healthy-eating-related stories
Weight of the Nation Update - Strategies to Beat Obesity
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| This little girl makes healthy eating look easy. Now, if only everyone else would follow her lead! Photo: Savannah Grandfather, Flickr |
So, what did this meeting of the minds accomplish? Well, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, there's good and there's bad. Right now, things are rough. One in five kids and two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, which is why obesity-related medical spending is exceeding spending on cancer by $50 billion.
But, there are a number of things that we as individuals can do, and even more our communities at large can do to combat these disturbing trends. Of course, each of us can make the choice to walk more and eat fewer fatty, sugary, processed foods. But it's not a level playing field, which is why community involvement is so important.
Ward Off Vacation Weight Gain
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| Photo: cmpalmer/Flickr |
- Pass on the drinks. Frozen drinks taste great when you're lounging by a hotel pool, but those alcoholic treats can really add up. Just check the calories in a margarita. Rather than pile on liquid calories, opt for ice water -- it's refreshing and calorie-free. Ask for a twist of lemon or lime to add some flavor.
- Pack fitness in your bag. Bring a yoga mat, jump rope, resistance bands or water-fillable weights with you when traveling. Also, if you're staying in a hotel, call ahead to see if there's a gym for guest use. Don't pass up the hotel pool either -- if you find a time when the pool isn't filled with families, you can get some laps in.
- Eat in. While most restaurants have healthy choices available, you'll save dollars and calories if you eat some of your meals in. Think ahead and bring foods that can be prepared with what you'll have available. There are even plenty of options for healthy camping recipes.
- Order wisely. When eating out, scour the menu for lighter options. And don't forget to ask for healthy substitutes.
- Plan active activities. There's something simply lovely about relaxing and reading a book while lounging on the beach. But, make sure you plan activities that get you moving as well.
Summer vacations are an escape from your day-to-day life. And there's no reason you can't enjoy some special treats while traveling. But, with a little forethought, you can avoid adding unwanted pounds while you're away.
Pioneer Living for Lean Times
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| Photo: Sbocaj/Flickr |
Stress eating, buying cheap but unhealthful foods at the grocery store or unstructured/binge eating because you're racing between two jobs in an effort to make ends meet are just a few of the reasons you might gain weight during this recession. But there's one foolproof way you can preserve your health and keep money in your wallet -- go back to the basics.
The Star has an interesting article on taking lessons from the pioneers. You don't have to cook over a fire to stay healthy during a recession, but some of the old-school principles can be applied:
Are Raw Veggies Healthier Than Cooked?
First, let's clear up that myth. According to Scientific American, cooking actually enhances the nutritional value of several different kinds of vegetables. Powerhouse antioxidants like lycopene and cartenoids increase when veggies like tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, spinach and peppers are boiled or steamed. On the other hand, my beloved broccoli might actually be healthier raw, since cooking destroys an important enzyme. And while cooking boosts the beta carotene in carrots, it lowers the overall level of polyphenols.
Confused yet? Me too. Scientific American cuts to the chase for us: Cooked and raw veggies both offer a boost in certain nutrients and antioxidants. If you're unlikely to eat vegetables at all unless they're cooked, then by all means, toss some extra broccoli into your stir fry. But if your idea of a great snack is a bowl of chopped, raw veggies, then go ahead and eat up. The more you enjoy your veggies -- cooked or raw -- the more that you'll eat.
Make Your Kitchen a Healthy-Eating Haven
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements, Best Life with Bob Greene
Exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer Bob Greene has helped millions of people slim down, most recently with his online program TheBestLife.com. The best-selling author shares the sure-fire strategies for losing weight, protecting your health and living your best life.
Why wait until the spring to start cleaning? Get a jump on it now and you might boost your odds of weight-loss success. Creating a healthy kitchen -- one that eliminates (or at least limits) the temptations, and encourages good-for-you choices -- will get you to your goal weight much quicker. Check out my six-step plan to make your kitchen a healthy-eating zone.
Empty the refrigerator. Remove everything from your fridge and toss any food that's expired or unrecognizable. Then, restock it, putting healthy food, like low-fat yogurt and veggies, where it can be seen and grabbed easily -- at eye level. (By the way, supermarkets use this trick in reverse: They stock high-calorie, high-fat foods right in your line of sight with the nutritious stuff above and below.)
Clear out cabinets. Get rid of most junk food, including chips, cookies and crackers. (You can keep one or two of your favorite treats -- a small daily splurge helps ward off feelings of deprivation.) In their place, load up on canned veggies, beans, broth-based soups (one of my favorite foods!), tuna fish and brown rice -- healthy staples you can easily build a complete meal around.
Hide treats. Remember the one or two treats you were allowed to hang onto? Be sure to stash them in the cabinet instead of leaving them on the counter in plain sight to reduce the temptation to nibble!
Why wait until the spring to start cleaning? Get a jump on it now and you might boost your odds of weight-loss success. Creating a healthy kitchen -- one that eliminates (or at least limits) the temptations, and encourages good-for-you choices -- will get you to your goal weight much quicker. Check out my six-step plan to make your kitchen a healthy-eating zone.
Empty the refrigerator. Remove everything from your fridge and toss any food that's expired or unrecognizable. Then, restock it, putting healthy food, like low-fat yogurt and veggies, where it can be seen and grabbed easily -- at eye level. (By the way, supermarkets use this trick in reverse: They stock high-calorie, high-fat foods right in your line of sight with the nutritious stuff above and below.)
Clear out cabinets. Get rid of most junk food, including chips, cookies and crackers. (You can keep one or two of your favorite treats -- a small daily splurge helps ward off feelings of deprivation.) In their place, load up on canned veggies, beans, broth-based soups (one of my favorite foods!), tuna fish and brown rice -- healthy staples you can easily build a complete meal around.
Hide treats. Remember the one or two treats you were allowed to hang onto? Be sure to stash them in the cabinet instead of leaving them on the counter in plain sight to reduce the temptation to nibble!
Michelle Obama Campaigns for Healthy Meals
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Of course, we already knew that. President Obama started out his inauguration day with a workout. That's dedication, folks. And Mrs. O's own friends have called her a gladiator in the gym.
It's not just exercise that keeps the Obama family fit and trim; they also eat a healthy, low-fat diet that's based in locally and sustainably grown foods. Last week, instead of walking the press through the State Dining Room to look at the linens and china, Mrs. Obama invited them into the kitchen ... to look at the food.
Recession - Healthy Habits to Beat the Blues
Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Is it just me, or do you second guess every dollar you spend now that we're in a recession? I went grocery shopping yesterday and was horrified by a lot of the prices. The $3.96 bottle of 100% orange juice really had me questioning its necessity. (I finally decided to buy it, pour it into a pitcher, and add water to make it stretch further. That has an added bonus of reducing the sugar content of each serving as well!) The high costs of goods, job insecurity, lack of raises and cuts in benefits that come along with a recession can really take a toll on you. And a high stress level can sometimes lead to unhealthy habits -- like emotional eating, smoking, drinking and becoming more sedentary.
But if you're feeling stressed, now is the time to really focus on healthy habits. Good nutrition isn't just for maintaining a healthy weight; when you select the proper foods you'll feel a boost in your energy and your mood. Exercise is also more important when you're stressed; it provides an energy boost, plus exercise can trigger the release of endorphins -- and who couldn't use a little dose of feel-good hormones?
Healthy eating and fitness can both fit in a recession budget, too. Bethany has budget-friendly nutrition tips and Bev shares ways you can get fit for zip. What are your tricks for staying healthy and reducing stress during the recession?
What's On Your Salad?
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
It put my boring but still yummy avocado and tuna on romaine to shame.
Salads are my go-to lunch these days, especially since I'm trying to trim the fat before spring officially hits. Done right, salads are a low-cal, low-fat lunch that can be super-stuffed with nutrition and fiber. But eating a salad every day can get boring, so it's smart to be creative and change things up.
Jaime Pressly Shows Off Her Perfect Post-Baby Abs
Months after having her son, Jaime Pressly attributed much of her weight loss to the Cabbage Soup Diet. A year later, the My Name is Earl actress gave most of the credit for her awesome body to chasing her active son, Dezi James, around. Now, Pressly is on the cover of Shape magazine's March issue and there's no denying that a rocking body like Pressly's comes from anything other than old-fashioned exercise and good nutrition. Pressly says she focused on a healthy diet and did both cardio and strength training.
Her healthy habits helped her shed the 42 pounds she gained during pregnancy. (She gave birth to her son in May 2007.) Pressly said, "Sure, I wanted to lose my baby weight, but I didn't want to lose my butt! I think it's sexy when women have shapely bodies."
What else does Pressly love about her body? "Lately I love my stomach," says Pressly, "After growing a human being inside me, there is nothing more incredible or sexy!"
Get Organized to Get Fit
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
An organized person trapped inside a procrastinator's body, that's me. But though organization comes hard to me, it's one of those necessary parts of healthy eating that I'm trying to master. It just makes things easier.Diet-Blog has some excellent tips for staying organized to prevent those "eating in a pinch" moments -- the drive-thru, for instance, or even just grabbing some chips from your cupboard and calling it dinner. Not that I know anyone who's done that. (I mean, at least dip them in some salsa, right?)
No, eating right takes a little forethought. Today I planned out the next seven days' dinners, made a list of fresh fruits and veggies to pick up at the store tomorrow, and cleaned out my fridge. And tomorrow when I get home from grocery shopping, I'll shred and wash my lettuce and chop my fresh veggies for easy access. Now when 5 P.M. rolls around, I won't be tempted to reach for the take-out menus because I can't find anything to cook.
What about you? Does staying organized help you stick to your healthy habits?
Recession Pounds - Eating Right on a Budget
As Jacki pointed out yesterday, it's pretty unusual to find a coupon for bananas or lettuce or Granny Smith apples. Eating well doesn't have to burn up all of your fun money, but it does take careful planning. On the other hand, eating cheap is a no-brainer ... just walk down any of the inside aisles of the grocery store and you'll find mac and cheese, frozen pizza, and all manner of prepared foods at bargain basement prices.
Experts worry that as incomes fall and stress levels rise, people may turn to these less expensive and less nutritious foods to save money. But that shift comes with a price ... a rise in obesity.
Jenna Vaught - Meet the Inspiring Miss America Plus Elite 2007
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Jenna Vaught is not your average beauty queen. She didn't grow up in a life filled with pretty dresses and perfect make-up. Instead, Jenna was an obese child and the accessories she wore were shame and self-loathing. In her young 20's, Jenna had her daughter and soon after reached her highest weight -- 427 pounds. Her mobility was affected as was her health. More importantly, Jenna realized she was caught in a vicious cycle -- her insecurities were the root cause of her weight gain and her weight gain was adding to her insecurities. Jenna went on a mission to lose the weight, rediscover herself, and reach her life goals. Jenna's weight loss is inspiring, but even more inspiring is the insight she now has regarding body image and learning how to love yourself. I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Jenna so she could share her story with That's Fit readers. Read on for the first half of her interview.Can you describe how life was for you when you were at your highest weight?
To live, a person must feel. Since I can remember, my days were all about pushing down "feelings" with food. I have been clinically obese since the age of four. By fourth grade, I was 150 pounds. Being a teenage and 300 pounds, wow that was tough. A year after having my daughter, I was 427 pounds. That's right, I was 24 years old, and I weighed 427 pounds. Life at that time was about just existing, just barely making it through the day. The point had come where I no longer fit in pants from Lane Bryant, walking was almost impossible without pain, all I could think about was how did I get here? How can I stop killing and abusing myself with food? How can I create a new life for myself?
To live, a person must feel. Since I can remember, my days were all about pushing down "feelings" with food. I have been clinically obese since the age of four. By fourth grade, I was 150 pounds. Being a teenage and 300 pounds, wow that was tough. A year after having my daughter, I was 427 pounds. That's right, I was 24 years old, and I weighed 427 pounds. Life at that time was about just existing, just barely making it through the day. The point had come where I no longer fit in pants from Lane Bryant, walking was almost impossible without pain, all I could think about was how did I get here? How can I stop killing and abusing myself with food? How can I create a new life for myself?
3 ways to stop procrastinating on exercise
When it comes to exercise, a lot of people have good intentions. But sometimes those intentions get pushed behind other commitments. Sound familiar? I know I'm guilty of procrastinating on exercise from time to time. On an Oprah.com survey, exercise and diet were two activities people frequently reported putting off until later. If you're guilty of it too, try these three ways to stop procrastinating:- Outsmart yourself. If, after getting home from work, you frequently skip your exercise session because of bills, household chores, or other commitments, try stopping at the gym on the way home. Or change into workout clothes before you leave the office and go for a walk or run as soon as you get home (don't even get the mail or go in the house first).
- Build on your success. If you're good at certain things -- such as handling the demands of your job -- try to find ways to make exercise as important. For example, if you place a high priority on work because others are counting on you to get your job done, consider joining a team sport. Your teammates will count on you to be at practices and games -- it's a lot harder to put off exercise when others are waiting for you.
- Take a good look at yourself. Put a photo of yourself when you were looking and feeling great on your fridge or desktop and take a frequent look in the mirror. It's not narcissism, it's a reality check. Keeping tabs on yourself will make you want to be active and get (or keep) your body in peak condition.
9 ways to help your overweight child
Martha recently posted about whether or not parents should be notified if their children are overweight. A recent user question on Momtourage shows that some doctors are doing just that. ... and I think it's a good thing. The parent asking the question is wondering if they should even be concerned that their child is overweight because they feel that their child is active and happy. Some children are clearly, unmistakably overweight. But for other kids, it isn't always easy to tell. After all, kids go through growth spurts and they grow at different rates. But if a medical professional expresses that your child is indeed overweight, it's time to take action.
As parents, there are many things you can do to help your child live a healthy lifestyle and maintain an appropriate weight.
Wanna lose weight? Stock up on candy
You know what it's like ... you go through the grocery store, filling up your cart with nutritious foods and turning down most of those treats that will derail your healthy eating plan. But then it happens. You reach the check out lane, the person ahead of you is being ridiculously slow, and you're stuck ... right next to all the candy bars. According to research published in the Journal of Consumer Research, a little temptation is good for your willpower. They concluded that having "large stocks" of treats in your home may actually help you control your eating.
That may be what their research determined, but based on my own personal experience I say a loud and indignant "yeah, right!" I'm more inclined to believe research that shows when most people are given an option, they opt for the junk.
[via Lemondrop]
