Healty is an area of health, well being and diet that have a direct correlation with the quality of life and overall longevity. This is because people who eat healthier live longer. One shouldn’t underestimate the importance of consuming healthy food to maintain good health. There are just so many advantages to eating nutritious food but why are there still so many folks that aren’t eating right?
The rapid rate at which childhood obesity is growing is staggering, even more so than in adults. Because children have no real control over the amount of calories they consume, fast food restaurants have become the chief source of high calorie and low nutritional meals. The American diet has become centered around quick pick-up meals that are usually filled with fat, sodium, and sugar, all of which is completely unhealthy for the body. One has to wonder how the adults can also fit a healthy diet into their busy lives; maybe the answer is through the use of healthy diet foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Fruits and vegetables are packed full of nutrients including antioxidants and natural dietary fibers. Fruits such as blueberries, cherries, and apples are filled with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, E, beta carotene, potassium, fiber, and lycopene. Fruits are also packed with water, which is very helpful to our body’s functions. Fruits and vegetables are also naturally low in calories, especially when dried and incorporated into a healthy diet. One could argue that making dried fruits a staple of a diet is similar to taking out calories from one’s favorite food in that if they aren’t eating it, then it isn’t good to eat.
The most obvious snack foods that people eat nuts such as almonds, cashews, peanuts, chestnuts and others. A lot of us like to snack on cookies and other forms of bread such as whole wheat and rye. Dried fruit comes in so many forms such as almond extract, banana chips, raisins, dates, and many others. The thing is, we all need to be creative when making our choices. Instead of always reaching for the same old snack treat, why not add a little spice by incorporating a few spices and herbs to your favorite snacks?
For instance, if you have a bag of cashews and a bag of walnuts lying around, what better time to combine them together and make a healthy snack treat than right before you sit down to a heavy bowl of pasta for dinner? You can easily put a handful of chopped nuts on top of your pasta and sprinkle on some additional flavorings if you wish. You can sprinkle on some garlic and red pepper flakes for that extra kick. If you haven’t tried this method of snacking and you’re wondering what to put in your mouth, try adding a couple of pieces of pita bread with some tomato sauce and olive oil.
Another delicious combination you might like for dinner would be some baked beans with some churro-crusty bread. This would make a nice complement to any kind of meat. You can also alternate fish and poultry, or pork and chicken. By experimenting with your favorite snacks and adding a little bit of nutritious value, you can come up with some wonderful combinations that are good for you while still being good tasting and satisfying at the same time.