Eating Healthy Foods - What to Feed a Teenager

Eating Healthy Foods - What to Feed a Teenager

Eating Healthy Foods and the word Teenager sometimes just do not go together! When I think about what most Teenagers eat, including myself several years ago, I think about things that you could feel your heart slow down whenever you took a bite into it.

And Teenagers, if you are accused of eating healthy foods while you are out with your friends and they are eating the stuff that most teenagers eat, you know, those things we were talking about, above, it is very difficult to keep your cool persona isn't it?

So, what is the trick to getting your teenager to think about eating right?

Gradual Change: The term 'Eating Healthy Foods" must be in your mind during the meals that your teenagers eat at home! It is NOT going to happen while they are out!

Your Eating Healthy Foods game plan:

1.Healthy Food that is easy to eat: Fruit, Naturally sweet cereal (eliminate as much need for sugar as possible),

2.Snacks should be healthy: Bananas, apples, oranges placed in areas that will help your teenager(and you) find something good (even sweet) without having to go and search for something!

3.When going out to eat, go to places that you actually sit down to eat. The selections, there, are easier to 'recommend' to your teenager, AND the peer group is not there to influence their decisions. You will be surprised at how easy the recommendations 'stick with them' in this environment!

Eating Healthy Foods for teenagers will be something that they will actually learn for themselves if you apply just a little reasoning and common sense.

The role you play in this very important part of their lifestyle learning is what will help them understand what is in their ultimate best interests.

Feeding our children wholesome, well-balanced meals should be a prime concern for all of us. There is a lot of information out here to keep us well-informed about what is and should be one of the most important jobs we have: Taking care of our children.

Pet Health Food Keep You Pet Healthy

Pet Health Food Keep You Pet Healthy

Worrying and complaining about your pet health food, the only alternative is every pet owner must realize how important nutrition food is in the health of their pet. So not to worry much although there are several things you can do to keep your pet healthy.

Many well known large commercial pet food companies advertise that their food is natural and healthy. Commercial pet food is a great convenience for busy caregivers. You want the best for your pet, but with a bewildering array of foods and claims to choose from, how do you decide what’s best for your animals?

Commercial foods are designed to be healthy and nutrition for pets. , but not all foods will be suitable for an individual animal’s variable needs. Before buying food for your pet make sure the product which you are selecting is not a addict able as most of the commercial food making industries do so to make a profit. 

Let us discuss few more points which will defiantly help you while buying food fro your pet.

1) Make sure the commercial food your are selecting for your pet must has the label of “AAFCO guarantee,” preferably one that references “feeding tests” or “feeding protocols” rather than Nutrient Profiles.

2) Never buy a food containing “by-product meal” or “meat and bone meal. They are not a reliable source of nutrition for your pet.

3) Try to avoid foods that rely on by-products as the sole source of animal protein. These foods are not acceptable as a steady diet 

4) Always buy named meat or meal for your pet.

5) Avoid generic or store brands.

6) Avoid “light,” “senior,” “special formula,” or “hairball formula” foods. These foods may contain acidifying agents, excessive fiber, or inadequate fats that can result in skin, coat and other problems.

7) In general, select brands promoted to be “natural.” While they are not perfect, they may be better than most. 

8) Check the expiration date to ensure freshness.

9) Store dry pet food in a sealed non-porous container in a cool, dry place. 

These are the small things which are going to help you to keep your pet healthy and happier.

Vegan Diets - Are They Healthy?

Vegan Diets - Are They Healthy?

Yes. As the American Dietetic Association and Dieticians of Canada said: 'Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence.'

Well planned, that's the important bit. Any diet has to be well planned to enhance and maintain good health. A diet consisting entirely of whiskey and chocolate could be considered vegan but it wouldn't be well planned and certainly wouldn't be healthy. 

To be healthy, a diet must include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and pulses. To this can be added grains although a few people have an intolerance to the gluten contained in many grains. For the majority who don't have an intolerance, grains are a valuable source of protein, vitamins, minerals and fibre.

A vegan diet can supply every essential nutrient. There are no problems with lack of iron or calcium from a vegan diet as it contains all you need. Protein is found in abundance in plant-based diets

It is true that plants don't supply us with vitamin B12 but that can be found in many fortified vegan foods. We need such a minuscule amount of B12 that no vegan need go without. Many or most meat eaters have to rely on supplementation to get their B12 because the animals they eat must be given cobalt supplements to ensure the bacteria in their guts can manufacture the vitamin. This is because many soils are deficient in cobalt.

Vegan diets confer many health benefits: vegans are less likely than meat eaters to suffer from heart disease and many forms of cancer. If you are worried about your cholesterol levels you could take medication to control it, with all the risks involved in using pharmaceutical drugs, or you could adopt a vegan diet. There is no cholesterol in plant food. The only cholesterol in vegans' bodies is what they make for themselves in their livers.

The range of foods that make up the vegan diet is truly amazing. There are dishes that will delight the most jaded of palates. Dishes that will have you saying to yourself: 'Surely, this can't be vegan?' You will be astounded and you will be delighted. You will be convinced that the vegan diet can provide everything you need and everything you want. And it can.

Vegan Guide to Fast Food Restaurants

Vegan Guide to Fast Food Restaurants

Fast food restaurants are available everywhere, with travelers who are on the road fully aware of this. And because vegans and vegetarians are requesting certain food types at fast food restaurants, many of them are providing alternative choices, such as the BK Veggie (TM) at Burger King.

Ice cream is always a huge treat for families and kids on hot summer days or to celebrate something special. Baskin-Robbins provides dairy-free and gelatin-free Ices and Sorbets. Carl's Jr. fast foods have vegan English muffins, hash-brown nuggets, Great Stuff (TM) baked potatoes with all-vegetable margarine, and CrissCuts. Add their variety all you can eat salad bar with delicious Italian dressing that is fat-free, and the whole meal is complete - vegan style, that is!

Wendy's is another example of a fast food chain providing vegan items. They have a veggie sandwich with a special button on their cash register to allow for no mistakes, and a Deluxe Garden Salad that is vegan as long as you ask them to leave out the cheese. Taco Bell fast food restaurants have many options that can be made vegan as long as the meat, cheese and sour cream is left out. 

They also have something called "Fresco Style" for vegans which mean Fiesta Salsa can be substituted for cheese. Even their 7-layer burritos can become vegan if you ask them to simply leave out the sour cream and cheese. Arby's has garden salads and baked potatoes, along with cherry and apple turnovers or cinnamon rolls.

The Cheeseburger Cheeseburger fast food chain is located in the South, the East Coast, and the Midwest. Delicious and mouth watering, two vegan dishes they provide are the Boca Burger and the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwich. A wonderful truck stop restaurant, the Iron Skillet is located in all Petro truck stops on most Interstates. They have a wonderful salad bar with just about anything to choose from, in addition to meatless spaghetti, along with ice tea topped with fresh lemons and hot fruit pies.

The Subway Sandwich fast food chain has several sandwiches without meat, such as the Veggie Delite on Italian bread. They offer chips cooked in sunflower oil, and a wide assortment of drinks. Many popular Pizza establishments also are providing vegan or vegetarian pizzas now as alternative choices along with a salad and hot bread rolls. 

Taco pizzas are delicious with tomato sauce, refried beans, lettuce and tomatoes while telling them to leave off the cheese. Papa John's has no animal products in their dough or sauce with a special cheese called Chymax .

Healthy Foods for Women

Healthy Foods for Women

Eating healthy food is important to good health. Women have specific nutritional needs that are different from men. There is a higher sensitivity to the chemicals and artificial hormones found in many processed food products. Additionally needs for nutrients such as iron are different due to menstruation and reproductive concerns. To keep your body healthy and strong it is important to have the adequate amounts of vitamins and nutrients that your body requires. There are a variety of specific foods that can be very beneficial to women's health.

Calcium Rich Foods: This is needed to maintain strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. There are various foods high in calcium. They include dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables. Kale: This is a vegetable that is a great choice for women. It's high in calcium as well as folate which are important to women's health. Kale also has vitamin C and B for additional nutritional value. Other good choices are broccoli and brussel sprouts. Too much dairy is not healthy. Limit it to healthy portions with foods such as yogurt. This will give you the additional benefit of the probiotics found in yogurt. This is good for a healthy digestive system. Avoid the premade yogurts that are full of sugar and use the plain ones instead. You can just add some fresh fruit and nuts for added flavor and nutritional value.

Nutritional tips for women:The best food choices are plant based. You should eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. When selecting produce use organic as much as possible to avoid the pesticides that are often sprayed on non organic items. Include fiber based foods as well. Beans and healthy whole grains will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Alcoholic beverages should be limited. One glass per day should be the maximum intake. Drinking wine is a good choice due to the healthy benefits of the resveratrol. Enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. This is a heart healthy habit. Caffeine is also fine in moderation, with one cup per day being a good standard to follow. Caffeine can affect hormonal balance in some women as well as decrease calcium levels if consuming excessive amounts.

Keep protein levels in moderation as well. The popular high protein diets are not healthy long term. A well balanced diet approach is the key to good health, energy and weight management. You need the healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains and dark leafy vegetables on a regular basis. Excessive protein can also deplete calcium levels over time, potentially leading to osteoporosis later in life. Healthy snacks for women include nuts such as walnut and brazil nuts. They contain monounsaturated fats which help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. One ounce per day is a good serving size.

Fiber Rich Foods: Foods high in fiber include beans and whole grains. They are a very affordable, filling and healthy food choice. They help maintain a healthy digestive system and may prevent problems in this area from occurring. Green leafy vegetables such as kale are high in fiber. Whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread are also fiber rich choices to include in your diet.

Iron Rich Foods: Women have unique needs when it comes to iron. A high quality multivitamin made for women should contain the adequate amount of this very important mineral. Women also need more iron during their monthly cycle as it becomes depleted. Some good food choices for iron include beef, dark meat poultry, spinach and swiss chard.

Omega Rich Foods: Women need adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. This is important for proper brain functioning. It also protects against heart disease and inflammation which can lead to a multitude of disease conditions. Foods such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are very good sources. Symptoms that you are deficient in omega 3 fatty acids include dry skin, joint pain, fatigue and depression.

You should aim for 2-3 servings of omega rich foods weekly. Omega 3 fatty acids contain two very important forms known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). DHA and EPA are the omega-3 types that are found in seafood. Other omega-3 forms such as ALA or alpha-linoleic acid, is found in foods such as flax seeds, walnuts and dark green leafy vegetables.

Folate Rich Foods: Women also need to have an adequate amount of folate in their diet. Folate is important to building red blood cells. Some women have a tendency to become anemic and folate is important to preventing this from occurring. Symptoms of a folate deficiency may include confusion, mental fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and depression. Sufficient folate is very important for women during pregnancy. The RDA recommendation is 400mcg daily. Foods such as broccoli, lentils, asparagus and oranges are all great sources of folate.