SNN has great news!

Color Your Diet For Better Health

By

Irene A. Masiello

photos courtesy www.geekphilosopher.com.

Are all the theories of weight reduction and healthy eating leaving you confused? Let's get back to basics and simplify it. Generally speaking, always choose the more colorful food. A healthy plate of food consists of approximately 1/3 meat or fish and 2/3s of veggies.

Red meats and other fatty meats of any kind are, of course, to be avoided. A healthy suggestion might be to have that type of food just once a month so you don't feel completely deprived. Pay attention to how you feel after you eat red meat. You may notice a difference in the way you feel.

Fish and chicken are good, sensible choices. White meat poultry is always favored over dark meat in a health conscious diet because it contains less fat. White colored fishes are a good choice but here we start leaning towards color. Salmon, the more colorful choice, is rich in essential fatty acids and is the healthier choice.

With carbs a sweet potato is a better choice than a white potato and brown rice is preferable over white. Whole-wheat pastas are a better choice than white flour pastas for the white flour breaks down to sugar. The darker breads like pumpernickel or multi-grain are preferable nutritionally and contain more fiber.

Beans are an excellent choice for sources of protein without the fat. Select any kind but red beans, lentils and darker colored are more nutritious than the lighter colored varieties. Beans can make a refreshing change from the heaviness of meat especially in the summer when we are inclined to eat less.

In selecting veggies always select the colorful, darker colored varieties. For example: iceberg lettuce has no caloric content to speak of, but, no nutritional value either. Leafy greens that are darker in color taste wonderful and are packed with vitamins and minerals. Spinach, escarole, romaine, arugula and chicory are better choices. Red cabbage is a healthy choice, too, so pile it on at the salad bar.

photos courtesy www.geekphilosopher.com.

Two cups of spinach has only 25 calories and it's loaded with vitamins. Sick of salads? Sautee` two cups in a little olive oil with some sliced garlic for a delicious side dish. It may not seem so satisfying because it will cook down to nothing. Chewing it as a fresh veggie will yield more satisfaction. Also, anything cooked diminishes in its nutritional value. Have an extra cup if you don't feel satisfied!

Broccoli can be cooked the same way or eaten raw and is low in calories and high in nutrition. Nutritionists are singing the praises of this vegetable for it is said to play an important role in preventing certain types of cancer.

Grilled and/or barbecued vegetables with a light olive oil coating makes a wonderful side dish that is delicious and looks wonderfully enticing. Don't overcook them and they will look and taste better and be more nourishing. Brush on chopped garlic for more flavor!

Strawberries and blueberries contain only 50 calories per cup. That can satisfy a sweet tooth. A handful of nuts a few times a week makes an excellent & healthy snack.

photos courtesy www.geekphilosopher.com.

A recent TIME MAGAZINE article gave the "10 foods that pack a wallop" in keeping one healthy: green tea, red wine, garlic, blueberries, spinach, broccoli, nuts, oats, tomatoes and salmon. COLOR!

If one eats sensibly one can consume more food and less calories. Eat more to weigh less! Make conscious and informed choices. That translates exponentially across all aspects of life and need not be just a dietary decision.

©Copyright 2003-2005-Irene A. Masiello - www.starlightnetworknews.com - all rights reserved.