Healthy Lifestyle Changes

If you only had to make one change to have a healthier life, would you do it? If you were to make a change, what change would you be willing to make?

For some the simple addition of a serving of fruit once a day could make a big difference. Does that seem too simple? Well, consider this: If you are now eating less than 7 servings of fruit each week, adding 7 servings of fruit to your week would mean you were getting the fiber, nutrients, and all the goodies the fruit has to offer that you were not getting before.

What if fruit isn't your thing, but maybe you could tolerate another vegetable serving each day. Do it! At any age it is a good idea to add some more healthy items to your menu. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Just one more serving of any vegetable you like every day.

If you are a real pain about food, and can't see yourself eating anything that is good for you, think about juicing what's good for you. I'm not much into juice myself, but I do understand many survive nicely on the liquid form of the foods I would prefer to chew!

One side effect you should be prepared for is this: You may find you begin to lose weight. If you are already thin, your may notice you have more energy! Oh, and you may find your finger nails are healthier, and so is your skin.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

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Best food choices.

How can we get the best food for the money we must spend? This can be a tough choice in different areas of the country.

At certain times of the year we find some fruits are plentiful, and therefore more affordable. It just makes sense to buy things when they are in season. Also, it is thought by many that local produce is best for us. The shorter the shipping distance, the fresher the produce. There is also the belief that buying foods grown in the soil where you live is a better choice for your body. While volumes have been published about this, I know it is more about what was in the soil where our ancestors lived, and where you were born, where your parents were born...........ah, that is another blog by itself.

When the season for the best fruit is over in your area, look for some that has been shipped across the country. If you can't find these at an affordable price, resort to frozen items that are of U.S. origin. For us, frozen is a better choice than buying products that have been grown outside of the United States. This is a personal choice, but one based on fact. If you research what is used in other countries to preserve freshness, you may turn such foods away.

During the winter many use canned foods because others are too expensive. While purists will have a fit, to me it does not matter so much. Millions of people have thrived before us by doing this, so we should be fine.

One thing to consider if you have the stamina is canning some items while they are available. You don't have to grow your own crops to do this. In many areas there are orchards, or produce companies who are willing to give you a quantity price. Purchasing some bushels of fruits or vegetables several families enjoy, and sharing the items can be cost effective.

If canning items is not for you, freezing some may be simpler. Not sure how to get started? Ask one of the oldest people in your family. Or, search the Internet for some of the easiest ways to do this. It may actually be fun!



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property of P. Anthony


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What's In My Food?

Do you know what is in your food? Read labels! Okay, you already read the food labels, but still you are not so sure.

Here is something to make it easier. If you buy anything in a box-perhaps a cereal product-buy one that has as few ingredients as possible. Oatmeal. What should be in oatmeal besides oatmeal? Nothing. This is a cereal you are supposed to cook yourself, and then ad foods you feel belong. Raisins. Apples. Whatever you want.

Cereal that includes other ingredients should not have more than 3-4 items listed. If you are buying cereal with artificial colors, flavors, and so on, yes, there will be 30 or more ingredients. You are not doing yourself or you kids any favors buying these cereal items.

When buying fresh foods you may also get more than you bargained for. Some fruits and vegetables have wax or oil applied to product the produce from something, and keep it shiny. Wash it thoroughly before eating. Aside from the additives, and possible pesticides here, think about how many hands touched what you are getting ready to consume.

Research this yourself to see what you find: I was told to put a cup of salt into a large container, about the size of a spaghetti pot, and place fresh produce in for a soak. The doctor who told me about this insisted the salt water would change the balance of any bacteria or virus and make the food okay to eat. Let me know what you find out!

Foods as close to the planet as possible are best on any day. So, instead of pulverizing that gorgeous carrot or purple potato, just eat it. Like Weird Al Yankovich (spelling) said-just eat it.

Does anyone know if he is still around?

If you are still eating animal products, find out what the animal was fed. Some still don't know that most chickens are still fed other chickens. A company telling the public they only us animal feed that is approved that the US government is a joke. The government allows dead chickens to be used as feed. I do not know if cows are still added to animal feed, and fed to cows. Do you?

Leave us a comment, or a suggestion for any recipe you would like. We still have Grandma's recipes, many over a 100 years old!


Bread fresh from the oven shown in photo above
This photo belongs to Pat Anthony.
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Helping kids made healthy lifestyle choices.

One of the easiest ways to help kids make healthier choices is to just keep junk out of the house. Yes, they can get it from friends, and at school. But-think how much you can offset this by insisting on better snacks and foods being in your home.

Try to offer fruit as part of at least one meal each day. Eventually you may have your kids asking for apples or bananas.

Another thing you can do is add fruit to basic recipes that your kids usually eat. Do you make waffles or pancakes on a regular basis? Add a bit of diced or pureed fruit to you recipe, and see how it is received.

Usually if you have someone pouting that they don't like what you added to a recipe, you have made it too obvious! Add a little at a time, and see if things are different.

The best time to introduce kids to quality food is when they are infants. It is hard to believe that in the United States, where we have every food available that you can think of, many do not feed babies real food. A child's meals should not come in a little greasy paper bag!

So-you messed up and forgot to show your kid what a banana or grape was. Hmm. You may have to eat some of these things yourself to encourage kids to do it. Fruits in a can are not the best choice, but you may find it is what works. Also, most fruits can be purchased in single serving size plastic containers. If you don't mind your child ingesting plastic, buy these. You could be in for an uphill battle, but this small bit might seem less threatening. Maybe they could have half of a serving at lunch, and the remainder with dinner.

Encourage you child to help you make some meals. Soups made at home can be a great way to get kids to eat some veggies. Let the child pick some of the items that will be added, and allow a taste test along the way, accepting suggestions.

If you are at the point where you think you should just give up, try added veggies to spaghetti sauce. You can easily puree a small amount of any vegetable, and include it in a sauce. You do not have to tell anyone what you have added. Use caution when doing this. A pound of brussel spouts can't easily be hidden in a small amount of sauce-so use good judgment.





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Who's hungry?

Do you feel you are hungry more often than you would like to be? Many of us eat out of habit, rather than because we are hungry. Why is that?

We are taught from birth when it is time to eat. From our first breath, someone begins to control when we will eat, if we will eat, what we will eat. How can we have a healthy lifestyle if we have always had to eat by rules we did not make? How can we have a healthy lifestyle is we are always hungry?

Being hungry does not mean we have to eat. Usually if we wait a few minutes that little gnawing feeling in our stomach will subside. This is especially true if you are responding to the habit of lunch being at noon, and supper being at six, just because someone else said so.

Some doctors will tell you that no more than five hours should pass between meals. Or, at least you should have a little something. What is this little something they speak of? For some it is an apple, or half of a banana. Others will be happy with a few crackers and some nuts. No one can say what will satisfy you-this is something you have to determine.

One thing I am fairly certain of is this: Eating or drinking a bit of something that is nourishing before a meal will help you avoid eating too much. Eating too much is not really a weight issue so much as it is a health issue. How so? What are you doing to your internal organs if you eat too much at each meal? How does you pancreas, liver, stomach, handle what you are giving it?

Try eating small amounts several times a day if you feel you are hungry more than you want to be. At meals be sure to include at least two high fiber filling foods. Salads, vegetables, and fruits before the meal can help here. Actually, salads, vegetables and fruits can be the meal for most of us.

Now, go get a snack!



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Best foods to help us avoid strokes and heart attacks?

Strokes can happen at any time after birth. Actually, strokes can occur before birth. Those of us who have not had to deal with heart disease or other serious health problems are blessed. Why would someone say that?

With the foods we typically eat on a routine basis, it's a wonder we survive. Humans were not meant to eat the plastic we have come to call food. If you are one of the many who relies on less than fresh foods to survive, here is a very small thing you can do that may help you.

Tomatoes in the form of a juice, or as a base for any meal is thought to be a life saver. Once processed with heat, tomatoes release lycopene. If you do not use tomato sauce on a regular basis, you might think about just adding a bit of tomato based juice to your menu.

What if you had one serving of tomato juice in some form each day before you did anything else? This would keep you from forgetting, and in just a short time it will become a habit.

But-the information could be wrong. And here you will be adding vitamin C and other wonder-
ful nutrients that come from the tomato. That would be a shame. Your new habit could actually help you avoid the common cold, and a host of other things you would rather skip. This might work out well for you!

If you would like any of our vegan recipes, let us know.

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Pat Anthony.

Is a vegan lifestyle for you?

If you have seriously considered living as a vegan, there may be some things you need to know. Many have become vegan for reasons you might not expect. You don't need a particular reason to eat this way-if it is your preference, just do it.

The first thing you might do if you would like to eat as a vegan is go through your home and remove foods that you will not be using. Some feel they should finish what is on hand, as they are slowly adding more vegetables and fruits. In today's economy, your budget may demand this.

Next, you will want to be sure you have plenty of the right food choices in your home before you begin. Vegetables, fruits, whole grain pasta, nuts, seeds, and just about anything you like that is not an animal product can be used. Whether you are going it alone, or with other family members, you do not want to be without the choices you need. If the entire family is doing this, your life will be less complicated.

After purchasing the foods you have decided will help you remain on track, consider how you will prepare them. If you do not know anything about vegan recipes, you will find plenty of information on the internet. For most, it's fairly easy. Fresh vegetables and fruits need no preparation other than cleaning, and slicing. If this is the way you prefer your foods, meals will be easy. You can try casserole recipes you normally make, replacing animal products with beans or vegetables that you like. You might surprise yourself with some great new meal ideas.


Nuts, seeds, and fruits make easy vegan snacks or meals. Be sure to include enough nuts, beans, and other proteins in your diet. Look for recipes to make cereals, and breads. You may be surprised to see not only how easy it is to make these items, but how inexpensive homemade is compared to sugary boxed products.


Use items purchased in a grocery store to prepare vegan meals. All packaged foods can be replaced with natural products. Larger grocery stores , such as Ingles, and Publix, carry most of the items you once only found in local health food stores. Check your area for food cooperatives that order organic foods in bulk so that all can benefit.


Be prepared to have people try to argue the point that you have to eat the way they do to live. Remember, it is about choice-and your choice is your business. Be certain you are eating enough, and eating a variety of foods. Great information is available at www.vegan.org. Look for other internet sites that point you in the right direction.

Eating as a vegan may cause you to loose unwanted pounds. You may also notice your skin and hair looks better. Could it be from all the nutrients in the fruits and vegetables you are consuming?


While you are adjusting to not having animal products on your plate, think about other areas of your life where animal products are used. What about your leather furniture, and clothing made from animals. This is another personal choice, but if you call yourself vegan, you not only want to rid your home of those items when you can, but personal products as well. You may be surprised to find lotions, shampoos, tooth paste, and body wash sometimes contain animal products. Read the labels. Manufacturers can include an ingredient we can't identify in a product, and we find we have purchased something we don't want to use.

If you find a vegan menu is just not for you, but you feel strongly about not eating animal flesh, maybe you should include milk and eggs in your plan. Lacto ovo vegetarians eat milk products, such as yogurt, and cheese. They also eat eggs, and use them in recipes. It's your life. You decide.



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