Looking for Food Ideas!!

I've found tht the most important key part of eating healtheir is WILLPOWER. Plus, if you don't buy junk, you won't have it at home to eat. My key to eating healthier, is to 1. use more olive oil instead of butter, 2. keeping high sugars out of the house (sodas, cookies, ice cream, etc), 3. first eating the veg on my plate,then the meat, then the carb (so that I eat less carb if I get full, 4. using a smaller plate toeat and not going back for seconds no matter how tasty it is. 5. not eating out

Recipes? I have started eating a veggie pizza that's super yummy. I buy the crust, buy the sauce, and add a whole bunch of fresh veggies and a little pepperoni so I don't feel deprived. But no doubt it's better for me than the frozen pizza or fast food pizza. I top it with spinach, olives, tomato, bell pepper (red/green) and artichoke if I have it. My friend puts mushrooms all over hers. I like fried rice too. A little sesame oil, lots of veg (peas, onion, green onion, carrrot, jalepeno, brown rice, egg. Meat if you want. Pineapple if you want it sweet).

I am not the healthiest eater, but hopefully gave you some suggestions you hadn't thought of. Also - drink nothing but water, maybe some milk. No sodas, no sugary drinks, etc.

Good job for wanting to be healthy!! :-) Some people think "healthy" means fat-free, sugar-free, etc... They consider themselves healthy if they eat miracle whip instead of mayo, margarine instead of butter, diet soda or crystal lite instead of sugared beverages... I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite. I consider myself healthy but I do not eat fake fat (margarine, crisco), fake sugar (aspartame, splenda), artificial colors, flavors, etc. We try to eat as natural as possible. We seem to never get sick. We are all at a healthy weight, even though we eat cakes & cookies and REAL mayo (trader joe's mayo is awesome - it has no preservatives!) My favorite snacks are unsalted peanuts, and organic fruit (fresh or dried). Festival Foods has a natural foods isle where I buy fun stuff like poptarts & granola bars (even Walmart carries some of these items) - which aren't exactly the healthiest, but they're much better than the regular brands if you read the ingredients. :-)

Smoothies are really easy and healthy. Frozen fruit, organic yogurt, milled flax seed, a couple bananas = yum!!

White chicken chili is delicious! Homemade tacos are a lot easier than they sound!

Hope my ideas are helpful. Good luck with everything!! :)

I always say "the fresher the better". Avoid filling your cart w/the 3 B's - boxes, bags and bottles. If your cart has more fresh and whole foods instead of foods that come in the 3 Bs, the you are already eating healthier.

Also, eating healthier means portions - I always eat the serving size so I don't have to completely cut out my indulgences. Ice cream for example...if a serving size is 160 per 1/2 cup, then I only eat 1/2 cup!

Here's my list of 100 calorie snacks I've collected over the years. I try to pack a few bags or containers so when the munchies hit, they are prepared and in easy reach:

1 small orange, 1 c watermelon, 2/3 c coco puffs, 13 animal crackers, 15 mini carrots, 3/4 oz cheddar cheese, 3 T raisins, 2 Twizzlers, 6 low fat Triscuits, 3/4 c Cheerios, 1 c celery slices, 2/3 c mini marshmallows, 12 soy crisps, 1 cheese stick/5 slices shaved ham.

Under 200 calories:
1 medium banana/1 T crunchy peanut butter, 4 mini pizza bagel bites, Dannon Lite N Carb smoothi, 1 box Cracker Jacks, 1 medium sweet potato, 1 celery rib stuffed w/3 oz drained tuna & 1 T mayo, 6-8 mini carrots w/2 T lite ranch dressing, 6 c air popped corn sprinkled w/ 1/4 parmesan cheese, 1.3 oz snack bag preztel goldfish, lite yogurt w/2T Grape Nuts

gl!

I always try to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into my snacks and meals. Sliced apples or other fruits. You can chop carrots and munch on those. It helps curb your appetite until your next meal. Also, nuts with raisins is good or other dried fruits. I will chop fresh veggies and throw them on my taco salad or my cooked veggies or meats. I've even chopped fresh veggies really small and threw them on my pizza. I love it. I hope this helps!!

Hi J.,

Ditto Jade!

The Glycemic index is a good start. It's a healthy diet where you learn what is good for you and what is better for you. Google it. Example: Avoid white potatoes. They are high in simple sugar. Eat red potatoes or even better, sweet potatoes. The nutrition is much greater. A baked sweet potato with a little butter and salt is incredibly tasty and filling. Avocados have almost everything you need to survive off of and taste great. Throw them on your sandwiches or salads.

Salads are great. Everyone should have at least on raw meal a day. If you have a small serving of a vegetable left in your fridge or you don't like a certain vegetable, cut it up in small pieces and throw it on your salad. Combinations of flavors make anything palatable.

Greek yogurt sweetened with fruit juice is a great treat. (Certain brands go on sale at Publix fairly often.)

Seafood is great for you but I understand not liking something. My husband didn't like salmon or tuna until he got healthier and now he loves them. Your palate will change as you get healthier. You'll lose your taste for fatty foods and too much sugar. I have a hard time eating pork now knowing what I know that it does to your blood...

These are just a few thoughts. We could talk for hours if we had a cup of coffee (a pretty good antioxidant :) between us...

God bless,
M.

Play with fave recipes! I find, especially in the crock pot and with casseroles, that I can use 98% fat free condensed soups, light or fat free dressings and cream cheeses and still get amazing results (and often cut out as much as 30 grams of fat per serving!!). I'm also a big fan of subbing ground turkey breast for ground beef, and when using ground beef I get the leanest there is. Only buy true whole grains without high fructose corn syrup, use agave nectar to sweeten, brown rice or quinoa and high fiber! If buying pasta only use whole wheat. Check out Adobo seasoning for everything and Lawry's season salt - it really makes a difference. You can also use fat free, low sodium, no MSG chicken stock as a base for many dishes and to cook vegetables in for added flavor. Use low fat Greek yogurt instead of regular for smoothies, dips and dressings.

Cheeseburger Pasta
1-1/2 cups uncooked whole wheat penne pasta
3/4 lb. lean ground beef
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 can (14-1/2 oz) no-salt added diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon steak seasoning
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
Chopped green onions, optional

1) Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Drain pasta; add to meat mixture.
2) Stir in tomatoes, relish, mustard, ketchup, steak seasoning and seasoned salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
3) Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand until cheese is melted. Garnish with green onions if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

I usually buy whole grain pastas and breads. I also use no-salt added products and lightly salted chips and when on sale baked chips. We eat mostly chicken and lean ground beef. I only buy lean ground beef when its on sale.

I also use Red Potatoes instead of Russet and Red onions unless the recipe specifically calls for a certain kind. I use olive oil instead of canola or vegetable

Quinoa Salad - cook quinoa according to directions. Mix in chunks of mozzerella or feta cheese, avocado, tomato, and red pepper (or whatevr veggies you like!). Then add some olive oil, basalmic vinegar and salt and pepper. Serve with roast chicken and a steamed veggie.

Another yummy quinoa salad is to add edamame (from frozen section - cook them first according to directions), red pepper, cilantro and green onion. Make a dressing of sesame oil, some soy sauce, a tiny bit of sugar or honey.

You can make salads like this with brown rice as well.

Make a big pot of lentil stew and eat that for lunches. You can put it on top of brown rice. Put in lots of veggies and cook the lentils in a mixture of water and chicken stock. You can add bits of leftover chicken too!

Steel cut oatmeal or 6 grain (oats plus other grains) for breakfast. You soak it in milk overnight and the next day take it out of the fridge and add fresh fruit and eat!

Try to avoid breads, white rice and pasta. Buy whole grain or quinoa pasta.

Good luck!!!