It seems that despite continued effort to educate the American public as to the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, most Americans still don’t eat enought fruit and veggies, as described in a new report by the name of State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 we are far from the healthy place we [...]]]>

It seems that despite continued effort to educate the American public as to the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables, most Americans still don’t eat enought fruit and veggies, as described in a new report by the name of State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 we are far from the healthy place we should be. No state meets the national goals for the consumption of fruit and vegetables. None.

The goal is that in 2010 75% of Americans will eat the recommended 2 servings of fruit each day and 50% will eat the recommended 3 servings of vegetables each day.

This is truly a worthy goal but it seems we’re far off the mark. Surveys show that only 33% of adults each enough fruit and only 27% eat enough vegetables. When you look at the stats for high school students, the data is even worse: 32% eat enough fruit and just 13% eat enough veggies.

This means that our children aren’t getting what they need to grow up in an optimal way and that we aren’t protecting ourselves as we should from chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It has long been established that fruit and vegetables are natural risk reducers of all these diseases.

What needs to be done is simple: a complete reform in the food that school offers students and a change in education to place great emphasis on eating fruit and vegetables. This can help us not only protect our health better but save the American tax payer a lot of money in reduced health costs for many years to come.

It is also a good time to have a look at yourself and how you’re eating. Are you eating enough fruit and vegetables? Make sure to eat 2 fruits and 3 vegetables a day at the very least (I usually eat more).

In addition, now is a good time to look at what you have in your home and kitchen and see how you can go for healthier food choices. One great ebook which teaches all that is Fat Burning Kitchen. Check it out for better health and low body fat.

One of the dishes which any health-conscious person should include regularly in his or her diet are salads.  Personally, I eat a [...]]]> Losing weight isn’t about starving yourself, it’s about eating the right things at the right time. You  can shed pounds simply by changing what you regularly eat for more nourishing, less fattening dishes.

One of the dishes which any health-conscious person should include regularly in his or her diet are salads.  Personally, I eat a big (sometimes huge) salad each and every day, and I see and feel the results in my skin, body fat, and energy levels.
Even if you eat vegetables separately, one by one, it is still very healthy. In fact, I recommend substituting your snacks to fruits and veggies.

So, salads are good because they contain healthy vegetables which have a lot of fiber, vitamins, are low on calories, great for the digestive system, and also fill you up so your hunger levels diminish.

But not all salads are created equal. Some salads can are actually fattening, but you just don’t know it. So, here are some tips to make sure you lose weight when eating salads instead of gaining it.

1. Cut down the dressing – There are some salad dressings that are full of empty calories and can turn any healthy salad to a massive calorie feast. I, for one, don’t use any pre-made dressing. I usually stick to high quality olive oil and some freshly squeezed lemon juice. It’s not only tasty but healthy as well.

2. Eat different veggies – Make sure your salad contains many different kinds of veggies to make sure you get your full range of vitamins, antioxidants, and fibers. For me, the best vegetable are tomatoes. They’re full of antioxidants which can help delay the aging process and may also reduce the risk of disease.

3. Avoid fatty cheeses – Some people add cheese to their salad. Try to avoid it as these cheeses are usually fattening. It’s like the dressing: a way to add calories and fat to an otherwise healthy and tasty meal. You can use cottage cheese as it’s low on fat.

4. Add lean protein - A great way to give a salad a little oomph is to add some lean protein to it. Grilled chicken is an excellent option. I usually go for tuna fish. I find that it sits better with the vegetables.

5. Eat more veggies and less bread – In many restaurants they serve you bread along with the salad. Don’t stuff yourself with the bread. Make sure to give more attention to the salad. I often see people gulp down bread and leave half the salad uneaten. If you want to lose weight it should be the other way around.

As I said, I love salads. They should be a part of any weight loss process.