Eating Healthy - Easier Than You Think

Decades ago eating healthy was actually easier than it is today. Fast food restaurants hadn't really become part of the American culture, and burgers and hot dogs weren't normal lunch or dinner fare; they were pretty much limited to special occasions such as outdoor cookouts or state fairs.

The worst thing we had to deal with back then was probably having too much butter on our potatoes and vegetables at dinner, and maybe some bacon was included in our breakfast. Other than that, school cafeterias weren't even allowed to have vending machines, they couldn't sell soda or coffee to even high schoolers, and even though lunches may have left a bit to be desired, they didn't include pizza or tacos.

What Are Organic Foods?

organic food is grown with natural fertilizers like mulch, and compost. The farmers rotate crops to reduce pests and disease and they also weed the fields by hand. This ensures that the food is all natural without any chemicals.

Conventional food is grown using chemical pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. These chemicals are not harmful in small doses, but many people fear the long term exposure to them may lead to serious diseases.

If you're like me, you want to buy organic food when it actually proves beneficial. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) has compiled a list of fruits and vegetables that rate highest in pesticides and refer to them as the “Dirty Dozen”. This is because some crops demand higher doses of pesticides to ward off unwanted pests, while some produce grows just fine without all the chemical assistance. Read on to see the complete list of the “Dirty Dozen”.

Whole-meal Salads: The Perfect Warm-weather Meal

Hearty salads made with whole grains, beans, vegetables and a variety of other ingredients should star on your menus, especially in the warm months. If you’re not familiar with whole grains, visit the Nutrition section of my web site (see the link below); I explain all about how to cook them, where to find them, and why they are so important for healthful eating. Try these favorite recipes and then experiment with your own variations.

Summer Barley-Bean Salad

2 cups cooked barley

1 15-oz. can pink or kidney beans, drained

2 vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped

1 cucumber, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1 T. Dijon mustard

1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing

Potato Salads - Three Easy, Healthful Recipes

Potato salads are not just for picnics! They’re good year-round, and the variations are endless. Try adding chunks of red-skinned potatoes to just about any tossed salad recipe, or make your own versions of my recipes by adding any other ingredients you like.

I never peel potatoes for salads. The skins of the red ones are pretty in a salad and if you throw them away, you waste their fiber. Just scrub the potatoes with a plastic scouring pad.

Favorite Potato Salad
6 red potatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup non-fat yoghurt
1/4 cup dijon mustard
2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 cup snipped fresh dill
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup no-fat mayonnaise