Some examples of natural ingredients include fresh produce, whole eggs, free-range poultry and lean meats.

Organic is better. Organic foods don't have the synthetic chemicals, sewer sludge or genetically engineered materials that non-organic foods do. The toxins from non-organic food are not good for you, and will mess up your diet plan. Additionally, olive oil, real butter and coconut oil are also all organic, healthy, and add nutritional value to your meals.

Find out what you like. This is a no-brainer. Eating healthy does not mean you are limited in your meal choices. If you find something you like, feel free to experiment in your kitchen to find more delicious, healthy meals that meet your needs. Experimenting in the kitchen can also help you identify the unhealthy vs. healthy ingredients, giving you the opportunity to swap the unhealthy ingredients with healthier options.

No two individuals are the same, so what one person likes may not be what the other person likes. Keep in mind; you may create meals that you don't think taste good. That is why you should find out what you like and experiment in your kitchen. If you have a friend that is also trying to become healthier, it is a good idea to keep each other accountable, and maybe even cook together and learn from each other. There are several advantages of creating and eating healthy meals.

Advantages

Healthy meals give you more energy, help you lose weight, help you get fit, and keep your overall health at an excellent level. Making healthy meals is easier than you think. If you follow the tips above, you will be a master chef in no time.

Many people around the world have proved it. Now is your chance to lose weight with a diet solution of your choice, Don't Just Sit there and read, nothing is going to change Unless the change happen within you.Go to this website to receive a free report on how to make a healthy meal: Lose weight fast.

Ways to Make Fast, Healthy Meals While Keeping Costs Low

Providing a quick and healthy, yet low-budget meal is a problem that almost all parents face these days. Preparing a full course meal for the family along with all the washing that goes with it can be a daunting task for anyone, let alone a working mother.

The best solution in such a situation is to sit back and relax and let someone else do the cooking for you. No! We are not suggesting that you buy all those packs of "instant meals," which are mostly junk food with zero or limited nutritional value, not to mention a drain on your pocket. The solution here is to be able to cook quick and easy meals, which are healthy, tasty and fit your budget.

Chicken is one of the most nutritious and cheapest ways to feed your family. Use the chicken wings in a soup and just add a few veggies like potatoes, onions, etc. to the remaining pieces along with some spices and pop it in the oven. And voila! You have a healthy and tasty meal ready.

Now you can relax with a book or spend time with your family while the chicken is baking in the oven. You can also complete some of your other chores like laundry and cleaning while the meal is in the oven.

A lot of people are vegetarians and if you are also one of them, then all you need to do is replace the chicken with pasta. Children are usually fond of pasta or spaghetti. To ensure that they eat healthy, just add vegetables to the tomato gravy. Add some cheese and spices and you have a perfectly healthy meal.

Another option is creating a pasta sauce, which is something that can be made with many variations. Just by adding a few things like olives and mushrooms, you can create a different type of pasta meal. You could use chopped tomatoes instead of just tomato paste.

Eggs provide another nutritious and inexpensive option. Eggs can also be cooked with many variations. You could either create a wholesome meal like the "Shakshuka," the famous Middle Eastern meal, which is cooked with eggs, tomatoes and onions, or you can also make an omelet with loads of vegetables. When served with rice, it's a wholesome and healthy meal.

If you are a working parent, then we are sure that you understand when we talk about " quick and easy" meals. With just a little imagination and creativity, you can cook quick and healthy meals for your family.

Brett Chimay has been writing articles about cooking for the past three years. He also likes to write about electronics, including flat panel LCD monitors and why you should consider purchasing a widescreen monitor.

Brett Chimay

Eating Healthy Meals Together Improve More Than Just the Body

It is natural that eating a healthy meal with your family can improve your health. Researchers have long known that eating healthy is the key to a longer life and physical fitness. Eating a healthy meal can improve your overall mood, give you more energy, and make you feel better in general.

People who eat with their family are less likely to eat unhealthy foods. When someone eats alone they are more likely to eat junk food, prepackaged quick meals, or frozen dinners. When you serve healthy meals you tend to take care both preparing and eating.

Researchers agree that eating healthy meals with your family helps you concentrate and can improve your performance at work or school. There has been a lot of research on this in the past and all of it shows that eating together can improve almost all aspects of your life.

When you eat with your family you also have more of a say in what and how much your children eat. By demonstrating healthy eating habits you are showing your children how to eat. It is natural for them to pick up good eating habits when they see them. Modeling is a great way to influence your children.

It is important to realize that serving your family healthy meals bring your family closer together. A good conversation over dinner is an excellent way to catch up with your family in a non-confrontational way. There is nothing better than sitting down over a meal and talking with your family.

Planning healthy meals is also very important. Planning a meal means to take more time in thinking about healthy choices. If the meal is preplanned then there is less of a chance that you will use unhealthy substitutions. If you want a healthy alternative to frozen dinners you can prepare double one day and then freeze half of it. When you are ready or just do not have time to cook you can defrost the meal.

Overall healthy family meals are a great way to eat well, bond with your family, and improve their performance at work or school. It helps to strengthen family ties and helps keep families together.

Learn more about how to plan healthy family meals now. There are many wonderful family meal planing tools and resources to help you.

How to Prepare Healthy Meals For Kids

Wouldn't it be great if kids grew up loving fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and everything that was healthy and nutritious for them? When parents prepare healthy meals for their kids, they are helping to develop exactly the right habits that will allow them to grow up not only eating, but enjoying all types of healthy and nutritious foods. So let's see what's involved in preparing a healthy kids meal.

In order for a child to enjoy healthy foods, the foods need to be appealing to children. Why do you think there are chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs? Breakfast cereals come in bright colors shaped like all kinds of cartoon characters? Fast food kid's meals come with toys? The food industry knows that these are all appealing to a child's imagination.

Healthy kids meals will all have the following characteristics:

· Have fun and imaginative names that your child can identify with

· Have bright colors and come in interesting shapes and/or designs

· Have familiar textures, crisp vegetables, crunchy snacks, juicy fruits, etc

· Come in kid sized portions

By introducing children to foods that are healthy and nutritious in a fun and imaginative way, it is already appealing to them and they will want to try it. Nothing is more difficult than getting a child to eat his/her Brussel Sprouts 'because I told you they are good for you'. Also, by appealing to your child's imagination, you can start to engage him/her in some of the planning and preparation.

Kids love to help mom and dad do stuff, whatever it is, so this is an excellent chance to get them involved and start developing those healthy eating habits. To get your child involved, and keep their interest, all recipes should:

· Use basic ingredients found in most home pantries

· Be simple to prepare allowing the child to help

· Be fast to prepare (~15 minutes)

Although most kids will have a favorite food that they want to eat every meal of every day, variety is also important since it allows you to introduce a wider range of healthy foods into their diet. Also, not every meal is going to be a well balanced dinner. Healthy eating habits means selecting healthful and nutritious options for all meals including:

· Drinks

· Snacks

· Packed lunches for school

· Prepared lunches at home

· Evening meals

· Desserts

The goal is to have your kids enjoying healthy foods, and eating well balanced and nutritious meals before they even realize it's good for them, and by that time they will like the foods so much, they won't care. So instead of engaging in a battle of wills over who's not leaving the table until they finish their broccoli, prepare healthy kids meals that are so much fun they'll be asking for more.

I'm Mark and I love my kids (twins) and want them to grow up healthy and strong which is why knowing how to prepare healthy meals is important to me. If you liked this article and want more information go to Prepare Healthy Meals for Kids. In addition, I've got lots of other information on ingredients, recipes, kitchen appliances, nutrition, and more on my blog at Home Chef Cooking Tips.

Don't Let Preparing Healthy Meals For Your Family Become a Chore

Day after day you are faced with the dreaded task of preparing a dinner for your family. What can be the rough part about it is trying to find an easy meal to prepare that also isn't boring for your family to eat. You want to satisfy your family with a healthy meal, but they can be a workout to prepare.

The time it takes to prepare some of these meals is something that you just don't have enough of. So, as many people do, they grab for the frozen dinners. You say to yourself that you wish that there was an easy way to make a meal that wouldn't take so much time to prepare and also be healthy for the family.

By finding an easy way to prepare healthy foods, by using some new ways of cooking, will change the way and style of eating for your family. When children are young, they are prone to pick up on bad habits and repeat them quite often and they usually carry these bad habits with them into adulthood. That is why it is important to feed your kids healthy foods for meals and snacks.

Eating wholesome foods together as a family, will entice your children to practice eating healthy foods. When your family is dining together, you can explain the importance of eating such foods as proteins, vegetables, grains and dairy products. By educating them about eating unhealthy foods as well, will help them stay away from things like drugs, smoking and alcohol.

Let's look at some ways where you can make healthy meals on a tight time budget:

How does Lasagna sound? I've always heard from people like my mother how hard it was to make lasagna. Anybody that is familiar with lasagna will also say that there is a lot of work involved into creating a meal like this. We all know that lasagna can have a lot of fat and it does have a lot of cheese in it, but it is a meal that can be adapted to wind up being a healthy meal to prepare. It doesn't have to be labor intensive with all the new products out there such as instant noodles.

Lasagna can be adapted to conform to anyone's diet. Whether you are looking for something that is suitable for diabetics, or a low fat diet, or you may be watching your carbs, or you could create a vegetarian lasagna. To cut some time off of the preparation, buy some pasta noodles that you don't have to boil. If you want to add more nutrition to the lasagna, buy whole wheat noodles, also you can take some vegetables like some type of squash or carrots and add them to your meat sauce.

Another idea to make your lasagna nourishing is you can always substitute the ground beef for something like chicken or ground turkey. You can skip making homemade tomato sauce and just pick up some sauce that is already prepared. Look around in your supermarket, they carry a wide range of sauces that you could use.

Here's a simple chicken dinner that everyone is sure to love. Take some chicken breast that has the skin removed and top it off with some shredded cheese and spread some salsa over the top and then bake. This will be much more healthier than frying or combining the chicken with some sort of sauce.

A healthy, side dish can consist of a nice salad. They sell already cut up lettuce and other vegetables at the market. You may have to pay a little more, but look at the time it will save you. Again, you're giving your family a nutritious meal and your not choosing something that is convenient and unhealthy such as frozen dinners.

Steaming your vegetables is the healthiest way to cook them. You can either buy a special container that you would use in the microwave or you can take a pyrex casserole container and use that. Put your vegetables into the container and add a couple tablespoons of water and cook on high for about 6 - 7 minutes.

Educating your children about eating healthy and getting them in the habit of doing so, will carry on with them into adulthood and they will even pass this on to their own children. There is no need to have dinner time be a stressful event with all the ways that we can prepare meals quickly and easily.

Having the family together at the dinner table to enjoy healthy meals on a daily basis will also help build that ever so important family structure. So practice Healthy Living by preparing good wholesome meals for the entire family.

http://www.thehealthyweightlossdiet.com

Make Your Own Healthy Meals

Learn to Conquer Your Fears: Make Your Own Healthy Meals

Making your own healthy meals can be intimidating, but it really doesn't have to be. Did you know there are more healthy meal options than eating grilled chicken and salads everyday? There are!

Tips to Make Healthy Meals

Most of us are not chefs in the kitchen. In fact, it's safe to say that very few of us actually like to cook. If that is the case, follow the tips below to create your edible masterpiece. Soon you will be a healthy cooking whiz. Good luck!

Stay away from processed ingredients. Processed ingredients are high in trans-fats, preservatives, and other chemical additives that are dangerous to humans. Instead, make sure you choose to make your meals with natural ingredients. Some examples of natural ingredients include fresh produce, whole eggs, free-range poultry and lean meats.

Organic is better. Organic foods don't have the synthetic chemicals, sewer sludge or genetically engineered materials that non-organic foods do. The toxins from non-organic food are not good for you, and will mess up your diet plan. Additionally, olive oil, real butter and coconut oil are also all organic, healthy, and add nutritional value to your meals.

Find out what you like. This is a no-brainer. Eating healthy does not mean you are limited in your meal choices. If you find something you like, feel free to experiment in your kitchen to find more delicious, healthy meals that meet your needs. Experimenting in the kitchen can also help you identify the unhealthy vs. healthy ingredients, giving you the opportunity to swap the unhealthy ingredients with healthier options.

No two individuals are the same, so what one person likes may not be what the other person likes. Keep in mind; you may create meals that you don't think taste good. That is why you should find out what you like and experiment in your kitchen. If you have a friend that is also trying to become healthier, it is a good idea to keep each other accountable, and maybe even cook together and learn from each other. There are several advantages of creating and eating healthy meals.

Advantages

Healthy meals give you more energy, help you lose weight, help you get fit, and keep your overall health at an excellent level. Making healthy meals is easier than you think. If you follow the tips above, you will be a master chef in no time.

Many people around the world have proved it. Now is your chance to lose weight with a diet solution of your choice, Don't Just Sit there and read, nothing is going to change Unless the change happen within you.Go to this website to receive a free report on how to make a healthy meal: Lose weight fast.

Healthy Meals 24/7

Wouldn't you feel great if you had healthy and delicious meals throughout the day, every day of the week? Of course you would, but for most of us preparing healthy meals seems too difficult, time consuming, and intimidating. Well, I'm here to tell you that the secret to having healthy meals on hand anytime and every time is planning and having healthy food staples. Let's be honest, most of us spend more time planning a night out than we do our planning our meals for the week and are more concerned about the staples in our wardrobe than the staples in our pantry. So, it's time to shift your priorities and efforts if you are serious about making healthy lifestyle changes in your diet and in your life.

Healthy Meal Planning: Groceries

Purchasing healthy foods takes not more time or effort that buying pre-package, processed, unhealthy foods, and while some healthy foods may require cooking and/or preparation time, aren't you and your family worth it? When you shop at the supermarket, or receive your grocery delivery you want to see a rainbow of colors in your produce, a variety of whole grains, and lean, healthy proteins. If you find that because of your schedule fresh fruits and vegetables go bad purchase frozen or canned. I personally love frozen greens like collards and kale and I always have canned beans and pumpkin, and marinated artichoke hearts on hand. If you and/or your family are used to having frozen processed foods, sugary, calorie laden sweets and unhealthy snacks you want to gradually replace and remove these items from your diet. For example, switch from regular chips to baked chips, regular popcorn for low-fat popcorn, regular soda for flavored seltzer, full fat ice cream for lite or reduced fat. For a quick, healthy breakfast have whole grain cereals, breads and waffles on hand. Lunches can alternate between healthy, home-made brown bag and healthier take-out options that are offered with whole grains and whole grain breads, as well as with sushi and salads (go easy on the dressing, cheeses, crispy chicken, bacon, etc.). For healthy snacks be sure to stock up on nuts, dried and fresh fruit, and yogurt. And as always, be aware of portion sizes. Eating healthier is not a green light to over eat.

Healthy Meal Planning: Staples

In order to able to toss together a quick healthy meal anytime, you must have essential staples on hand. First are the fresh groceries that you have already stocked your refrigerator with, second are the staples that you should have in your pantry and/or cabinets. Some essential pantry staples are:

Canned fish and vegetables- Canned fishes like salmon and tuna provide omega-3 fatty acids and add a protein punch to sandwiches, salads, and pasta. Canned and marinated vegetables like canned tomatoes, pumpkin and marinated mushrooms and artichokes help transform an ordinary grain, soup, or sauce into a more flavorful, exciting meal, plus they're chock-full of nutrients.

Whole Grains- Experiment with different grains like barley, bulgur wheat, quinoa, millet, and brown rice, which is also available in long and short grain, and basmati. Whole wheat and quinoa pastas are great for a quick, healthy and filling dinner. Mix things up and use assorted shapes and sizes of pasta with a varied combination of vegetables and lean proteins.

Broths, bouillon cubes and powders, which are also available in healthier versions like fat-free, low sodium, all natural and vegetarian add guilt free depth of flavor to meats, grains, soups, casseroles, and sauces.

Nuts- Pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts contribute heart-healthy fats, as well as adding texture, flavor, and substance to salads, grains, and hot vegetables dishes.

Oils, Vinegars, and Spices- Explore the spice aisles and ethic food sections of your market. You will find an endless variety of oils like olive, canola, safflower, truffle, and coconut-vinegars like fig, rice, apple cider, red vine and balsamic-spices like cardamom, turmeric, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon along with spice blends like lemon-pepper, Italian and steak seasoning, sazón, adobo, and curries add tons of flavor without adding sodium and fat.

Healthy Meal Planning: Cooking

You can enjoy healthy meals every day without having to cook every day, really, once again planning is key. One day a week, whichever day your schedule allows, cook enough grains/carbohydrates, proteins and vegetables for 4-6 days, this is what I call your healthy meals base. For example, as my base, I like to bake two sheet trays of tofu, cook about 4 cups of quinoa and steam or bake a massive amount of vegetables for the week. Throughout the week, you can then vary and modify your healthy meals base with your healthy staples and groceries. Add sautéed, colorful peppers and savory onion and garlic to your protein to make a fajita or stir fry, add dried fruits and nuts to your grain to make a delicious pilaf and dress your vegetables with one of your many flavorful spices, oils and vinegars.

Once healthy meal planning is established as part of your healthy lifestyle routine, you'll find that it becomes second nature and effortless. Gradually, you'll build up a delicious, varied range of home-made meals that you can prepare quickly and easily, and which are much better for your health than ready-made, pre-packaged meals and fast food. As you can see, with really no more time, effort, and stress than you are currently excreting now over what is healthy to buy, eat, and cook you can plan week's worth of nutritious, well balanced meals that will improve your health and overall wellness.

Maripili Rodriguez, NCCA-CPT, AADP-HC is a National Strength and Conditioning Association-Certified Personal Trainer, a certified holistic health counselor, and professionally trained natural foods chef. Using her own unique and comprehensive Healthy Life System, which she is a product and success story of, Ms. Rodriguez works with serial dieters who have struggled for years, even decades to attain and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.

My Health Journey-Coaching for a Healthy Lifestyle
http://myhealthjourney.org/