Healthy eating starts with careful planning and organization. Since fresh produce has a very limited shelf life, regular grocery shopping is a must. Creating a menu for the week and writing out a shopping list will save you time and money; while helping you stick to healthy recipes. Local health food stores and farmer markets are very money-wise solutions. Plus, frequent visits will allow you expand your culinary horizons as well as mingle with other health-concerned people.
Healthy eating means using fresh ingredients and gentle cooking methods without adding any artificial ingredients and fats. Healthy eating requires a lot of cooking, since take-out food often contains too many refined fats and artificial seasonings. However, with modern appliances you will discover that cooking is no longer an annoying chore reserved for special occasions, but an exciting part of everyday life.
So which products should we buy when we actually decide to begin eating healthy food? Here's what your weekly shopping list should include.
Vegetables. All vegetables should be eaten young, when they are tender and not coarse. Vegetables are best bought from fresh food markets or seasonal, when they are sold in boxes or baskets. Supermarket vegetables are often genetically modified or have been picked green and ripened in boxes when traveling long distances. Sprouts and brightly colored vegetables contain the most vitamins and antioxidants.
Fruits. Again, the trick is to buy seasonal fruit, since exotic fruits have often traveled long distances and ripened in their boxes, not on trees. Local, naturally ripened or, better yet, organic fruit are the best choice for the health-conscious cook.
Herbs. Aromatic herbs and spices can be used fresh or dried. The best idea is to plant the aromatic herbs in pots on your window and use them fresh whenever you need them. To preserve flavor, you can buy spices whole and use them freshly ground.
Cheese. Although cheese is quite rich in fats, cheese is a great source of vitamins and minerals. Buy only fresh cheeses in small quantities and try to eat them at once, since gourmet cheeses don't have a lengthy shelf life.
Eggs. Buy only organic or free-range eggs, and shake them before buying to ensure freshness.
Fish and shellfish. The best way to buy fish is fresh and unfrozen. Again, most of the fish in supermarkets comes from fish farms where it is fed with artificial substances, and this fish cannot be used in healthy recipes. Pink salmon and other popular kinds of fish will most likely come from a fish farm. Shellfish is a more healthy choice, since shrimp, for example, does not live in chemically polluted water. When you boil mussels, discard those that do not open.
Meat. For truly healthy eating purposes it's better to skip meat entirely, since it's almost impossible to find meat that comes from an environmentally and health conscious farmer. Most of the meat in supermarkets has enormous quantities of growth hormones and antibiotics. The best meat for use in healthy recipes comes from small farming communities or organic farms.
Grains. Whole wheat and whole grains should become a staple of your healthy eating routine, because many healthy ingredients are contained in the grain shell. Rice is the only exclusion from the rule, because, even though the rice grain shell is removed, many nutritional elements still remain in the rice grain.
What we eat become a part of us. So make your kitchen a starting point for your new healthy eating habits, and enjoy preparing healthy meals.
Teenagers are arguably the hardest ones to shop for. They are going through many changes and mood swings and one is never too sure what they truly will enjoy. Especially with technology and styles changing so quickly shopping for your teenager can put you on the good or bad side very quickly. Given the difficulty of deciding on gift ideas, here are some helpful suggestions to put a smile on that hormone driven teenager.
One gift that ever teenager wants would be an MP3 Player or IPOD. Most likely the IPOD because they tends to be the “in" thing, however even phones are able to do the same trick. Surprise your teen with a new phone. Each carrier has many different options, colors, and designs. This way you serve two purposes, one a way to stay in touch and two your teen gets to enjoy listening to music. Of course it is also more cost effective to buy one phone that can play music than a phone and an IPOD.
Another piece of technology that teens will enjoy this holiday season is a portable DVD player. Of course I would not recommend this be taken to school, but on those long car rides, it would sure be nice to occupy your bored teenagers with a movie player. Or maybe you can all enjoy watching a DVD together. A little family time could never hurt.
Game systems, video games, portable gaming now belongs to children of all ages, but certainly teenagers will never refuse. These days’ teens can enjoy gaming wherever they are, at home or in the car. Getting them an Xbox, WII or PS3 this holiday will definitely win you cool points with them and their friends. Video games never get old and they are making some that improve your mind, eyes and vocabulary. Learning is now fun and disguised as a video game. Of course one may argue that teens already spend enough time by themselves with their friends. Why can’t we do a family activity together? Ok, there are games like “Scene It" or “Guitar Hero" that plug into your television and create some family friendly competition. Go up against your teen to see who can play the best lead guitar. You will look like the coolest parent. Plus they can always invite their friends over to play at home, rather than using your precious gas and money at the mall.
Cameras and Camcorders are another gift idea that will definitely bring a smile to your teen’s face. They can take pictures or video of their family, friends and outings. Make a cool photo album or add a video to You-tube. Your teen will be creative and inventive with these gifts. Another idea to keep the creativity rolling is a new computer. Desktop or notebook computers are probably more affordable now than they ever were. Plus they come with printers or cameras. A teen in today’s world should know how to use a computer, not only to type a paper or get a job, but to be inventive and creative. Did you see the commercial the kid made with his i-phone? It was amazing and featured on television. Could your teen create the next commercial or write a song? The software is out there to help. Even though the internet may not be the safest place for a teen, the computer can still provide some valuable skills.
Enough gifts for the indoors, here are some suggestions if you would want your teen to be outside. Maybe a new snowboard, wakeboard, paintball gun, skateboard, basketball hoop, softball tee, and there are many other ideas. Just choose an activity that he or she enjoys or that you can play together. It is never too late to learn a new sport with your teen.
Shopping for your teen this holiday season should now be a little easier with these helpful suggestions. Now your moody hormone ridden teen can wear a smile on their face and so can you.
Both Justin Skinner & Lisa M are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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