2012年8月31日 星期五

Healthy Food Choices for Kids - Understanding USDA's New Interactive Food Guidance System


A mother is always concerned about her family's health and well-being. Making healthy food choices for kids and the whole family is one of the major decisions that she makes every day as healthy food eating habits offer many beneficial effects on their overall well-being.

When laying out a healthy food plan, follow the Food Pyramid. It is the basic guide to choose the right kinds of foods and benefit from them. Looking at the USDA's new interactive Food Guidance System, you will notice how different it is from the old hierarchical Food Pyramid. The 6 major types of foods are graphically listed in different colorful variations. When you click on each food group, the recommended daily servings are clearly defined for all age groups following a 30 - 60 minute moderate physical activity daily.

Grain Group

The grain group includes carbohydrate-rich foods like Bread, Tortillas, Muffins, Pasta and Noodles. Children ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 13 need to eat at least 5 to 7 servings of grains each day. Depending on their gender, size, activity level and growth rate, some children need more or less servings.

Vegetable Group

The vegetable group lists down all the Folic and Vitamin-rich vegetables and root crops. Vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes, corn, potatoes, green leafy veggies contain high levels of nutrients that kids need to support their active lifestyle. Children ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 13 are advised to eat at least 4 to 6 servings of veggies every day. This means more creativity and patience for mothers to create vegetable dishes.

Fruit Group

We all know how beneficial this food group is. Fruits and vegetables go together in promoting good healthy eating habits in kids. Their vibrant colors and sweet tastes are good factors in making your kids eat the recommended servings every day. Fruit group includes the whole, fresh, canned or extracted fruits. Children ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 13 are advised to take no less than 3 to 4 servings every day.

Milk Group

Milk is undoubtedly one of the best foods for kids. It is one of the ready sources of calcium that's essential to your kids' growth and development. Almost all kids love milk, so you will not have much problem with this. Other sources of calcium include milk products such as different kinds of cheese, yoghurt, pudding and ice cream. Children ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 13 are recommended to take 3 servings of any of these milk items every day.

Meat Group

The meat group is composed of meat and poultry products like beef, chicken, veal, fish, eggs, peanut butter, dried peas, nuts or beans. Kids aging 7 to 13 should only eat 2 servings of meat items every day.

Oils and Others

Although oils and extra foods do not belong to any group, nutritionists recommend that our kids need to take the required amounts of them every day for good health. Beneficial oil sources are fish, nuts and vegetables.




The new food pyramid for kids is only a guide but it helps us decide what healthy food for kids are best and how much should we give to them to help them develop optimally.





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Some Things You Might Not Be Aware of About the Food Pyramid


In the 1960s the food pyramid was developed because of rising problem in the health of our nation. Heart attacks were becoming more common and people were dying from diseases related to malnutrition. I'm not talking about starvation and malnutrition here, I'm talking about people eating the wrong types of foods and not getting enough nutrition, or people eating the wrong types of foods and causing themselves all types of problems. The food pyramid has gone through several revisions since it was first released and it has become the cornerstone of many diets and indeed has become good practice with nutritionists and doctors alike.

The problem with the food pyramid is about when you are trying to decide whether its authorship is genuine. It's like anything else in life, if it comes from the government we are supposed to believe in it. Now the authors of the food pyramid are the United States Department of agriculture. Agriculture equals food and a basic necessity food at that. But when you start to think about it, the main job of the United States Department of agriculture is to promote agriculture. It is not to promote healthy nutrition.

So the question that we must all ask ourselves... is the United States Department of agriculture impartial? Is the United States Department of Agriculture thinking about the nutritional needs of the citizens of the United States, or are they thinking about the promotion of agriculture? These two things do not necessarily work in unison with each other. There is an obvious conflict of interest here.

There is a revised edition of the food pyramid that is due for release in 2010. I think that the new authors should be completely impartial, they should have no ties to any major foods department whatsoever.




Although the food pyramid gives you a better understanding of your nutritional requirements and does need general alteration. People need to be aware of what they can eat what they cannot eat. They must be aware of what foods are going to give them maximum benefit and what kind of foods they should be avoiding altogether. There cannot be any misinterpretation of the facts. And they're also cannot be any misinterpretation of the motivation of the authors of the food pyramid.





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Using the Australian and US Food Pyramids to Eat Healthy


When we were growing up, most of us learned about the food guide pyramid, and chances are your children are learning about it in school today, and if you plan to send them to a weight loss camp this summer, they'll learn more about it there. The pyramid is a great tool that we can all use to ensure that we're eating a healthy diet and can use to help plan meals for our children, and we all know that a healthy diet is key to losing weight.

Being familiar with the fundamentals of the pyramid helps people determine how to develop a healthy diet. Sometimes it can be confusing to know exactly which types of foods you should eat.

Our pyramid is divided into six parts: Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Oils, Meats & Beans. You can click on each section of the pyramid at the USDA website to get advice on how much of each you should take in throughout the day.

The Australians made their pyramid a bit simpler. It only has three categories that are based on how much the foods in each category should be eaten. In the "eat most" category are things like fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and grains. The "eat moderately" group consists of lean meats, eggs, and other low-fat dairy products. In the "eat in small amounts" group, you find things like oils, low-fat spreads, margarine, sugar, and butter.

Meats are a part of a healthy diet, but not all meats are the same. The meats that you eat should be lean meats. These days there are plenty to choose from. Kangaroo and Crocodile are two examples of great lean meats!

There are good things and bad things about both pyramids. The American pyramid might seem complicated to some and it may cause confusion in the sense that there are a lot of things to consider. However, the Australian pyramid may be too simplistic because it doesn't offer a lot of information on portion sizes.

So, it really comes down to what kind of guidance you need more. If you need specific information about portions, the US pyramid is the way to go. If you just need a general guide to keep in mind, the Australian pyramid is preferable because it is so simple.

Everyone would probably benefit by taking a look at one or both of the pyramids. Whichever pyramid you use you will be dramatically improving your diet. For extra help controlling your weight you might like to research about weight loss camps. There are even kids weight loss camps to help improve your child's life.




Joe Busch specializes in writing articles related to healthy weight loss for kids. He focuses on proper diets, exercise, and weight loss camps. Parents with children that struggle with their weight should consider weight loss camps for girls to jump start the process.





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2012年8月30日 星期四

The Many Advantages Of Online Nutrition Games For Kids


Many children do not eat properly these days. In fact, this may be one of the major reasons for the epidemic of obesity problems that many younger people face. It might not be easy to teach children about the value and importance of proper eating. This is why online nutrition games for kids can be very important. Here is a look at some good reasons to introduce your children to these websites.

Negative Associations with Learning

Most children enjoy having fun and playing. However, they may not associate that with learning. Instead they may associate learning with negative things. For example, a child may not like getting up in the morning and getting ready for school. He or she may wish to simply stay home and play.

Another reason that children may have negative associations with learning is the fact that they "have to" attend school. It can sometimes seem like they are being forced to do something. Children want to play and have fun, and anything that is forced upon them, they may resent.

Any time a child has a negative experience at school, they can see it as a reason not to like learning. If a child is experiencing problems with classmates, this can cause a great deal of emotional pain. Some children might not wish to attend school at all, if they are being bullied. If parents can find a way to make learning interesting and fun, they may enjoy a great deal of success as parents.

The Value of Play

There are many websites that offer interesting things for children to do. Many children do not have a great deal of interest in a food pyramid, for example. However, if the pyramid is part of a game, it may capture their interest. At the same time, they can learn about the value of the different food groups.

If you go to any good search engine and search the terms "nutrition games for kids", you will find a variety of websites that are geared for young minds. Many of the activities are interactive, and teach kids about proper eating habits.

Many young people are suffering from poor eating habits, these days. It is important for them to learn which foods are good for them, and why. Nutrition games for kids can teach young minds about the value of proper eating. At the same time, they can have fun and play. This combines the best of both worlds, and parents and children both benefit.




The process of building muscle is a trial and error. Most of the theories in bodybuilding are debatable and it can be overwhelming to digest all the information on balanced diet and bodybuilding. Julian Hee is a bodybuilding enthusiast and has started a website about basic bodybuilding guide that will help any newbies in bodybuilding.





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Easy High Fiber Muffins For Kids To Bake For Mom


mom. mOM. MOM! The echo rings in your head. The voices carry you to a not so distant time and place. The time: early morning, May 14th. The place: your cozy bed. The delicious aroma of baking muffins wafts through the air. You wonder if you are in the wrong house. But wait. What if your lessons about high fiber foods have finally been taken to heart by your kids this Mother's Day? Could they really be in the kitchen baking your favorite high-fiber carrot bran muffin?

You think about all of the moms in the world at this very moment awaiting the special treats in store for them this day. Many of them will be served a refined flour, sugar-laden breakfast in bed. Many will wish they were at the spa, alone. How many will find their family showering them with love by serving a high fiber menu with lots of veggies, fruits, and whole grains?

Throughout the years, as the learning curve widens about the benefits of high fiber foods, smart moms have chosen foods high in fiber for their family's daily diet. There is an alarming number of today's children that are overweight. The new Food Guide Pyramid recommends that children consume 1 to 3 servings of whole grains daily. The wise mom serves (but certainly not on Mother's Day) a variety of healthy fiber-rich foods to keep her kids trim and their digestive tracts running smoothly. Fiber helps regulate blood sugar which is vital to your children's energy and digestive health. If your little ones are exposed to a diet of foods high in fiber, their instinct will naturally lean towards choosing whole foods throughout their lives.

Fibrous foods tone up your intestines which helps prevent diverticulitis. Cancer-causing toxins speed out of the digestive system more quickly when a high fiber diet is followed. By maintaining proper colon health, the risk of irritable bowel syndrome is dramatically decreased.

Researchers have found that a high-fiber diet significantly reduces blood pressure levels among people with high blood pressure or hypertension. High fiber foods offer vital phytochemicals that we need for a healthy immune system. Fiber-rich foods tend to be higher in vitamins and minerals.

After eating fiber-rich foods, there is a feeling of fullness which helps to control overeating. A fiber-rich meal is processed more slowly. Losing weight is a natural result of eating high fiber foods such as whole grain breads and cereals; fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, unpeeled apples and pears; beans and legumes like kidney beans, lima beans, and lentils; nuts and seeds; vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, swiss chard and peas.

Whatever you do, Mom, don't go near the kitchen. You know what it looks like. Dads and kids have a different approach to kitchen duty and baking is a messy business. Trust in their high fiber wisdom. (You taught them, after all.) So what if the muffins don't come out light and moist? With every bite, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts. Enjoy the pampering and the acknowledgment of your family's adoration of you. Happy Mother's Day!

Carrot Bran Muffins/Blender Method

yield: 12 Large Muffins

1. Spray muffin pan with no-stick cooking spray

2. In a large mixing bowl thoroughly stir water into bran; stir in raisins, nuts, and carrots; let stand at least 5 minutes:

1 1/2 cups wheat bran (not boxed cereal flakes; just plain bran)

1/2 cup boiling hot water

1/2 cup raisins (soaked in water 5 minutes to soften; drained)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup grated fresh carrot

3. Place in blender; blend at high speed 4 minutes until smooth:

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1/2 cup honey

1 cup whole wheat pastry grain (not flour)

4. Combine and add all at once to liquid ingredients in blender and blend in briefly, but thoroughly:

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

5. Pour batter into softened bran mixture; blend all thoroughly, but briefly with rubber spatula or mixing spoon. Do not overmix!

6. Fill muffin cups evenly, each almost full; bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes until muffins can easily be removed from the pan with a gentle tug on one side of muffins.

Per Muffin (using whole medium eggs, 1% fat buttermilk)

Calories: 189; Total Fat: 5 grams

Fiber: 5 grams




Stephanie Shank aka Fiberlady has studied nutrition for many healthy years which prompted her commitment to a high fiber lifestyle and the development of her informative website High Fiber Health.

http://www.high-fiber-health.com





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MyPlate Replaces The Old Inadequate Food Pyramid But It Does Not Address The Real Issues


In a sense I am thankful that the food pyramid so long in use has been changed to a simple plate icon called MyPlate according to the first lady, Michelle Obama. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the main staple on this plate and that is a good thing. I certainly don't agree with everything on the plate if meat is the means by which we are supposed to get our protein needs filled, nor is milk a wise choice for the vast majority of people since almost everyone is lactose intolerant and certainly everyone that indulges in meat and dairy are also consuming dangerous amounts of hormones and antibiotics. It is, however a step up from the former food pyramid which was woefully inadequate.

One of my problems with MyPlate is that it does not answer the question of why Americans partake of such atrocious diets. I think most of us would very much like it if our families were able to eat a healthier diet and we know instinctively that fruits and vegetables should be the main part of such a diet. In my opinion the answer to the question of why many Americans don't eat a healthy diet is simply due to availability and affordability. Have you ever gone to the market and attempted to buy healthy organic fruits and vegetables? The prices are shocking and most Americans are in a struggle just to make ends meet thanks to a deep recession and ridiculous gas prices. It would be difficult to sustain a healthy diet for any length of time due to affordability if you were even a modest family of four. It's wonderful to encourage Americans to eat a healthy diet of predominantly fruits, vegetables, and whole grains but unless your name is Obama you probably can't afford to adopt such a lifestyle.

The very administration that is asking that Americans make wise dietary choices is now the head of the same government that has been supporting and subsidizing big food business for many years. They are the ones who subsidize soda pop, genetically modified corn which is used to make the deadly high fructose corn syrup, and hormone and antibiotic laden milk just to name a few. The foods which the government subsidizes and is therefore actually fairly inexpensive compared with good healthy produce, is also loaded with artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, and don't get me started on all the deadly preservatives such as MSG, as well as a host of other ingredients which you probably can't pronounce because they are chemicals that were made in a laboratory somewhere.

Fast food restaurants advertise heavily and our lives are bombarded with Big Meal deals which provide up to 2000 mostly empty calories at a whack and you can get all of this for a fraction of what it would cost to eat a healthy meal which Mrs. Obama claims we should opt for. I assume that Americans feel that since their kids have to eat, and since they can't afford to feed them the way the current administration encourages, then they just kind of have to settle for fast food and the refined and processed foods which the government subsidizes, and therefore makes affordable.

As long as Big Government continues to subsidize Big Food, Americans will remain the fattest, most unhealthy nation on planet earth. We will continue to give large percentages of our paychecks to doctors who really don't heal but who enjoy big perks from Big Pharma who would like to keep us all on a steady diet of dangerous synthetic drugs made in a laboratory. As long as Big Government continues to support the Monsanto's of the world, unlabeled, and very dangerous genetically modified organisms will continue to be the ingredients in almost every processed food found at the supermarket. And when these genetically modified seeds are coming exclusively from Monsanto, do you think that such a monopoly will drive food prices down? I don't think so. Instead of sponsoring this evil empire why doesn't big government begin to support the local organic farmer through a re-allocation of food subsidies? Why not tax the hell out of dangerous processed food (you do it with liquor and cigarettes) and make local, non GMO organic fruits and vegetables more readily available and affordable?

These and many more issues simply must be addressed (today and not tomorrow) before MyPlate will become more than a fairy tale. Unfortunately, it is this writer's belief that government has been too long in the hip pocket of Big Agribusiness, Big Food, and Big Pharma and since they have been on the dole for so long it is hard to give up the perks and start concentrating on the health of it's citizenry. Until these issues and more are recognized and dealt with by the current administration I will save my applause for something a bit more worthy.




My name is Mark Brohl and I am passionate about health issues, and the state of the health of our wonderful America. I believe the American diet is literally killing us and that a steady flow of money and perks from the meat, egg, and dairy industries to the U.S. government is the reason we have had a long sustained brainwashing campaign that has precipitated the shift from a predominantly plant-based diet to an animal-based diet. The result has been an unprecedented increase in heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancers of all varieties. I believe Americans are suffering from a lack of truthful information concerning our diets. I enjoy writing motivational articles that will help to correct the problem regarding this lack of information and also examine the prevailing misinformation in the light of truth.

Healthy Vegetarian Choices For Life
Dedicated to the advancement of informed choices that will benefit our health, our environment, and our animal friends.
Please visit my website at http://www.ourhealthforlife.com and look around awhile. I would very much appreciate comments concerning your reaction to what I have written as well as any input that might aid me in the task of making my site more helpful. I thank you in advance for your consideration.





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The Kids Food Pyramid


Hello Healthy Triangle!

The Kids Food Pyramid is a food guide designed by the US Department of Agriculture. The pyramid displays the five major food groups a child needs to stay healthy, nourished, and strong. Beside the different food groups are the corresponding recommended serving sizes per day depending on the child's age. Let's look at that in bullet points:

Grains: 3-5 oz. (2-8 years old), 5-7 oz. (9-18 years old)

Vegetables: 1-1.5 cups (2-8 years old), 2.5-3 cups (9-18 years old)

Fruits: 1.5 cups (2-8 years old), 1.5-2 cups (9-18 years old)

Dairy Products: 2 cups (2-8 years old), 3 cups (9-18 years old)

Protein Group 2-4 oz. (2-8 years old), 5-6 oz. (9-18 years old)

The above points are the simplest way to chart how much of each food group your child should be eating in order to stay healthy. You can read the nutrition labels found in the back of packaged food so you know how many ounces are in one serving. This will help you maintain and monitor your child's daily intake.

Try to make half of your grains servings "whole grain". This will be listed in the nutrition facts found in the back label. Off the bat, though, brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, and oatmeal are whole grain foods. If your child isn't a fan of milk, try getting them to eat yogurt, calcium fortified orange juice, or cheeses. If your child does like milk, however, switch them to skim milk at the age of three, this will lessen their fat intake.

Remember that these are not super strict rules. Having more fruits and vegetables than the recommended serving size per day is okay. If your child is very active or energetic, having more servings from the other food groups is also okay as they are probably burning a lot of calories and need to make up for it by eating more.

Now, what is not in the pyramid?

If you look at the kids' food pyramid, you will see that there are no sugary foods, processed meats, junk food, desserts, or soda drinks to be found. This isn't to say you can never have any of these. You can as long as it is not a part of your daily diet.

To reiterate and clarify: it's okay so long as you don't eat it everyday.

Some of the foods not found on the chart, like bitter-sweet chocolate pumps endorphins like serotonin into your system and helps your mood and overall feeling. Just be sure to keep it at a minimum or moderate level for both you and your children. Healthy eating should be the goal of each and every day!

Salt is also not found on the pyramid because many of the healthy foods we buy already have salt in them. Our bodies and our children's bodies do need salt, but not in the amounts that we usually take them in, which is already usually quite bad for you. So use your salt sparingly when cooking!

It is important to follow this food pyramid as best you can. At the end of the day, you're mapping out a better life for your child. Instilling healthy habits and following this pyramid prevents your child from being overweight, diabetes, heart diseases, chronic illnesses, cancer, and a host of other medical problems. This ensures your child a longer lifespan and an easier one too!

Keep in mind that there are many ways to be healthy, and there are countless options out there that fit well into the pyramid. Find the one that works best for you, your child, and the rest of the family.




Want a healthy eating child? Having a healthy child is one of the best things a parent can ask for. Learn more about how you can get your child to eat healthy by figuring out What IS Healthy Eating for Children?





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2012年8月29日 星期三

Glow Foods - What Your Kid Needs To Be Healthy


You don't have to worry about your kid's health anymore!

Do you know what it takes for your child to go, grow, and glow? Do you think your children lack the nutrition they need just because you don't know exactly the food to build on their diet pyramid? Worry no more because I will tell you more about the go, grow and glow foods and how they can positively impact the heath of your child!

Children are very active as they engage in a lot of strenuous activities in school. Some boys go to football clinics and some girls play hide-and-seek. Their routine usually requires the parents to provide the right food for them because otherwise they'd be less likely be able to endure their games. Aside from that, good nutrition will protect the child from getting sickness like common colds which they might acquire from their playmates.

Now that I have mentioned the need for a good diet, I won't leave you hanging on the things you need to do. To help you out, I will give you some information about what to really give the children:

Go Foods: Carbohydrate-rich food like cereals, rice, potatoes, etc. These types of food help in the creation of energy to enable the kids to run, swim, play around and do other activities.

Grow Foods: Food which contain protein and calcium like pork meat, fish, eggs, beans, milk, margarine etc. These strengthen the bones and makes the muscles grow stronger.

Glow Foods: Usually food with Vitamin A, C and E like oranges, carrots, and other green and leafy vegetables. These foods make the skin softer, hair smoother, and eyes healthier-some of the great signs of good health.

These are three basic food categories the kids need to ensure proper body and brain development. As much as possible, keep them away from junk foods like chips, candies, and fastfood meals. Your kids can now achieve healthy bodies by the proper diet you will give them.




May this piece on go, grow, and glow foods help you to be the best parent for that wonderful kid of yours.

Erika Ayala is a writer for the web. When she's not spending her time writing about helpful reviews, she spends it writing about everything you need to know about Glow foods.





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How to Use the USDA Food Pyramid to Plan Healthy School Lunches For Your Kids


First established by the USDA in the 1960's the food pyramid is a basic outline for healthy eating. The pyramid was chosen since it was recognised that not all foods should be consumed in equal quantities. Therefore eating the proper combinations of food is necessary in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Using the food pyramid to guide your diet will allow you to:


Provide your body with the proper nutrients it needs
Helps you regulate the number of calories you consume (aids in weight control)
Limits your intake of unnecessary fats and sugars

It should be noted that a healthy lifestyle involves more than just diet alone, regular exercise is also very important.

The food pyramid is composed of four levels, which contain the 6 basic food groups. These are distributed in the food pyramid as follows:


The base - Composed of breads and grains
Second Level - Composed of fruits and vegetables
Third Level - Contains milk & dairy, and proteins (meat, poultry, beans & nuts)
Top - Made up of fats and oils

The base of the pyramid, being the largest section, is where the majority of your diet should come from. On a daily basis, your diet should consist of 6 - 11 servings per day of grains. Whole grains are the best, since the more processed the grain is, the more nutritional value is lost. Preferred foods from this group include whole grain breads, cereal, rice and pasta.

The second level, and the next largest portion of your daily diet, consists of fruits and vegetables. How many times growing up did your mother tell you to finish your vegetables. You should have listened to mom, since you need to consume 3 - 6 servings of vegetables, and 2 - 4 servings of fruits daily. Fruits and vegetables provide your body with fiber, vitamins and the essential minerals it needs. Vegetables with the highest nutritional impact are dark in color: such as dark leafy greens, or orange (carrots). Fruit juices are not fruits. They contain mostly sugar and are of limited nutritional value.

The milk & dairy, and protein level provides your body with calcium, protein (obviously), iron and zinc. All of which are essential to the formation of strong bones and muscles. You should have 2 - 3 servings daily from both of these groups. When choosing proteins, select lean cuts of meat and poultry. Milk (and dairy products) should be either low-fat or fat-free.

The very top of the pyramid, being the smallest section, represents those foods that should be eaten only sparingly since they are of very limited nutritional value. It is however possible, to get more out of this group by incorporating selections from the protein group. Fish and nuts contain the healthier unsaturated fats, which are also found in vegetable oils. Try to avoid the 'bad' (saturated) fats that are found in butter, margarine, shortening and lard.

By using the USDA food pyramid as a guide you can see that a typical meal should be ~35% grains, ~20% vegetables, and ~15% each of fruits, proteins, milk & dairy, with limited amounts of fats and oil. This basic outline can be used to establish a habit of healthy eating.




I'm Mark and as the father of twins, making sure my kids eat healthy is very important. Without the proper nutrition they won't be able to grow up strong and healthy. Helping them to develop good eating habits now will make it easier for them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they grow older.

If you enjoyed this article, go to prepare healthy meals for kids, for more information and recipes. You can also find additional information on recipes, kitchen appliances, nutrition, and more on my blog at http://homechefcookingtips.com/





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The Food Pyramid


The food pyramid, which is updated in the United States once every five years (the last update was in 2005) is basically a guide which tells you what your nutrition levels should be. The original food pyramid was first printed in 1992 to replace one of the oldest systems of food classification. Although the newer food pyramid is taking into account a lot more in terms of exactly what foods you should be eating it still has quite a bit of way to go till it is anyway perfect.

The unfortunate thing is that today we have more obesity in the Western world than ever before. People are eating rubbish food and not getting enough exercise. The food-pyramid is a basic synopsis of the daily intakes of all the different food types that you should be having. The new food pyramid also includes sections on the amount of exercise you should be taking.

For instance, the new food-pyramid tells you that you should have about 30 minutes a day of between moderate and vigorous exercise. It explains the difference between moderate exercise and vigorous exercise. One of the things that it promotes as moderate exercise is brisk walking, which it defines as walking at around 3 1/2 mph. One of the examples of vigorous physical exercise is walking very fast which it classifies as being over 4 1/2 miles per hour. You can also see food pyramids for children, food pyramids for vegetarians, even cultural food pyramids for different types of diet, for instance Chinese food pyramid.




The food pyramid is an excellent resource to enable anyone to choose the correct types of food to be eating. But in recent years is also telling you how to exercise properly. This is very important because without exercise we are still going to become unhealthy. The food pyramid has a great place in our lives and in our homes. It should be placed in a prominent position where everyone can benefit from the wonderful advice that it gives. Although it is not perfect, it gives nobody the excuse to say that they did not know how to look after themselves. If you follow this advice then you will be healthy and fit.





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2012年8月28日 星期二

Do You Bribe Your Kids To Eat Fruits and Vegetables? Follow the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid


I followed the Mediterranean Diet food pyramid and I didn't even know it then. I ate my vegetables when my Mom told me to. Considering the abundance of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and low calories in vegetables, I can understand why mothers bribe their kids to eat vegetables. Fruits are also abundant with nutrients, low in caloric value, and mostly sweet.

I love fruits and vegetables. I like the colors, shapes, and textures. Fruits help me in my quest to cut down on my consumption of sugar. It's the best replacement for all the sweets I crave and it's a great low-calorie snack. What's nice about fruits and vegetables is their high content of water which serve to hydrate our system and makes us feel stuffed.

Juice, fruit, or salad in the morning, salad and a vegetable at lunch and dinner, a piece of fruit for a snack or desert provides you with more than the recommended daily amounts of vitamin A and C, as well as minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. Many fruits and vegetables contain calcium, iron, magnesium, and B vitamins, and most vegetables are abundant with fiber.

Vegetables join whole grains and beans in Mediterranean Diet food pyramid as a source of water necessary to keep our bowels in good working condition. Vegetables such as potatoes and broccoli also add to our daily consumption of protein. Vegetables are rich in calcium that plays a major-roll in keeping our bones healthy.

Considering vegetables and fruits provide us with mostly water-soluble vitamins which our body can only store in small amounts, we need to eat them every day as they are our main supplier of nutrients necessary for our health.

Vegetables and fruits provide us with the most vitamins, minerals, and plant nutrients for the amount of calories to keep us slim and full of energy. We depend on these nutrients to turn carbohydrates into energy rather than storing it as fat.

Fruits and vegetables are delicious and good for you. If you want to follow the Mediterranean Diet food pyramid, keep your weight down, and yet get good nutrition as well as good food, you should have the amount of servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Vegetables 5 - 6 servings daily Serving sizes:

1 cup of raw leafy vegetable

1 cup of tossed salad

1/2 cup cut up raw or cooked vegetables from all the colors.

1 medium size potato

3/4 cup vegetable juice

Fruits 3 - 4 servings daily Serving sizes:

1 medium size fruit

1/2 cup fresh-cut up mixed fruit

1/4 cup dried fruit

* 1/2 cup fruit juice *

* Not recommended for glucose restricted diet




My Personal Experience With The Mediterranean Diet

My name is sol and I have been following the Mediterranean diet for three years now. It has made a tremendous difference in my live. I eat healthy, I exercise, and I have lots more energy. I used to weigh 207 lbs (94 kg), and now I weigh 177 lbs (81 kg). That's a loss of 30 lbs (13.5 kg)! When I look at myself now, I feel good. My body is slimmer and I feel a sense of accomplishment.

To find out more please visit my blog http://pinpoint250.blogspot.com/p/home_06.html





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Food for Energy: A Healthy Food Guide for Active Children


During play, active children consume more energy per unit of body weight than teenagers and adults. This is the very reason why they have different nutritional needs compared to adults. In order to keep up with their pace, moms should carefully select what food for energy to include in their daily diet, foods that are healthy and are readily digestible.

They must consume foods that contain higher proportion of body-building nutrients such as protein, mineral elements and vitamins. If you are having trouble how much food for energy to give to your active kids, you can follow the new Food Pyramid For Kids approved by the USDA.

Now, what foods for energy would make a good meal combination every day? Here we provide a healthy food guide for active children.

Breakfast: The Most Important Food Combination of the Day

You may have heard this old momma's saying "Eat your breakfast, honey, because it's the most important meal of the day..." and the sermon goes. But she's absolutely right! During sleep, our tiny little cells still work overnight, consuming nutrients such that in the morning, proteins and other energy-giving nutrients are at their lowest. The best way to restore your kids' energy level is to give them a hearty-breakfast.

Whatever beverage you choose, (milk or fresh fruit juice) this meal combination will surely give your children a boost of energy.

Banana or Sliced Avocado combined with their favorite scrambled egg.

Bananas are mighty powerhouses of nutrients. Eating at least 1 piece in the morning will provide your kids the recommended daily serving of potassium, a natural regulator of the body's water balance.

Avocados are heavyweight in calories and other nutrients that keep our hearts and skin healthy such as Vitamin A, D and E.

Eggs are also packed with nutrients such as the B-vitamins, proteins and minerals. In order to make eggs enjoyable for your active kids, scramble them with ham, bell peppers, onions and milk.

You may also serve them a bowl of oatmeal or granola, with berries and milk. This is a powerhouse combination of fiber, vitamins and minerals to keep your kids on the go!

A healthy breakfast is your best gift to your kids every day.

Snacks: Take Advantage!

Healthy snacks are good meal fillers. If your kid just drank his glass of milk or fresh fruit juice, always be ready to put in his snack box, healthy foods that will surely fill them and give them the energy he or she needs for the day.

An apple, yogurt or banana muffins is an example of a very good snack combination for your active kids.

Apples are fiber-rich fruits, which can fill your kids' stomach to the fullest if they eat one whole apple.

Lunch: Make Sure You Don't Miss Out!

If your kids have skipped breakfast, because they woke up late and are hurrying things in the morning, make sure they don't miss out their healthy lunch packs!

These foods should be in their lunch boxes with a bottle of fresh fruit juice or water.

You can choose from various meat recipes, but be sure to prepare one that's packed with natural ingredients not from ready-to-cook pouches as they contain high levels of preservatives and chemicals detrimental to your kid's health.

Great lunch ideas, will keep a smile on your kids faces.

Dinner: Keep It Simple yet Special.

As they say, dinner is the lightest meal of the day. But your kids wouldn't want to come home if you'll just prepare them meals that would not satisfy their hungry bellies. Remember, your kids have special nutritional needs, such that dinners should be kept simple yet special.

Kids love pasta. Transform this food for energy into a one-dish meal by making nutrient-filled spaghetti. With your favorite spaghetti recipe, include ingredients such as minced bell peppers, pineapple cubes or ground beef and relish it with cheese.

You may also prepare vegetable or meat sandwiches, whatever your kids love to eat. Or, if they ask for pizza, why not prepare one that's healthier? Home-made pizzas, folded pizzas or Calzones can be easily prepared.

And a glass of fresh fruit juice will surely make them say, wow! I'm full!

Wouldn't we want to hear that more often from our kids?




Giving our kids a healthy start is our job, so let's make healthy food for energy combination for them every day! To learn more about food for health visit the Food For Your Healing website.





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Understanding the Food Pyramid for Kids


In 2005, the US Department of Agriculture released the new food pyramid plan. Kids and adults alike no longer need to follow the same horizontally sectioned food pyramid. Adults now have their own pyramid while there is also a new food pyramid for kids. What does this say now about food, nutrition and diet?

The new food pyramid for kids basically implies that kids have different nutritional and diet needs as adults. Kids need to follow the specifications in the new food pyramid for kid so that they can grow up healthy and strong.

The food pyramid for kid is telling kids and parents that kids should eat a variety of food items from all the food groups. A healthy meal according to the food pyramid for kid should therefore contain lean meat, beans, nuts, fish, milk, dairy products, fruits, grains, vegetables and some fats.

The food pyramid for kid however is not telling kids to eat everything in the same amounts. The same age old advice still holds about eating more grains, fruits and vegetables than other food types. Oils and sugar should be eaten in smaller portions. Parents should also note that some foods in each category should not be eaten in great amounts. Fruit pies and tetra pack juices for example do not necessarily contain the same nutrients as real fruits and should only be taken occasionally.

The best way to encourage kids to follow the food pyramid for kid requirements is to set a good example. Parents and other family members should vow to eat only healthy food. It would also help to keep the whole house free of junk food and other food items that are less in nutritional value.

The new food pyramid for kid is also trying to tell us that kids should be given a lot of time to exercise. Good physical play for example is advisable for kids to stay healthy. Parents can also encourage kids to follow the physical exercise advice of the new food pyramid for kid by being a good example and engaging in physical activities as well. Parents can keep kids active by participating in family camping activities or family sports games.

The whole business of eating and living healthy may be a difficult concept to teach children. The food pyramid for kid also suggests however, that healthy living and eating should be taught slowly but surely.




Sally Hamlin is a mother who has had a strong interest in nutrition for several years, particularly as applied to kids food and children's growth and development.





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2012年8月27日 星期一

Adolescent Weight Management and Fitness


Are your kids growing up well? Are they healthy and strong or are they just growing vertically (and often horizontally too)? What are your son's or daughter's diet requirements? Are they receiving adequate amount of calories or are you worried they might be gorging on the wrong type of calories i.e. empty calories from sodas or overdoses of calories from junk foods?

As a parent you will probably agree that your child's diet is quite unpredictable. Without proper supervision our kids will probably avoid entire food groups and only consume what they love i.e. carbohydrates and fats. It is a proven fact that weight and nutrition deficiencies, lack of energy, lack of concentration etc. can all be traced to faulty or imbalanced diet. The solution to the problem is pretty simple - we need to take an active interest in our child's diet, healthy food pyramid for kids as well as physical activity. Doing so will not only make adolescent weight management plans and fitness much easier to handle it will also bring about a sense of wellbeing amongst your kids.

Research is usually designed to study weight loss, although adolescent health specialists have long stressed the importance of focusing on all the benefits of weight loss management programs that lead to improved overall health and well being. Methods designed to achieve rapid weight loss through starvation, inappropriate strenuous exercise, and/or drugs can be harmful.

Most of us are painfully aware that obesity is of epidemic proportions in this country. This epidemic has resulted in increased incidences of obesity-related disease. An obese child therefore becomes much more susceptible to diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Because obesity is 70 percent genetic and 30 percent dependent upon psychosocial and environmental factors, obese parents often tend to accept their children's obesity rather than seek to correct it.

Adopting the correct Weight Loss Strategy

Most of the experts including nutritionists and fitness experts recommend that our obese children be put on a healthy eating diet and are encouraged to exercise and modify the eating habits. Some may even recommend the occasional use of special medication. Unfortunately, all this often proves to be ineffective for most people suffering from obesity. The popular "mantra" is "eat less, eat right and exercise, exercise, exercise".

Unfortunately this would be like telling a depressed person to think "happy" thoughts or a diabetic to control diabetics by eating less sugar and follow healthy eating diet plan. Initially all diets do seem to work - not because it is the right strategy but simply due to the fact that on one hand, calorie intake is reduced and on the other hand, more calories are burned through exercise.

All diets are ineffective in the long run. This is because of physiological reasons unique to humans. Here's what happens; as soon as your child begins to eat less, the decreased calorie intake forces the metabolism to slow down. This is essentially an automatic compensatory response mechanism. Instead, encourage your child to eat the daily requirement of calories from all the food groups. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS. The only foods that need to be removed from the menu are junk and other unhealthy foods.

Along with a correction in the type of food consumed, encourage your child to exercise or a have a high level of physical activity in their daily routine. The results will not be seen overnight but nevertheless, positive results will appear within a month or two. Once your child loses the extra flab, his (or her) self esteem and sense of empowerment will be heightened.




Click for Weight management program and Diabetes and weight management

Ed Stephens started life as a Scientist and this passion has evolved into a focus on making a difference to people's lives, leveraging proven science based solutions. First with the emphasis on providing a one-stop diabetes solution store for the prevention & management of Type 2 diabetes





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The Food Pyramid - Not Exactly the 8th Wonder of the World


The staple of modern day diets include foods like bread, cereal, pasta, rice, and other grains. These foods constitute the base of what was once a chapter within our middle school health textbook: The Food Pyramid. Patterning a diet according to this food pyramid would mean up to 11 servings of these types of foods. Obviously someone discovered the supernatural powers hidden within grains and decided we should stuff our faces with it throughout the day. Well thankfully everyone listened to the omniscient pyramid and now we find ourselves in the midst of an uber healthy society dominated by grain consumption.

All joking aside, our society cannot claim good health as one of its defining characteristics. Rather than a defining characteristic, good health is more like Camus' Sisyphus, a completely unreachable endeavor. With exponential increases in diabetes, coronary heart disease, and many cancers, we are actually tumbling down the spectrum of health into a pit of confusion. Yes, confusion. We should be confused about why our food (our giver of health, life, and energy) has not saved us from the torment of these diseases. Even our drugs have failed us, but that is neither here nor there and a topic for another day. There must be something missing from the equation. It seems that the more grain you eat, the more likely you are to die. Quite literally and quite painfully. The foundation of our all-mighty food pyramid may be inviting more health disaster than you may have thought. Let us examine some commonly overlooked, and often unknown, characteristics of grain consumption:

Grains contain "anti-nutrients" - Forget that grains are pretty much void of any important nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and focus on the fact that grains actually contain the evil 2nd cousin of nutrients: anti-nutrients. These substances actually bind to other nutrients (take zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron for example) and prevent their absorption in the human body. This creates huge mineral deficiencies in the human body and negatively influences bodily functions. Some common anti-nutrients found in grain are Phytic Acid, Lectins, Protease, Alpha-amylase inhibitors, and Alkylresorcinols. Aside from their ability to prevent mineral absorption, these substances also induce inflammatory responses (beer belly anyone?), prevent protein metabolization, are known allergens, and drastically influence auto-immune function. This, however, is only the beginning.
Most grain is GMO - Sexy acronym? Yes, but it really just means genetically modified. The need for GMO came when someone decided that cheap grains were the answer to feeding the world. We needed to feed the growing human population. Then we needed to feed the cows, chickens, and fish (this list is probably much longer but condensed in order to keep your interest, if any). Finally, we needed enough left over so the farmers can get their subsidy checks from the federal government. I know what you are thinking, "Okay, okay. I get it. But just because its genetically modified does not mean its bad for you". There are two ways of dealing with this response. One is to go and research the topic for yourself. Or, simply take my word for it since that is commonplace in today's "Google Age". I prefer if you learn more and if you do decide to embark on this intellectual journey, please please please ensure that the research found is scientific and, more importantly, independent (*cough* Monsanto *cough*). GMOs are highly controversial with long term effects on humans still to be determined; and yet they populate almost every aisle of American grocery stores without a single question. The rest of the world sees it differently. Hungry African and Asian nations are concerned enough about it that they refuse food aid where the food contains GMOs. Europe has been very suspicious of GMOs as well. There have even been examples of health impacts from the consumption of GMOs. In Japan, a bacterium modified to synthesize amino acids, effectively "pumped out" amino acids from the desired food, but it also created a new one not typically occurring in nature. The new amino acid caused some deaths and a lot of irreversible mental and metabolic damage to hundreds of people until the product was finally recalled. As a result, Japan does not want GMO food. Australia does not want GMO food. And of course, New Zealand detests anything GMO.
Humans are not wired for grain consumption - Ask any anthropologist, biochemist, or even a competent nutritionist, and they will tell you the same thing. Humans evolved on a diet that consisted of hunting, foraging, and gathering. Hence, killing animals and picking fruits and vegetables was the most effective, and only, means to satiating hunger. Humans would have starved if they had to wait for the growing, harvesting, milling, and baking of their food. This process, however, is exactly what it takes to bring grains to the market. To quote a Dr. Peter Rouse, "the simplest way to look at your diet is to look at what we ate 100,000 years ago. That will allow you to tune in with your individual metabolic type. No legumes, grains or dairy were consumed during the Middle Paleolithic Period. Only since we have increased the consumption of these have we seen the spread of diseases such as CHD, Cancer, Diabetes, etc. How do we know there is a link? Because we understand the biochemical effects these food substances have on the human organism". Its no wonder that veterinarians tell you to avoid feeding dogs any grains. Yet they are safe for human consumption? Hmmmm.
But wait! Grains contain fiber (Yay!) - You got me. They do, but forgive me if I do not wave a white flag and shout mercy. The importance of fiber and its required abundance in daily eating could be one of the biggest flaws in medical literature. Although it may be a standard recommendation for virtually every digestive illness, when the human digestive tract is compromised in any way, that very same fiber could be creating and irritating most of the colorectal and digestive disorders it is suppose to cure. Coincidentally, grains are responsible for tearing up your digestive system since it is a known stomach irritant and causes gut inflammation. Is it not remarkably strange that after grain consumption, feelings of bloating, increases in gas, and loose stools shortly follow?

If fiber ends up being the only reason for eating "balanced breakfasts" with corn flakes or oatmeal for lowering cholesterol, try some fruits and vegetables that are high in not only vitamins and minerals, but also fiber. This includes avocados, apples, asparagus, and artichoke. That only includes selections from the first letter in the alphabet! Just imagine the plethora of food options outside the letter "A". One of the best ways to avoid grains is to simply shop on the outside of grocery stores and avoid the aisles. Its simple and effective, so give it a try. Lastly, and most importantly, take in account this shocking fact. Our kids will have a shorter life expectancy than us. This is highly correlated, if not statistically and absolutely, due to horrendous eating habits. The Food Pyramid and its food consumption guidelines fall well short of becoming the next great wonder of the world.




Luke Sniewski is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Corrective Exercise Specialist. He works by weaving the health and wellness world with the business world. Working with companies and business professionals, his organization, LEAF, aims to increase bottom line productivity by implementing proactive lifestyles. Please visit http://www.leaflifestyle.com for more details regarding corporate wellness services. Remember, stop treating the symptoms and start solving the problems.





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Great Recipes That Are Truly Kid Friendly


Kids like helping in the kitchen and can learn to do simple recipes first. By taking your time to teach your children about good nutrition, healthy foods, and the food pyramid, you set them about the course for a healthy lifestyle. Childhood obesity is climbing in startling numbers. Too often fast foods take the place of healthy meals made at home. When a child is overweight, they suffer not only bullying by their peers, but health related issues with their heart and blood pressure. Teach your kids their way around the kitchen with Kid Friendly recipes. By teaching healthy diet habits you can avoid these problems with overweight and obesity. Find recipes that include the food pyramid and have your kids cook a dinner for the whole family!

Here are two recipes to get the kids started with:

Egg-Cellent Toast

This recipe requires some adult supervision as it is cooked on a stove with a skillet.

1 piece of bread, toasted

1 egg

butter

salt

Cut a 3-inch circle in the bread. Heat the skillet on burner over medium heat. Butter one side of the bread and place in skillet. Let bread cook for 1 minute. Then crack the egg over the bread so the egg yolk fills the circle. Add a little salt, and then turn over. Let egg cook for about 2 minutes. Remove from skillet. Serve for breakfast or for a yummy snack. Place a dab of strawberry jam on top.

S'More Sandwiches

2 slices chocolate bread

1 ounce or a couple of large spoon full of marshmallow fluff

1 ounce peanut butter

Spread marshmallow fluff on one slice of the chocolate bread, peanut butter on the other, combine the two slices of bread and serve. Listen closely for the cry S'More!

Your kids will be able to present their recipes to their friends and enjoy the kudos that they have earned with recipes that incorporate good food, lots of fun and some safe experiences in the kitchen with mom and dad. A finding a kid friendly recipe only takes a few minutes on the Internet or dreaming up the recipes yourself. Your kids will love the learning experience as much as they enjoy the time spent with you doing something productive.




Herb likes to cook. Please check out his website that contains pool pump timer [http://www.PoolPumpTimer.org] information as well as pool pump filter [http://www.PoolPumpTimer.org/pool-pump-filter.html] information.





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Food Pyramid Gets New Look


Remember the food pyramid that we had to memorize during elementary school? Well, it underwent a total makeover reflecting the latest scientific advances in diet and health.

Nifty Design

The triangle shape stayed the same, but that is about it! The inside of the new pyramid underwent a complete revamp - no more blocks showing illustrative drawings of the different food groups. The new pyramid is pictureless, featuring a color-coded vertical rainbow of stripes which correspond to the various food categories (fruits, vegetables, grains,etc...).

Information more specific

The new pyramid lists the portions by measurement, such as six ounces of grain products daily, half of which should be from whole grains. With the former recommendations, a person can eat anywhere between 6 to 11 servings of grain products daily. Not only is this range too wide, there is also no mention of how much is in a serving. The revised pyramid eliminates ambiguity, identifies serving sizes and focuses on the consumption of whole grains.

Not all fats are created equal

The old pyramid does not differentiate between good and bad fats. The newer version recognizes that not all fats should be banned. Monounsaturated fats, such as nuts, avocados and olive oil play a favorable role in weight loss. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish provide an avalanche of health benefits from lowering cholesterol to improving memory. Fried and processed foods (loaded with saturated and trans fats) are the fats to be avoided as they are the main culprits in causing weight gain and blocking the arteries.

Includes exercise

Physical fitness is stressed in the new model, recommending that adults should have at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week; 60 minutes for children. To prevent weight gain or sustain weight loss, the guidelines are even more stringent, advising 60 to 90 minutes daily. The old model didn't even mention exercise at all.

Technologically savvy

At MyPyramid.gov, you will not only view the new and improved pyramid, but you can also personalize it by planning a menu based on your age, gender and physical activity. Other interactive tools include tracking food intake and physical activity for up to a year, giving you a better picture of your health over time, as well as, offering evaluations based on your own personal "score".

One size doesn't fit all

For this reason, the old pyramid was replaced with not just one pyramid, but 12 different ones, tailoring to different lifestyles and dietary needs. If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, vegetarian or diabetic, a plan can be devised for you online. Pyramids are also broken down for preschoolers (2-5 years old) and kids (6-11 years old). With childhood obesity becoming a global concern, sitting with your children and devising their own personal pyramid - and not just verbally lecturing - may encourage them to stick to healthy eating.




Dr Sandy Zabaneh is a US board-certified Doctor in Pharmacy who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from University of California, Davis. She is the Health Editor of U Magazine, clinical pharmacy consultant and life coach. Dr Sandy likes to follow the motto set forth by the World Health Organization in 1948: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Check out her blog at http://www.sandyzabanehblog.com





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2012年8月26日 星期日

The Pyramid Plan


Americans are used to getting what they want, when they want it. From fast food (your way, right away) to television (cable-on-demand and Tivo) to Internet shopping, we want things quickly, with minimum effort. With this in mind, it is no surprise that a perusal of dieting books will turn up hundreds of different ways to "lose weight NOW." Yet most of these programs are, by definition, unhealthy. The best way to lose weight is to take the long-term approach and follow the food pyramid.

Most of the diets on the market today do not meet basic nutrition demands. Authors know dieters want instant gratification, and the slow and steady approach won't give you that. Whether they advise sticking to one food type or avoiding another, a balanced meal generally isn't in the cards. Even worse, after suffering through this week's diet fad, most people tend to put lost weight back on again. At best, they plan to diet again; at worst, they simply give up. What is the cause of the vicious circle? Once the weight is lost, the diet is complete, and many folks return to their original - harmful - eating habits.

Instead of counting calories or saying "no" to bread, we need to focus on integrating proper nutrition into our daily lives. Unlike a diet, eating nutritiously never ends and is always good for us. It's not as hard as one might think. Rather than taping a picture of yourself - or someone else - grossly overweight to your fridge, tape a picture of the food pyramid. Then take the weekly approach. Pick your favorite - or least favorite - food group, and intgrate it into your daily consumption. For seven days, work on eating the appropriate number of fruits, grains, or meat/protein. In some cases, you may have to add to your daily servings; in others, you may need to cut back. If, for instance, you know you max out on your meat servings at dinner time (as my husband does), consider having peanut butter and jelly for lunch instead of ham and turkey. Or go ahead and eat bacon for breakfast, but eat only one serving of pork chops for dinner. Planning to add more grapes to your day is no harder than what any other diet requires. Once you have gotten the hang of eating the appropriate amount from one food group, move on to the next one. If it takes you three weeks to feel comfortable with each section, that's fine, there's no rush. Remember, this isn't a diet, it's a dietary change. Think long term nutrition rather than short term weight loss.

Work with your weaknesses, too. Instead of cutting out your tendencies for the midday munchies, plan them into your menu. Think about what kind of nourishing snack foods you like and then set them in easy reach. Try a bowl of strawberries instead of a bowl of M&Ms, for instance. Or chow down on some yogurt or carrot sticks. This will not only help you fulfill your food pyramid requirements, it will also help fill you up a bit (on something healthy) before dinner, which means those small-seeming portions the FDA recommends won't seem so outrageous.

Finally, for an easy weightloss trick, try trading in your coffee, soda, or tea for water (save it for one week on your pyramid-changing campaign). You say H2O won't give you that caffeine buzz you need to stay awake? Experts agree that not drinking water makes us lethargic, tired, and irritable. It stands to reason that drinking water would combat these symptoms. After all, don't we find ourselves the same way if we miss our daily dose of java? Water will also help fill your stomach and keep you from being hungry all the time, not to mention its additional benefits.

You don't have to give up completely on coffee, chocolate, or whatever makes you happy to follow a healthy eating pattern. Just work on consuming in appropriate amounts. Fill up on something wholesome, and you'll find yourself craving junk food less and less. If you're a parent, you'll be teaching your kids good nutrition from the get-go, reducing their tendencies towards obesity, both as a child and as an adult.

Putting yourself on the right eating plan may not help you drop fifty pounds in a month (not a healthy goal, anyway), but over time, you will find yourself moving down to a healthy bodyweight. Of course, all the eating in the world won't help if you don't incorporate some physical activity into your program - but that's another article. In the mean time, if you plan to embark on a strange new diet, try to Pyramid Plan. The long term benefits will make it well worth your while.

See the FDA's interactive food pyramid web site for more details. http://www.mypyramid.gov/




Nola Redd is a freelance writer on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Fiction Writing. You can read more of her fiction and nonfiction at http://www.Writing.Com/main/view_item/user_id/scottiegaz?rfrid=scottiegaz.





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Food Pyramid Art Activities For Toddlers


The new food pyramid focuses on fruits and vegetables. The recommendation is to make sure half of your daily intake is from fruits and vegetables. I know from experience that getting a toddler to eat that many fruits and vegetables is very difficult but if toddlers see them many times and in lots of different kinds of activities, they might be more likely to eat them. Here are several ideas for food pyramid art activities.

1. Food pyramid collage: Cut out big pictures from magazines and cut them out. Your toddler can assist you with the cutting if able. Have your toddler decorate a big pyramid on poster paper.

2. Family picture collage: Take pictures of your child and other family members eating healthy foods - fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Then print them, cut them out and have your child glue them on colored paper. At the top write the words, "Me and my family eating healthy foods. "

3. Family picture book: Another idea with the same pictures above is to have your child make a book. The pages are, for example: Daddy eats apples, Mommy eats tomatoes, Justin eats plums, Grandma eats avocados, Grandpa eats papaya, and so forth. Kids love books with real pictures of their families in them. 4. Paint BIG pictures of healthy foods - Draw big pictures of healthy foods such as apples, oranges, carrots, lettuce. Then have your toddler paint them with washable poster paint or real paint. If you want to you can cut out the picture and glue it on another sheet of paper.

5. Several ideas using Google Images: Go online to Google Images and print out big (approximately 3 inches by 3 inches) pictures. There are a lot of different projects but here are some ideas:

a. Print out 5 red apples, 5 green apples and 5 yellow apples. Put them in a pile. Have your toddler sort them by color and glue them on big paper.

b. Print out 3 each of several different healthy foods. Have your child make ab patterns with them and glue them on paper. For example: carrot, milk, carrot, milk, carrot, milk, carrot, milk

c. Print out several different foods from each food group. On paper plates have your child make up meals from each group that he would like to eat. Then fix those meals from him. Better yet, have him help you shop for and cook those meals.

d. Print out several different healthy toppings for salads. On a piece of paper, draw a big salad. Have your toddler color it with green crayons or markers. Have your toddler add the healthy toppings to the salad and glue them in place.

e. Print out pictures from the internet and have your child make a picture book. Fold paper into a book. Glue the pictures and write the word for the picture underneath.

6. Fruit/vegetable Prints: Make prints from different types of fruits and vegetables - apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, peppers, etc.

The possibilities for Food Pyramid art projects are endless. You just need a little imagination.




Kristin Whiting is a Mom and Special Needs teacher. She enjoys coming up with creative and fun ways to teach children. Go to http://www.myspecialneedsclassroom.com and check out some more ideas.





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One Size Pyramid Doesn't Fit All


Even if you don't follow a high fiber menu or a lot of high fiber recipes, have a half cup of orange juice at breakfast, a pear with lunch, and a salad along with a cooked vegetable at dinner. You've just met some of the standards from the new FDA nutritional guidelines, "MyPyramid".

It's all very simple. Eat a minimum of three one-ounce servings of whole grains daily along with at least five servings of fruits and vegetables. For the high fiber challenged, try a whole grain cereal at breakfast rather than the sugar-laden, empty calorie brand you stock in the pantry. Switch from white to whole grain bread for your lunchtime sandwich.

In April, 2005, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) released it's interactive dietary guidleines called Mypyramid. Apparently we were long overdue for an updated version of the flawed and misleading former food pyramid. With the current growing awareness of the health benefits of high fiber food in today's diet, it's a wonder that Americans have made it this far without more effective guidelines. Or have we?

Two-thirds of Americans are now overweight, and some experts actually blame some of that on the food pyramid. The old one consisted of the "Four Basic Food Groups" that you remember growing up with as a kid. Too many kids today are faced with weight problems due to poor eating habits and lack of exercise.

MyPyramid is by design simple and encourages healthier food choices including whole grains and high fiber foods along with daily exercise.

Six bands of color from the peak of MyPyramid to the base indicate: orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, a tiny band of yellow for oils, blue for milk, and purple for meat and beans. The widths suggest the amount of food a person should select from each group.

A little figure running up the stairs acts as a reminder to get some exercise. Unfortunately, no mention is made of the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise, or the role of strength training

The new guidelines distinguish between 'grains' and 'whole grains', essential when choosing fiber-rich foods. Rather than just suggesting we eat fruits and vegetables', MyPyramid suggests eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables rather than the empty calories found in fruit juices.

The guidelines include healthy dairy choices that are low-fat instead of the highly saturated fats found in some milk and cheeses. The three recommended glasses of low-fat milk, however, can add more than 300 calories a day. Not great for those concerned about controlling their weight.

Also encouraged is replacing red meat with a combination of fish, poultry, beans, and nuts offers numerous health benefits. Be aware that these foods have different types of fats.

Basically, MyPyramid emphasizes good fats,like olive and fish oil, not butter and animal fat, and good carbs,like those from vegetables, whole grains and fruits, ot from processed grains and sugars.

MyPyramid contains interactive activities that make it easy to key in your age, sex and your amount of physical activity to create a more personalized recommendation for a daily calorie intake.

No doubt in the years to come, researchers will discover new evidence that will impact more changes for a healthy diet. But the results are in and here to stay: a high fiber diet is vital to long-term health. Pyramid. Period.




Stephanie Shank is a fine artist, creating canvases in oils and acrylics. When she is not painting, she is creating great food as a gourmet, healthy foods chef. Most recently, she creates the content for her new website, High Fiber Health []. And for even more, bookmark the High Fiber Health Blog [http://www.high-fiber-health.blogspot.com] for all you can digest on high fiber foods.





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2012年8月25日 星期六

USDA Food Pyramid For Kids


You have probably heard of or read in books or magazine about the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. The Food Guide Pyramid has been around for many years. It is a standard for good nutrition. However, you might have heard that with the recent updates the new name of the Food Guide Pyramid has become "MyPyramid". The new pyramid brings together exercise and nutrition and encourages:


Making the correct choices from every food group
Finding the right balance between meals and physical activity
Getting the most out of the calories you consume daily

Now, you probably have never noticed but the USDA has also developed a food pyramid for children. The named the pyramid "My Pyramid for kids".

Kids bodies develop and grow so fast, that the nutritional requirements that children need are so diverse. The need for children development are not so different from older children or adults, but the food pyramid that we are all use to seeing is modified slightly for children, meaning that you don't have to have such a learning curve to learn the nutritional requirements for youngsters.

I recommend that you start to build your nutritional knowledge by first looking at the new "My Pyramid for Kids. This will show you the basics where you can have a very good foundation, so you can really define the nutritional needs of your child. It's the starting point of all daily requirements. I would either make a copy of it or just write down the values on a piece of paper.




Lionel has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years, not only does this author specialize in health, you can also check out his latest website on Barney Birthday Supplies which has some great deals on Barney Balloons and Barney Invitations. Don't miss these great savings!





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Nutrition Education For Kids Gets a Failing Grade!


Nutrition class isn't working; this is no surprise to me. There have been many stories on the AP newswires focusing on the billions of dollars that have been spent on nutrition education that have produced zero results. There seems to be no dent in the growing epidemic of obesity. Kids continue to get sicker and fatter, because they are not changing the way they eat.

The piece mentions the federal pilot program that provides free fruits and veggies to kids saying kids won't eat these foods. They point to the fast food and coffee drinks available just across the street and even go so far as blaming moms (many who can't afford to buy better foods) as part of the problem.

Here are some suggestions to fix this predicament. First and foremost, let's drop the word "nutrition" from our vocabulary. We shouldn't need to be nutritionists or biochemists to know how to eat. Change the "N" word to the "F" word, FOOD! Food has many more possibilities.

Second, let's get nutrition out of health class! Most states have standards for health curriculum that put sex and drugs at the top of the list. Nutrition comes in third place behind these two more appealing subjects. If you change nutrition to food, it becomes an interesting topic to integrate into science, math, social studies and English curricula.

Educators know that experiential learning is the most effective way to get a point across. Why not take kids outdoors and let them get their hands dirty? Studies who that kids who are involved with growing food are more likely to eat fruits and veggies that were previously unfamiliar. Growing food not only integrates science ( botany and ecology) but fosters a connection with the earth. These kids will be the stewards of our planet in a few short years. We need to get them out from behind screens and out doors. Leave no child inside!

Another experiential component of learning involves cooking. Kids really do like to cook! It doesn't have to be cookies! Teach them to slice an onion ( take a peek at the onion cells under a microscope!). Bake a traditional dish from another country ( social studies, history). Teaching kids to cook gives them life skills that they will need to know. It may even inspire them to go into the culinary arts.

We must change the school food environment to support food based learning. More fresh fruits and veggies in our schools are essential. But not just as a handout in the cafeteria. Each day, each week, feature a veggie. Integrate it into the curriculum in the classroom.

Make lunch count!

Einstein once said a problem cannot be solved with the consciousness that created it.

Our packaged processed food industry and our food pyramid will not solve our current crisis in declining children's health. We need to think out of the pyramid to find innovative food based solutions.




Dr. Susan Rubin is a dentist turned food activist. She is the founder of Better School Food and is featured in the documentary film on school food, Two Angry Moms. As a holistic health counselor, she uses food and lifestyle changes to create better health for her clients. Learn more about her work by visiting http://www.DrSusanRubin.com and http://www.BetterSchoolFood.org and http://www.angrymoms.org





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Is the World Health Organisation's Food Pyramid Flawed?


World Health Organisation's Flawed Eating Recommendations.

I'm quite amazed when I realised that I'm not an overweight adult, who grew up as an overweight kid. And looking at my parents and my brothers, none of us are overweight. Funny. I guess my parents did something right to keep our weight and health good while we were kids.

When I looked at the very well known food pyramid, I saw a couple of things that disturbed me. Our family's diet when I was a child, was mostly based on this food pyramid. For a while I was blinded by the fact that some big 'nutritional' companies also endorse this food pyramid. Most people in the western world saw it, I believe. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the World Health Organisation's Countrywide Noncommunicable Disease Intervention Program (CINDI) each designed a food pyramid. The reason for these pyramids is to give recommendations on how to eat 'healthy'.

To get the picture, go and watch this 30 second video on how Disney's Timon and Pumbaa also jumped on this bandwagon. Find the link to this video at the end of the article. They recommend that grain should be the base of this pyramid, which means that you should eat more grains that anything else. And then the previous USDA pyramid made protein almost an occasional food. As showed in this video clip, you 'need' a bag full of grain and small plates of everything else.

This is a recipe for disaster. I wonder why obesity got out of hand since these food pyramids were published in 1992? Is fat the problem that make people fat? I don't think so, because these food pyramids limit fats and oils in their recommendations.

It is true that we need everything that is listed on their food pyramids, but they got the balance all wrong.

In the early 80's, the USDA employed nutritionist Luise Light to give guidelines to replace and simplify the Basic Four of the time. She submitted the food pyramid, but when she saw the changes made to her pyramid, she was shocked. Despite her objections, they went on and accepted the revised pyramid.

Dr. Light's version placed fruit and vegetables at the base of the pyramid. Something that alarmed her was what they did with refined foods, baked from white flour, such as crackers and white bread. Light's team placed it at the the top, where your should eat it rarely. The USDA placed it right at the base of the pyramid, making it an daily essential!

With all this controversy going on, I went to the oldest handbook for human life that I know of, to find my answers there. In the Bible, right in Genesis 1:29 I found what God said the human race's food will be. There He said that we should eat he seed from plants, fruit and vegetables. Later in Gen 9:2-3 God gave fish, birds and animals as food too.

Where do we find the balance? Here are the broad guidelines that I follow myself and recommend to my clients.

Fruit and vegetables should be at the base of your pyramid. Eat plenty of it. In fact I believe that you cannot possibly eat too much of it. Eat it with as little as possible preparation (processing) and with unprocessed seasoning. Every time food gets processed, it loses nutritional value, which means that the nutrition-calorie ratio gets out of hand.

Next I recommend protein. Most people don't get enough protein in. Make use of a great protein supplement to provide you all the amino acids in the right quantities. In another newsletter I'll show you the importance of protein and how much you need daily.

Carbohydrates are good for you, that is when you eat complex carbs. Refined foods are simple carbs and unprocessed food is complex carbs. Grain falls in my third category. It mostly supplies energy and some other nutrients.

Lastly is junk food. That is not only the fast foods from the street, but also all kinds of snack food. In my opinion it doesn't classify as food. Our reverend once said that all things we eat, but for which we don't pray, is not food. You can eat these foods, and I certainly eat it myself. But moderation is the key. It should be no more that a weekly treat or in very small quantities. When people ask me, I answer that I allow myself to 'cheat' once a week.

Remember water. This is the single component in your diet that you need the most of. You don't drink two litres of milk daily, do you? Two litres of Coke daily will kill you in a short time. But you need about 2 litres of water each and every day.

The 2005 version of the USDA food pyramid added exercise. At least there is something they got right.

To eat healthy, forget about the established food pyramids, it's designed to make people sick and fat.

I grew up on mieliepap (porridge) and bread for two meals. The main meal was a cooked meal with protein, vegetables and some starch. Maybe I got enough of the good stuff in, and moderately of the bad stuff. Snack food and restaurants were a luxury in our house, so that cut most of that problem out for us. And we grew up outside of cities and towns, with lots of room to play outside.

What my parents did right, I'm not completely sure. But I'm grateful that I didn't grow up as an unhealthy, fat kid.

Here is the link to the Disney video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAFAhOTn058 Watch it now.




Copyright: J Francois du Toit, 2009

Maybe feel that you're to busy to live a healthy lifestyle. Maybe you can't find ways to fit a health routine into your schedule. Or you just don't have the time to find out what works best for you to feel end be healthy most of the time.

As a Wellness Coach, I spesialize in designing a personal health plan. We take your goals, schedule and preferences into account and develop a plan spesifically for you. As you implement and continue with this plan, I'm there to assist you. This way we make sure you reach your goals.

[Note: Let me help you to change your eating habits from where you make yourself sick and fat, to living a healthy lifestyle. We'll work out a personal health plan, specifically for you. I'll assist you in making these changes.]

Please find all the reference I used to research this article on my website at http://www.health2u.co.za/Newsletter/flawed_food_pyramid_22122009.html





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Balanced Healthy Diet For Kids


Maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids is of paramount importance in today's world of overabundance of fast food, television and computers. There is a serious problem of obesity in children the world over, as more children give up active outdoor activities to sit in front to televisions and computers. The easy availability of fast food, soft drinks and microwave meals does not help either. The backlash from obesity comes in the form of medical and psychological hazards that are putting our children at risk!

As parents we have a responsibility towards maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids to help prevent childhood obesity. To do this the parent needs to ensure that the child consumes foods that will provide nutrition and help maintain a healthy weight. Beverages can also greatly increase calorie intake, so it is best to try to limit the amount of soft drinks consumed and promote water as a healthier alternative.

Parents are encouraged to find new and interesting recipes and to make foods that provide nutrition and the right amount of calories as attractive and appealing as possible. Some of the healthy foods on the food pyramid include: fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, poultry, beans and lentils. You can reduce portion sizes so that they are reasonable instead of unlimited, and pour out water for your family as an alternative to unhealthy soft drinks. The consumption of refined sugar and saturated fats should be controlled.

Parents will need to bring all of their ingenuity into play to find ways to promote a balanced healthy diet for kids, which is both nutritious and attractive. A heap of greens on a plate is far from appealing and of course your kid is not going to want to eat it! The internet is filled with recipes for new ideas to make dishes more nutritious and balanced with vegetables and even fruits. A macaroni and cheese diet is easy to throw together and will fill your child up but will it provide the nutrition needed?

Team up with the mother's in your child's play group to trade ideas on how to get children to eat the food that is good for them, trade recipes and plan play activities. What you need to be aware of is that simply eating right is not enough; your child needs an active lifestyle as well. You can also balance diet by ensuring that the appropriate amount of physical activity is engaged in to strengthen bones, reduce blood pressure and stress and help with weight management.

You have to be firm and remove all those calorie rich temptations from your fridge. If children see ice cream and chocolate and all those yummy things every time they stick their heads in the fridge, how much resistance do you think there will be to the temptation to gorge? A very good idea for a dessert is yoghurt filled with fruit; peaches, berries, mango in yoghurt make for a naturally sweet dessert that is really enjoyable.

Ensuring a balanced healthy diet for kids is every parent's responsibility and one that needs to be taken very seriously.




Galen spends 48 hours on the Internet every day as the Online Marketing Manager of Mediafreaks. He is currently driving the online marketing efforts of various free online adventure games and commercial projects produced by the award-winning 3D animation studio based in Singapore and China. Galen is also known fondly as 'The China Man' by his colleagues as he spent years in China running the Mediafreaks China office.





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