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Informative 2-minute video from Consumer Reports about Healthy Foods Gone Bad.

Some of their examples are pretty obvious, like hazelnut peanut butter; a healthy food is not still healthy when you add lots of sugar. Any food that needs a marketing plan or an eye-catching package design to draw your attention is probably not a good choice.

Eat whole foods.

Buy packaged products with limited ingredients.

Read. Labels.

Healthy & Easy Recipes

I breezed through this collection of recipes from Greatist.com — 87 Healthy and Easy Lunch & Dinner Recipes — and some look pretty yummy. With any recipe, use good healthy ingredients. Recipes can go many different ways depending on the ingredient choices you make. Use substitutions where needed: healthier oils, less sugar, replace sour cream with Greek yogurt, etc. And very importantly, eat what you need and not any more. That is sometimes the most difficult part of healthy eating.

This link also includes many lunch recipes. Make yourself a beautiful, nutritious lunch and you'll be less likely to want to skip it for unhealthy fast food or a high-calorie (and more expensive) restaurant meal.

Seriously?

I read yesterday that Taco Bell was rolling out it's new waffle taco breakfast (link to the article is below). Seriously? These "foods" are completely unnecessary in my opinion, and probably yours if you are reading this. If you are even considering eating the waffle taco breakfast (or anything similar), please choose not to if you value your health. Not just because of the high fat content and the unnecessary calories, but I can only imagine the added ingredients to make it salty and addictive. In the time it takes to drive to a fast food restaurant and wait in line, I'm pretty certain you could toast some bread, add peanut butter and grab a banana for the road! It costs less, it's healthier and there's no wasted wrappers and containers. Win, win, win, win and win. OK, I went a little too far, but I've very passionate about skipping fast food restaurants completely and especially for the meal that sets the tone for the rest of your day!

In the coming days, I'll talk more about healthy meal options. If you have a favorite quick & healthy breakfast or lunch, email me at foodsthatfuelus@yahoo.com.


Action Item: If you eat at fast food restaurants regularly, try cutting back a little each week. Find other convenient ways to eat. Making your lunch in the morning will take extra time, but consider that if you make your lunch you could have time to sit quietly in the sun while enjoying a lunch that fuels you for the afternoon. If you run to Burger King, you're probably in a car, in traffic, waiting in line and rushing. Choose health.

For Further Reading: Taco Bell Rolls Out Waffle Taco Breakfast (If you really want to see what this "breakfast" looks like!) Check out Taco Bell's Ingredient Statement if you want to see what's in their food. I'm not picking on Taco Bell (I was gained my freshmen 15 by eating Taco Bell); I feel the same about most fast food restaurants. I'm sure you can now also find other restaurants nutritional info online.

And remember, there are still a few days left in National Nutrition Month. A great time for you to start or reinforce some healthy eating habits. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website for more tips and advice: www.eatright.org.

Change

I'm probably preaching to the choir, but changing your behavior (eating habits, cooking style, exercise routine, etc.) is not easy for many reasons. Keep in mind, that while it is so good to be able to make healthier foods, pack your snacks or make homemade ketchup. No one can do that all the time. In my book, that's why convenience foods are there - to help us when we need it, but not as our major source of nourishment. For example, I don't make homemade yogurt all the time. If I'm running behind, worried about something else or just want yogurt right now, I'll buy a container at the store until I can make my next batch. Sometimes I do that two to three times in a row, before getting my yogurt made. Then once I get back in the routine, it's ok. Some switches may take more time in the beginning (adding new foods, trying new recipes, etc.) but with time, they will become your norm. Don't give up! If you want to be healthy, make those changes.

The fact that you are reading this means you are concerned about your health and the foods you eat. Pick and choose the changes that you can make without making yourself crazy. Then pick another. The healthier you feel, the more energized you'll be to make more healthy changes.

Thanks for all the views on this blog so far and for the feedback I've received. You guys are an inspiration to me! More recipes, opinions, ideas and fun stuff to come. Keep watching the blog for polls as well; I'd rather post something I know people are interested in.

Coming soon: Kid-approved foods, and Protein Without Meat.


Action Item: Make one small change today in your eating habits. Try a new fruit or vegetable, pick a healthier snack or choose an old recipe and make it healthier.

For further reading: Improving Your Eating Habits