HEALTH FOOD TIPS

Archive for February, 2009

We all know that we need about 5 to 9 servings of vegetables a day. That might seem a lot but actually, it isn’t so. Do you know that each serving is measured in half cups? So, take out your measuring cup and do the math. All you need to fulfill your daily quota of vegetable is just one meal sized veggie salad. Now, I am pretty sure that it is doable.

Now, the second problem I commonly hear from people is that they do not like to eat greens. They prefer meat because it tastes better and it contains loads of protein. Well, that is not completely true. While meat tastes better, it is high in cholesterol. As far as protein is concerned, nut based products and soy products provide an excellent source of protein.

What are some of the nutritional benefits of eating vegetables? Firstly, vegetables are high in fiber. Eating more greens will benefit your digestive system greatly and you actually burn calories while you are digesting the fiber. Secondly, they are low in calories and fat. This is certainly good news to those who are watching their weight. Veggies are also full of antioxidants, which is very crucial to prevent the formation of cancerous cells.

Now, I shall talk about the vegetable salad. Making a vegetable salad recipe is actually quite easy. Start with a bed of dark green lettuce or raw spinach. If you have leftover food, you should search the refrigerator for leftovers, like bits of corn or onions from last night’s dinner. Keep a few hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator to add protein to your daily vegetable salad recipes. In summer, when you see red, orange and sweet bell peppers being sold at a bargain, snag them up. Dice them all and freeze in serving sized freezer bags, with water to cover and some lemon juice to retain color and nutrients. Mix them all in a large bowl. That is all you need to satisfy your daily nutrition requirement. You should vary the choice of your vegetables daily so that you do not become bored of the tastes. You can use onions, mushrooms, sliced carrots, radishes, artichoke hearts, broccoli and cauliflower, whichever you like. By: Ken