Thursday, June 7, 2012

Juicing, are the benefits worth it?

Juicing, is it a healthy option for getting your fruits and vegetables?  Will juicing help me lose weight?  Depends on who you ask.   I know I have friends that swear by the benefits and say they have seen great results.  Not only did they loose weight, but they felt better and had more energy.  I think it was mostly because before juicing, they were not getting as much , if any, of these in their diets, so when they started to juice, they did see some results.  But like most articles I have read, eating the whole versions will always be your best, and healthy option.  I'm not too fond on eating raw vegetables.  I will have them occasional, usually at parties for a healthy alternative, but not on a regular basis.  I would rather have my vegi's cooked and I know I loose alot of the nutrients when I do that.

Fruits have been and will always be my favorite.  Usually I will try things I haven't tried before, like pomegranate.   I have drank the juice many times, but not until recently have I tried the whole fruit itself.   It may be easier to try adding more fruit, due to the fact that most fruits are sweeter and people tend to like sweet things.  Ya don't say.... lol.
But what, if any, would be the benefits of juicing?  For one thing, if your not fond of eating the amount recommended by the FDA, juicing would be a great option to help you get some of these nutrients that vegetable will give you.  Another would be variety-when you juice, you can add different types of vegi's in, some that you may not have tried in their whole form.  But adding them into a juice, may be a great option for those afraid to try new things.   

Cons to juicing?  Well, it does not give your body the nutrients you would normally get by eating whole fruits and vegetables.  What happens is you remove most of the fiber which is one of the key healthy benefits of having your vegi's and fruits in the first place.  Besides that, what you will also give up is the full factor you get from eating them whole.  While dieting, this is important as it helps  you feel fuller and satisfied.  Eating healthy isn't always about loosing weight.  Then there is the cost.  Between the machines being expensive, the amount of vegi's you need to make a glass can cost a small fortune.  Visiting your local Farmers Market can probably help with that as well as help out your local farming industry.

In the end, I believe it will be a personal choice you will have to make if you want to try it.  I know for me, I am tempted to try.  After all, the only down fall I see is that I will have increased my vegi intake.  But will I be able to stomach the taste?  We'll see.  Now I just need a juicer!  Any suggestions?


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

So many uses for leftover chicken

When it comes to cooking, chicken seems to be the most versatile meat you can choose.  There are so many ways to cook it, that it seems to be an endless possibility of finding one that you and your family will like.    


Here are a few great weeknight dinner recipes you can make to take advantage of left over chicken.  This would also be great as a lunch the next day.  When it comes to chicken, there are so many ways to use the leftovers, it really is a cost effective food.  In my house I know that chicken never goes to waste.  We either use it in a salad like this one, or shred it up and make Chicken Quesadilla's.  And this recipe for BBQ Chicken sounds like a great weeknight meal too.


I found this and others at http://www.delish.com.  Check them out, you may just find your next favorite recipe there. http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/leftover-chicken-recipes



                                                                                             




Chicken Waldorf Salad -recipe tab

Thursday, May 17, 2012

What's for dinner? Healthy, that's what's for dinner.

What's for dinner?  I hear that every night.  And if your like me, after a busy day at work, it's not what I want to hear.  Only because I don't know what I'm going to make.  It usually winds up being something quick and easy.... and well, for lack of better words "not so healthy".  I have to admit, I am no cook, I can make stuff, but it usually involves a box or a can and on rare occasions the microwave lol.   My husband on the other hand is great at cooking, but just like me, hates to make a large meal that late in the day.  So I was thinking, there has to be some quick and easy HEALTHY recipes that we can make weeknights, when time is not on our side.

So, this is my journey to help my family and myself to start eating healthier and leading a more healthy life.  I will share healthy recipes, websites, books and any tips that I may come across to help others that also want to live a more healthy lifestyle.  Please feel free to comment or send me your favorite sites and recipe.

Eating healthy isn't as hard as some may say it is.  It is just getting in the habit of not relying on those quick and easy meals that are full of extra calories, preservatives and sodium that will sabotage our diets.  Happy Eating!
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/healthy-pork-chop-recipes-00412000074206/page25.html