Rules of Good Nutrition

The rules of good nutrition are pretty simple: 

• Choose nutritious foods.
• Eat only as much as you need to maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid eating too much junk food.
• Stay active.

Here’s why you should follow these rules.

• If you don’t you are likely to fall back into your old ways of eating.
• If you eat too much, you will gain too much weight and become obese.
• Junk food is the main cause of obesity in America.
• Lack of exercise contributes to unhealthy weight gain. 

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Concerned about your weight? Talk to a registered dietitian. Registered dietitians/RDs are the healthcare professionals most trained and qualified to help you make the right food choices for your condition. You can find a registered dietitian by visiting the American Dietetic Association website at www.eatright.org or searching online for a registered dietitian.

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Did you read the Daily Diet Guide for today?

Have a diet or nutrition question? Ask us on www.lunchboxseminars.com 

Help Your Child to Eat Right

Help Your Child Eat Right

America’s children are eating all the wrong foods and not enough of the right ones. These food habits are causing an explosive increase in the rate of childhood obesity.

The Wrong Foods

I think it is obvious to just about everyone what the wrong foods are. They are cheap, full sugar, fat and salt, and calories. They are packaged for convenience. And they “taste good.”  So, it is not surprising that parents and children would reach for these types of foods. They are not called junk food for nothing.

Junk Food

You won’t find any warning on food packages telling you that the junk foods you are feeding your child could cause him to gain an excessive amount of weight, that one day he could develop diabetes, heart disease or other serious health problem as a result of eating those foods. You won’t find any advice to limit the amount of junk food you feed your child. And you won’t find any advice on any of the packages suggesting that you buy some fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and other nutritious foods for your child instead of the junk food. So, you don’t think twice about the damage that those foods may be causing.

A Better Way

On the other hand, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans offer some pretty good advice that you might want to pay attention to:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Watch those portions.
• Cut the fat.
• Cut the sugar.
• Cut the salt.
• Move more.

Keep these basics in mind the next time you go shopping. To be sure that you are not filling up your shopping cart with junk food, read the label of packaged foods. Better yet, buy fresh. This will help to ensure that your children are getting the nutrients they need for good health without the fattening calories.

World Junk-Food Free Month - October 2010

Introduction
In October of 2005, I called on Americans to set aside October to celebrate as "World Junk-Food Free Month." My hope was that Americans would begin the difficult task of shifting from the dangerous habit of overloading their diets with junk food, switch to more wholesome and nutritious foods and bring about a halt to the growing obesity epidemic.

This year, "Junk-Food Free Month," which wraps up today, was celebrated in September. But that's not the end. On October 1st, we will again celebrate "World Junk-Food Free Month," in recognition of the health threat that junk food poses, not only to Americans, but to people everywhere.

If we allow junk food to pervade the diets of people worldwide, as the junk-food industry would like, we will see obesity, chronic diseases and heath care costs rise to such an unfathomable degree that nations would be all consumed with treating the sick rather than building healthy, productive societies. We can't let this happen. We must not let it happen. 

That is why we must make the bold move and decide to quit the junk food habit. It will be hard, but what is harder is the pain and suffering, and high medical bills that result from a steady diet of junk food.

Cut the Junk

Let's wrap up "Junk-Food Free Month" today by saying "No" to sodas and any food containing 'high fructose corn syrup.' 

And let's get ready for "World Junk-Food Free Month," starting tomorrow, October 1st, with a commitment to wiping our plates and our palates clean of junk food.

Let's choose optimum health by switching to a diet of wholesome and nutritious foods.

Let's take a giant step towards stopping worldwide obesity now.

Let's do it!

10 Kitchen Rules for Healthy Dieting

Overview

Successful dieting is about making the right food choices. And what better place to start but right in our own kitchen. But let's face it - dieting or not, in today's fast-paced society, convenience rules. You eat out because it's convenient. You buy packaged food because it's convenient. You grab snacks from the vending machine because it's convenient. Even though you know that these foods undermine you diet, convenience rules. But, you don't have to ruin your diet with convenience foods. Here are 10 kitchen rules that will help turn your kitchen into a convenience center for healthy dieting.

Rule 1. Pray

Prayer will put you in touch with your higher power and allow you to gain the insight that you need to stay focused on healthy dieting.

Rule 2. Have a Healthy Attitude

Attitude is the great motivator. If you believe that you can, you can’t. Don’t let negative thoughts keep you from focusing on losing the weight. Keep in mind that dieting is not just about losing weight; ultimately, it's mostly about your health.

Rule 3. Clean Your Cupboard and Refrigerator

The less temptation you have around, the easier it will be for you stay on your diet. So, look around your kitchen and get rid of all those high calorie, high fat, high sugar and high salt foods you've been storing. It's time for a fresh start.

Rule 4. Stock Up on Healthy Alternatives to Junk Food

Don’t leave your cupboard and refrigerator bare. After you have thrown out the junk, replace them with healthy options, including fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. This will make dieting a lot easier.

Rule 5. Make It Easy to Snack on Healthy Food

You shouldn’t have to rummage through your cupboard or refrigerator to figure out what to eat when you want a quick bite. Keep a variety of fresh fruits in plain sight. That could be a bowl of fresh fruit, nuts and seed on your kitchen counter or dining table, or a container of cut fruits and vegetables, cheese and yogurt in plain view in the refrigerator. 

Rule 6. Toss 'n Go

Keep a few brown bags, sandwich bags and other convenient food carriers in the kitchen. Then, when you are in a hurry, you can just pack your own take-out lunch or toss some of your favorite snack foods to eat on the go. Convenience goes a long way towards making it easy to diet.

Rule 7. Cook It Right – Keep It Light

It is so easy for unwanted calories to sneak into your diet when you are not paying attention. So, stay focused. You don’t have to avoid fat, sugar or salt altogether, but you do have to limit the amount that you use in cooking or at the table.

Rule 8. Eat In More and Dine Out Less

Fast food places and the restaurant industry could care less about your weight or your health. Their concern is their bottom line. Your is your waistline. A few minutes in the kitchen could help you maintain a healthy diet and work wonders for your weight and your waistline. 

Rule 9. Get a Better Perspective on Portions

Do you know what a standard portion is? If not, take a look at the USDA food guide pyramid. Portion out your meals and snacks based on the guidelines provided. Just keep in mind that two portions mean two times the calories. Take time to read study portion sizes on food labels, as well.

Rule 10. Drink Your Water

With water flowing freely from your kitchen faucet, there is no excuse for not drinking lots of water. If you'd rather drink filtered water, purchase a water filter for your kitchen faucet or other type if you prefer. Bottled water makes it convenient for you to drink water anytime, whether you are in your kitchen or not. Make no excuses.