by: Kirsten Hawkins
Not too long ago, my mother and I were talking about food and diets. "Your grandmother used to feed you pasta five nights a week," my mother insisted.
"She did not!" I exclaimed, stung. After all, I remembered my grandmother as a wonderfully varied cook who could make anything taste wonderful. She served all sorts of meals, not just pasta! There was spaghetti, of course - she was Italian, after all. But she also made Ziti with vegetables. And Linguine. And tuna casserole with. ..elbow macaroni. By the time I'd finished naming off a typical week's worth of menus, I had to concede my mother's point - but I made mine as well. "But... it didn't FEEL like we were eating pasta every night!"
There's a point to this story, I promise, and here it comes:
One of the biggest reasons that people slip off their diets and eating plans is BOREDOM.
It's very easy to look at the foods allowed on your diet and see it as restrictive and boring. Chicken four nights a week. Fish three times a week. Green leafy vegetables till they're coming out of your ears. Who wouldn't get bored?
The answer is - anyone with a good set of cookbooks and a healthy imagination. Perk up your cabinet with spices and fill your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, then look for novel ways to combine them.
Here are a handful of tips for non-boring, healthy, low-cal eating
1. Spice it up!
Spices are one of the quickest ways out of the diet doldrums. Rosemary and fennel with chicken, mint rubbed into pork, pepper and lemon mint on fresh fish - the 'blander' the food, the higher the effect of the spices.
2. Dress it up.
Fruit vinaigrette dressings make wonderful marinades for meats and dressings for warm or cold vegetables. Try broccoli drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette or cabbage spiced up with apple vinegar and pepper.
2. Herb-infused olive oils - tarragon, ginger, fennel and more.
3. My brother the chef gave me a set of three oils for Christmas one year and it completely changed the way I’ll cook forever!
4. Low sodium soy sauce is a great way to flavor up just about anything.
5. Fruit
The bitterness of dark leafy greens like spinach were practically designed to be eaten with mandarin oranges, raspberries or chunks of pineapple.
Still need some help? Here is a list of the absolute best cookbooks on the market to help you fight those diet boredom blues!
The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
This cookbook features polenta, couscous and more!
Laurie’s Low-Carb Cookbook
This everyday chef shares recipes that are so easy to do!
Low Carb Meals In Minutes
Use this book and get six weeks worth of complete menus that include shopping lists.
Dr. Atkins New Diet Cookbook
This one’s from the creator of the Atkins Diet
The South Beach Diet Cookbook
This book is packed with more than 200 recipes for delicious low-fat foods
Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites
If meat isn’t your thing, this cookbook shares recipes from one of the most famous vegetarian restaurants in America
American Heart Association Low-Fat Low-Cholesterol Cookbook
Are you trying to lower your cholesterol or take care of your heart? This book has great tasting recipes that are good for you—and your heart!
American Heart Association Meals in Minutes
If you’re constantly eating fast foods because you simply don’t have the time to create great tasting healthy meals, check out this book!
Joslin Diabetes Center's Vegetarian Diabetic Cookbook Meatless and vegan recipes that are low fat, high fiber, and delicious
The Guilt-Free Gourmet Famous cruise ship chef Sam Miles put together this wonderful cookbook from his six years traveling on ships as a cook.
So, now you’ve got some ideas and some resources—there should be no reason that you have to live with boring foods—even if you are on a diet!
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN.Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.
Diet Food Doesn’t Have To Be Boring!
Labels: Diet
Diet and Fitness, Winning Tactics For Weight Loss
by: Bill Urell
Tell me, does this describe you? 'I tried a zillion diets in
fits and starts and was never successful.' Just going on a diet
will not give you a complete healthy persona. I finally paid
attention to what everybody was saying, but I was too lazy to
do.
I added exercise and fitness to the equation. We also need to
stay fit as well as diet to lose weight. Our true wealth is our
health. Isn't it worth your time bring it into peak condition
and maintain it? Diet fitness is all about an accurate mix of
diet and an appropriate fitness program.
This basically includes three levels of consideration:
1. Balance-A balanced diet must contain carbohydrate, protein,
fat, vitamin, mineral salts and fiber in well proportionate
quantity. Carbohydrates are the source of energy so these play
an important role in balanced diet. Intentional inclusion of all
foods from fruits to vegetables and meats to grains.
2. Moderation- portion control, small quantity at regular
intervals. I had to laugh when I heard the results of a 5-year
study costing millions of dollars the government ran to find out
why the population of the US is getting heavier. The
results…they determined we eat larger quantities! 'Super Size
it!'
3. Variation - wide variety in foods,means higher chances of
complete nutrition. And variety in your workout routine means a
greter chance of sustaining it.
It is a well-known fact that poor diet leads to diseases, like
obesity, even cancer and heart disease. The link between diet
and physical fitness has well been established and recognized as
a science in itself. It's the basis of dynamic and creative
intellectual activity. How do you balance diet and fitness?
What changes in your diet and fitness regimes will prove to be
the most beneficial ones?
These questions may have been on your mind for a long time but
you didn't know where to start. I let the paralysis of analysis
prevent me from getting started for a long time. I wanted the
'perfect' fitness plan. My advice? Just get started anywhere,
but get started. There are the solutions at your doorstep. First
and foremost, you need to ensure that the diet you are on,
supplies you enough strength and energy to carry out the fitness
training which means:
The basic fitness diet should:
1. Have a wide variety of foods-- wholegrain breads and cereals
for vitamins and minerals, leafy green vegetables for iron
fueling, fruit for adequate fiber, lean meat and Fish (lowers
cholesterol and helps prevent cancer) and low fat dairy
products.
2. Enable you to have optimal weight and energy to carry out
daily activities with ease.
3. Enhance quick and complete recovery during exercise.
4. Supply enough fluids to have maximum hydration. 5. Provide
both short and long term benefits and ease of maintenance.
When the above criterion is satisfied, you can confirm that you
are on a diet that is not starving you or running you the risk
of malnutrition and weakness. Fitness programs can include not
only basic gymnasium but modern techniques like dancing,
aerobics and yoga for variety and fun. If it is enjoyable it
will be easier to maintain.
Make no mistake about it, fitness regimes help you speed up the
process of loosing weight along with the diet. That is the key,
the magic diet accelerator. So eat healthy, exercise and be wise!
About the author:
Bill Urell reviews only the best diet and fitness plans, tips, and articles that promote healthier lifestyles. Visit us and claim your FREE E-Cookbook, as a welcome gift.
http://www.online-weight-loss-resources.com
Labels: Diet
