General Health

Salads Try a fruit salad for breakfast, snack or a later meal. Eating healthy does not have to be boring or a punishment, depriving you of good tasty treats! Avoid croutons, bacon bits, milk products such as cheese, eggs, and other high-fat foods. Keeping it simple and drizzling with a little lemon juice (or fresh fruit juice) is all it takes to make for a healthy and filling meal.

Pasta Benefit from a great variety: try whole-wheat, fresh pasta or dried pasta, vegetable pastas and rice pastas. Add the pasta and toss until the vegetables are the desired consistency. Add your favorite fresh herbs and combine. Combine the vegetables with some low-sodium and low-fat chicken or vegetables broth and cook until vegetables are softer but still crisp. Pasta-meals are easy to prepare in record time and again can give wide varieties to your taste-buds. Make similar meals with rice or even low-fat tofu.

Sandwiches What can be easier than a sandwich? A word of caution: avoid highly processed deli and sandwich meats. They are not good for you. Choose lots of vegetables for your sandwiches (try roasted eggplant, zucchini and red peppers for added flavor). Use healthy breads or pitas or tortillas that are low in fat (preferably whole wheat). Instead of mayo, use fresh sweet onions or mustard. Lean and skinless chicken or other poultry are best on the protein, animal product side.

Smoothies and blended treats Blend your favorite combinations with fresh fruit juice. Even consider steaming some vegetables like carrots, beets and spinach and adding some pineapple or orange juice to it for a refreshingly healthy treat. Chilling or even freezing some of the fruit before serving can produce a nice chilled drink that is perfect for summer. Combine until blended for an excellent and very healthy snack anytime and every time.

Grilled dishes Brushing vegetables and lean meats with lemon juice and herbs prior to grilling is healthy and yummy! Grilling is easy to do and culinary excellence fast to create. Enjoy fat-free good-for-you foods. A good example is a butternut or sweet potato, cut open or in pieces, brushed with olive oil and ‘roasted’ in the oven for a healthier alternative to ‘fries’ or fat-rich, starchy vegetables.

Desserts and Snacks Control your weight and your calorie intake by keeping your sweet-tooth in check. The least sugar, calories, fat, and salt that you can muster in all your food choices should be your goal. Limit the intake of desserts and snacks. Occasionally eating low-fat desserts and snacks such as angel food cake, fig and fruit bars, low-fat yogurt, fruit sherbet, Jell-O, animal or graham crackers, wafers, puddings made with low-fat milk for lower-fat alternatives are acceptable, in moderation.

Lean meat dishes Try planks of cedar, perfect for baking or grilling fish. Cover with lemon juice and possibly herbs. Marinating poultry and other meats in lemon juice and fresh dill or in pureed. Fruits and vegetables is a heart-friendly way to get plenty of flavors into your cooking. Prepare your meats, without adding more fat! Cut off visible fat deposits and pieces, remove skin from chicken.

Picture Credit : Timeinc

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