Main Menu

Rainbow Your Plate For A Healthy Eating Experience

By Jonathan Turk


Healthy Eating is not a fad. It's a Lifestyle Change.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human services survey of 2009-2010 states the following: More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be obese or overweight. More than 1 in 3 adults are considered to be obese. More than 1 in 20 adults are considered to have extreme obesity. About one third of children and adolescents ages 6-19 are considered to be overweight. More than 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6-19 are considered to be obese. Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance.

Our body weight tends to remain the same when the number of calories you consume is equal to the amount your body burns. Obviously America and much of the World is consuming more calories than they burn. WHY?

How did we get into this crisis? We over consumed. Mega Marketing companies took us by the hand and soon we were super-sizing everything. We stopped exercising and soon we became overweight and obese. It's simple math, if you consume more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. This advertising comes at you by television, radio, computer and various print media. Food processors count on them to move their products. The supermarket where the average American spends 22 minutes, twice a week contains on average 55,000 products. Your food processor loads the product with preservatives to extend shelf life. They then load it with sugar, why? America and much of the world is addicted to sugar, that's why. Its then packaged and includes eye-popping graphics such as: Sugar Free, Fat Free, High in Antioxidants, and Low Fat. You are trying to eat healthy and lose some weight. You load your cart with all the no fat, and fat free products that appeal to you. My friend finished his grocery shopping which included some Low Fat pork sausage for his young daughter. She loves it. As his wife helped put away the groceries she paused to read the ingredients listed on the sausage package ( all 24 of them). She became visibly upset and left the room. My friend asked me to forgive her. She wants us to start eating healthy. What am I supposed to do, check the ingredients on everything I buy? Absolutely, I said. It won't happen overnight, it's a process. Eating healthy has to become a lifestyle. It means educating ourselves.

Start with seeing a rainbow on your plate. Fruits and vegetables of different colors such as green beans, asparagus, raspberries, and strawberries. Then include a lean serving of meat, poultry, or fish and a slice of whole grain bread. Drop the soft drinks you and your family don't need them (too much sugar). Instead drink water, strive for 10 glasses a day. Integrate this type of eating into your life everyday and you have made a lifestyle change. You will feel the energy return.

Go for a swim together. Take up golf or tennis. It's not only fun but you and the family are exercising. You're all together. having fun and communicating. Wow, that's a Win...Win!

Resources: Fresh look at cool foods: Exploring Myths and Trends of Frozen Foods; National Diabetic Information Clearinghouse, "What I need to know about eating and diabetes".




About the Author:



0 commentaires:

Post a Comment