Weight Loss Starts In The Kitchen

Read this article and wanted to share.  What do you think?

10 changes in how you arrange and do up your kitchen and see how you end up loosing extra kilos.

While eating healthier is on the to-do list for many, our kitchen can make it harder to eat healthy, and easier to fill ourselves with snacks and junk food. But there are ways to make the home more conducive to better eating. Planning meals in advance can go a long way, but it is also important to plan how the foods you buy go into your kitchen.

Making good food easier to see and access and making unhealthy foods harder is the trick to a healthier eating environment. Here’s how you can rearrange your kitchen to encourage healthy eating habits.

Clear your counters -

Easily visible food provides a constant reminder of its availability, and is likely to be eaten first. So make sure snack foods don’t have a prominent place. The last thing you want is a clear cookie jar on the counter.

Buy a fruit bowl -

It’s important to make sure the visible fruits and vegetables are ones that are easy to eat and don’t invite flies to sit on them. Store apples, oranges, bananas and as opposed to grapes, pineapples and mangoes.

Invest in single-serving containers -

When stashing away leftovers, it is best to put them away in meal-size portions, whether for future lunches or dinners. At times, calorie-dense dinner leftovers might make for a more appealing snack than baby carrots, but you may be less likely to dig in if you know it will leave you hungry at lunch the next day. Choosing freezersafe containers will give you even more storage options.

Get see-through jars -

Follow the school lunch programme recommendations, which limit calorie-dense foods like complex starches, fats and proteins but make fruits and vegetables completely available in whatever quantity people want. Some fruits and vegetables need advance prep and cutting, but once they go into the refrigerator, they should be in clear containers, to remind you of what to grab when you are hungry between meals.

Use your freezer more -

If you don’t have a definite plan for your leftovers, then avoid tossing them in the refrigerator. A freezer allows you to put away food for future use rather than snacking down on leftover chicken or lasagna instead of eating an apple. It also allows for better meal planning.

Put healthy eats at eye level -

Depending on the type of refrigerator you have, you may benefit from some rearranging.

Some refrigerators with a freezer on the bottom have clear vegetable bins at eye level. But if you have a refrigerator where the freezer is at the top, and the vegetable bin is at your knees, then there’s a good reason not to keep your veggies in the drawer. Opaque bins keep your healthiest — and more perishable — foods hidden. So if you have them, don’t put fruits and veggie in the crisper, instead, put them higher up, in a visible spot.

Prepare fruits and other snacks in advance -

As much as you avoid it, some snacking is bound to happen. So it is worth buying the products that are in little, single packages. It’s much easier then to know exactly what you’re eating.”

But for the frugal, those small packages represent an extra expense, so pick up some small bags and doling out portions of snacks that are healthier, such as pretzels.

Some similar prep work can help with snacking before dinner. In addition, have on hand healthier snacks, such as yogurt and cheese, that are already parcelled out.

Add non-food accessories to your kitchen -

Food prepared at home is almost inevitably healthier than takeout, so it’s important that cooking at home is an enjoyable experience.

Keeping kitchen counters free of books, bags and papers so that they can be used to prepare food is a start. Some even keep a television in their cooking space, but you should ensure that it should be kept at a spot when you can’t watch from the table.

Eat only in the kitchen -

When people eat anywhere in the house, other activities they do while eating will often trigger a signal in the brain to start eating.

Many people eat while watching TV, or just start snacking. Confining all eating to the kitchen can put a dent in that, she said.

Get smaller plates and taller, narrower glasses

A recent research suggested how we decide what to eat and how to eat depends on the plate and portion size.

Larger plates lead to eating larger portions — people tend to finish what they put on their plate.

Dish size is a potential aid for people looking to get new dishes, or willing to replace old ones. Have smaller plates. That advice can carry over to glasses, given the number of calories some beverages contain. You’ll drink less from a tall glass than a glass that is wider. It also gives the illusion of having more.

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Thought Of The Day

“Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, don’t forget there’s purple too.  Rainbow colors for me and you.” – (The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Song)

Did you notice that the colors of the rainbow are the colors of the fruits and vegetables we eat?!

These fruits and vegetables of different colors feed our bodies with nutrients, vitamins and minerals we need.

AND it comes from the EARTH!  WOW!

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What Does Organic Mean

*Click on image for larger view*

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Sick Care - Health Care

This is a good one.
And so simple.

Love This.

10 American Meals That Are Hurting Us

Obesity, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes — recent studies have reminded us about something we have known for awhile: the Standard American Diet isn’t doing anyone any good. It has the acronym SAD for a reason.

Certainly what we eat is paired with a lack of physical activity, and bad health can’t solely be blamed on eating poorly, but when it comes down to it, we can blame a lot of our modern day problems on our modern day diet.

So what are we eating that’s so bad for us? Here are 10 dishes and meals that symbolize everything that’s wrong with the modern diet.

1. The Burger

Let’s get one thing straight: a burger can be made with good products. At its core, it’s not that bad of a concoction, and if you eat one once in a great while it’s simply an enjoyable indulgence. Unfortunately the fast food version that so many of us eat in succession is another thing entirely. Filled with additives and sugars, it’s no wonder that we’re addicted. A McDonald’s Big Mac has 550 calories, 29 grams of fat and that secret sauce is full of tasty ingredients like Propylene Glycol Alginate and Calcium Disodium.

2. The Smoothie

Purchased smoothies, that is. When you make them at home you can ensure that you’re only adding in fresh ingredients and enough fruit that you don’t need to add in any additional sweetener. A medium Pina Colada smoothie from Orange Julius/Dairy Queen comes in at 340 calories (about two thirds of a Big Mac). It might actually be better for you to just eat the fruits themselves; a recent studyshowed that people who ate whole fruit were less likely to get type 2 diabetes, but those who drank fruit juice were at increased risk. Know where your sugar is coming from and how much you’re ingesting.

3. The Toast with Margarine

New flash: if you want to eat butter, eat real butter. Trans-fat loaded margarine isn’t good for your heart and you’re better off eating the real stuff.

4. The Bowl of Pasta

Refined white flour and not much else, the staple diet of a bowl of pasta is high in carbohydrates and not much else. As with everything, a balanced diet can include pasta, but opt for freshly made and cover it with good things like olive oil and fresh vegetables.

5. Anything That’s Branded as Low Fat

Want to blame the obesity epidemic on something? Blame it on the low fat craze, because around the time that low fat foods started being marketed, waistlines started growing exponentially. Of course, this could be a mere correlation, but it’s an important correlation. As people chose fat-free desserts and low-calorie snacks, they filled their diets full of added sugars and empty carbohydrates. We need fat in our diet, we just need to make sure it’s the good fat. Even saturated fat is much less harmful than we have been led to believe.

6. The Lunch Sandwich

A sandwich made with whole wheat bread and stacked with meat and cheese? Unless you baked your own bread, made your own sausage and bought your cheese from the farmer next door, chances are that lunch isn’t just a sandwich, it’s a bomb of processed foods. Not to mention all the mayonnaise spread on it. Buy bread that is made fresh, so it doesn’t have the preservatives to keep it on the shelf for ages, and opt for fresh vegetables and leafy greens as well as spreads like hummus which will make that sandwich ten times tastier and better for you.

7. The Meal That Isn’t Actually a Meal

Credit: bokeh burger via flickr

I’m talking about all those snack foods on the market that don’t constitute real meals, but have just as many calories, if not more, as eating a real meal. Not to mention all the processed ingredients that they include. Nobody should be eating Deep-Fried Doritos Stuffed With Nacho Cheese.

8. The Breakfast Cereal

Don’t be fooled for a second that most breakfast cereals are part of a complete and nutritious breakfast. Things like Reese’s Puffs and Lucky Charms (both of which are about 41% sugar) simply shouldn’t qualify as “breakfast.” In fact, one study showed that cereals marketed to children had 85% more sugar in them.

9. The Chicken Nuggets

Those McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets? Only about 50% actual chicken meat. And if you got fries with that, you might want to imagine what’s happening to your heart.

10. The Coffee and Pastry

You’re pressed for time in the morning so you figure a coffee and pastry is your quickest and easiest breakfast. Well, watch what you order. If you want to drink coffee, drink coffee, but stay clear of anything that entails turning coffee into something else entirely, like a Grande Starbucks Mocha which has 240 calories in it. And if you think going for the whole wheat scone or the bran muffin is your best bet for staying healthy, think again. They’re simply one of those things that sound too good be true. Better opt for oatmeal with a hefty dose of nuts, seeds and fresh fruit. 

Menstruation Guidelines

In today's world, women curse to the knowledge of having their period.  But according to Ayurveda, having your period is a blessing and not a curse.  Apart from preparing the body for conception and pregnancy, the body is being cleared of all toxins.  Every month we get to clean out our system and we don't even have to do anything!  Nature does it for us!  Our bodies are being renewed.  We are born again!  What a beautiful support from the laws of nature.

Constipation, diarrhea, irritability, mood swings, bloating, upset stomach, cravings, fatigue, breast tenderness, breakouts, sadness, anger, sensitivity - just to mention the very few variety of symptoms we might experience.

Here are some guidelines that will help during our menstruation -

• the body needs to be free of ama - this means no fast food, junk food, leftovers, alcohol and drugs.  Best to favor vegetables, grains, fruits, milk.  These fresh foods will keep your body clean and be easy on your digestive system.
• favor light and warm foods - the ones that will pacify your Vata.
• take it easy!  Don't engage in certain activities or people that will get you moody.  Best to be more inwards.
• light to moderate exercise is recommended; walks in particular
• avoid daily massages during menstruation 
• definitely follow a routine when menstruating as this will help in regulating your menstruation 
• use the following spice mix when cooking to help balance your cycle - 
• 6 parts fennel
• 1 part black cumin
• 1 part cumin
• 6 parts coriander 
• 1 part turmeric 
• 1 part black pepper 
• sauté this mix in ghee and add to your meals 

Lets Go Green

It is so important to go green because globally we all come together, we are in coherence with the laws of nature and in tune with our bodies and the plants.  From where we live, to what we buy, to what we eat is super important.  It will make life easier, healthier and more blissful for the consciousness of all.

Here's how we all can go green - LETS DO IT.

Buy organic

Buy local
Avoid GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods
Cook with spices and herbs 

Grow a garden with fresh vegetables and fruits

Eat raw nuts and seeds on a regular basis

Juicing vegetables and fruits is fun and easy 

Use healthy oil or ghee (clarified butter) for cooking 

Juicing Greens

My father is obsessed with juicing - fruits and vegetables.
He juices every morning for his family and gets our metabolism on check for the day.

Here are some benefits when juicing greens -

• bone and joints are improved
• improves focus and mental clarity 
• aids in weight loss
• boosts energy
• gives healthier hair, skin and nails
• digestion is improved
• builds a strong immune system
• loaded with nutrition 
• anti-aging 

A Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.
Here are some tips to follow that will make you feel good -

• have some breakfast before the thanksgiving feast begins - by having breakfast, you'll having some control during the thanksgiving feast
• have fruits instead of pies and ice cream
• drink water instead of sodas and alcohol
• use spices and herbs instead of salt and sugar
• favor milk over heavy cream
• whole wheat flour is better than white flour 
• make sure half of your plate has some vegetables 
• go for a nice walk 2 hours before eating if possible - this will help boost your metabolism and digestion before the big feast
• organic turkey is best
• watch your portions
• drink a few glasses of room temperature water 2 hours before the feast 

Vata Pacifying Diet

Is your vata of balance?
Here's what you can do to pacify Vata.

Favor the following foods -  

General - sufficient quantity, unctuous food, warm food and drinks.  Sweet, sour and salty tastes.

Grains - wheat products, rice (whole rice is best), cooked oat flakes in small amounts.

Beans/Daal - yellow mung beans (green skin removed)

Vegetables - white pumpkin, zucchini, okra (lady fingers), artichokes, asparagus, tender eggplant, carrot, beet root, sweet potatoes with fat, tomato, cucumber, tender radish, celery, green papaya spinach in small amounts.

Dairy - All dairy products, cheese should be soft and fresh.

Oils - All

Nuts & Seeds - All except peanuts, seeds in small amounts.

Spices & condiments - cumin, ginger, mustard seeds, fenugreek, hinge (asafoetida), cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, anise, fennel, black pepper (small amounts), salt, lemon juice, tamarind.  All others in small amounts.

Fruits - ripe, sweet and juicy fruits.  Dried fruit is better soaked.  Sweet grapes, pomegranate (sweet and sour), mango, papaya, sweet pineapple, banana, avocado, sweet and juicy apples and pears, sweet oranges, melons, plums, cherries, raisins, dates, prunes, figs, kiwi fruit, peach, apricot.

Avoid or reduce the following foods -

General - light and dry foods.  Cold foods and drinks.  Pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

Grains - barley, corn, millet, rye, buckwheat, raw oats.

Beans - all except yellow mung beans and red lentils

Vegetables - large quantity of green leafy vegetables, orange pumpkin and squash, peas, potato, sprouts, mature eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery.

Fruits - unripe, dry sour fruits.  guava, jambu, cashew, cranberries, persimmon (dried), chicory.

Tip of the day!

The only two fruits that can be eaten on an empty stomach or with other foods are mangos and coconuts.  Coconut is nature's energy drink.  It helps flush out the system and is a sacred fruit in the Vedic tradition.  Mangos support all the seven tissues, helps with digestion, acts as an energizer and balances all three doshas.

Don't Eat THIS with THAT

Apples and pears before or after a meal.  A tall glass of milk along with your scrambled eggs.  What are we doing wrong here?  What most of us don't know and do is that we eat anything and everything which isn't coherent and then creates imbalance within the body which later causes discomfort and difficulty in digestion.  Below is a list of Don't Eat This With That! 

Don’t Eat:	With:
Milk	Bananas, fish, meat, melons, curd, sour fruits, yeast bread, cherries, yogurt
Melons	Grains, starch, fried foods, dairy products
Starches	Eggs, tea, dairy products, bananas, dates, persimmons, most fruits
Radishes	Milk, bananas, raisins
Nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant)	Yogurt, milk, melon, cucumber
Yogurt	Milk, fruits, melons
Hot drinks	Meat, fish, mangoes, starch, cheese
Eggs	Meat, milk, yogurt, melons, cheese, fish, bananas
Fruit	With any other foods
Corn	Dates, raisins, bananas
Lemon	Yogurt, milk, cucumbers, tomatoes

The 7 Don'ts After A Meal

An interesting read I received and want to share.

1     Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of   cancer is higher).                                                                                          2    Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause the stomach to be bloated with air.  Therefore take fruit 1-2 hours after meals or 1 hour before meal.                                            3     Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid,  this substance will cause the protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.      4     Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked.                                                5    Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs and body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.                                                                                                                                                6    Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99.  In actual fact this is not true.  Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.                                                                                                                              7    Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly.  Thus will lead to gastric and infection in our intestine.