-
-
Cool stuff to check out!
-
If I had a bike I would want one! More »
-
-
Tag Archives: fruit
Blueberry quinoa banana muffins
**Keep in mind that I’m not a baby food expert or baby nutrition specialist – these are just the foods that Alia likes. Always check with your doctor or paediatrician regarding feeding your baby.
Is it just me or can feeding children be frustrating as hell?
First of all what is it about a mouth full of food that makes babies sneeze?
One day they let you spoon feed them, the next they karate chop the spoon out of your hand because they have apparently become adults over night and can feed themselves.
One day they love Puree, the next it’s everywhere but in there mouth.
AND THE MESS, we have 2 outfits for meal time around here, naked or covered in a garbage bag. Not really…..but really.
Beet and Blueberry mixture..what was I thinking?
Sweet potato & banana pancake – baby approved
In my quest to find new finger foods to feed Alia I discovered that the girl loves pancakes, especially dipped in apple sauce.
Here is a pancake recipe that is full of vegetables and “healthy stuff” and your child is sure to love it….try it and report back to me.
Sugar Addiction!
Are you addicted to sugar? Do you know someone who can’t go a day without soda (diet or regular), someone who always keeps chocolate close by, or someone who needs something sweet after every meal? Why do so many people need to eat sweet food at some point during the day? When did foods such as cake and muffins become comforting for us?
Although sugar addiction is not a scientific term, sugar dependency is a well-known problem. How can something as innocent-looking as sugar, something we’ve eaten since we were young contribute to such things as tooth decay, gum disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and obesity? Have you ever noticed that the more sugar you eat the more sugar you want and the harder it is to pass up? The reason for this may be a sugar dependency and not just lack of will power.
Studies have found that sugar and the taste of sweet stimulate the brain by activating beta endorphin receptor sites. These are the same chemicals activated by drugs such as heroin and morphine, this may be the reason some people become overly dependent on sweet food. Keep in mind that there’s a very significant difference between white refined sugar and naturally occurring complex sugars that are found in whole foods such as fruit. When talking about sugar dependency I’m speaking of the sugars that are not considered a food, they are a chemical. Some of these chemicals are refined white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, raw sugar, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose.
Some experts in the field of sugar dependency have said that kicking a sugar habit is harder than kicking cigarettes, the reason for this may be due to sugar being found in so many foods. Sugar is used as an additive for preservation and to make things more palatable. It is found in most commercial foods such as cereals, salad dressing, pasta sauce, soda, restaurant food, pizza sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, soup, peanut butter, bread and yogurt.
Sugar dependency is a very complicated subject and if you believe you may in fact be addicted I encourage you to do more research on signs, symptoms and how to overcome it. My intent for writing this post is not to tell you to cut out sugar completely, as I myself don’t plan too. Sugar and its cousins are so prevalent in today’s foods that I want you to pay more attention to how much sugar is in the food you eat. Does your yogurt contain over 12g of sugar? Take a look at the ingredients; is there added sugar other then fruit? When buying pre-made food such as yogurt, pasta sauce and salad dressings look for the ones that contain the least grams of sugar, and ones with healthy whole ingredients or even better, make your own sauces.
When baking I like using pure maple syrup as a way to make my food a little sweeter when needed. Like I said I don’t plan on eliminating sugar completely and although a lot of people would disagree that maple syrup is a better choice it works for me. The main sugar in pure maple syrup is sucrose and the darker the syrup the less sugar is found in the product. I rather put a pure ingredient in my body versus a product with additives and “chemicals”. Pure maple syrup also contains more vitamins and minerals than any substance from the white sugar family does. Pure maple sugar comes from nature; white sugar comes from a factory.
The truth about fruit
You may have noticed that I used the example of fruit as a whole food and you may have heard debate over fruit being considered “good” sugar or “bad” sugar. No matter if it’s the man made white stuff or fruit, SUGAR IS SUGAR. That being said, personally I don’t believe that all sugar is created equal. Yes if you are on a weight loss journey excess sugar in your system is bad for you and when trying to overcome a sugar habit fruit should be reduced, as in most instances it may lead to more sweet cravings. I love fruit and eat fruit every day, I don’t believe we should cut out fruit completely. Take berries as an example, they contain vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants as do lots of other fruit. Have you ever had an apple directly from the orchard or strawberries from the U-pick, I don’t believe anyone should have to pass up these delicious, fresh, juicy produce. Know your body and your limits if eating a sweet berry leads to you eating a chocolate bar then chose a fruit that won’t do this, possibly an orange or peach or pass up fruit altogether on most days, we always talk about moderation on Healthyhfx, and fruit is no exception to this rule.
Drink more water.
Look next to you, do you have a glass of water close by? If not you should.
A few months ago I was talking to a few friends about drinking water and a good friend of mine said she was trying to drink more water, as drinking water is not something she enjoys. She told me she used to drink 1 large coffee in the morning and often would not drink anything else until her coffee the following morning. The idea of this is crazy to me as I drink lots of water; I actually crave water when I don’t have it around me.
I’ve never loved juice or soda and I’ve never been someone to drink much milk. Glenn and I drink 1 coffee in the mornings and the rest of the day it’s water, unless it’s the occasional fountain pop at the movie theatre or when travelling. We never drink pop or juice, In fact we rarely have any of it in the house.
If I feel like a fruity drink, I much rather throw a few pieces of fruit in the blender and make a smoothie like drink, this way I get way more nutrients and much less sugar then the store bought juices. There are 3 things that stand out in my mind when I think of my love for water.
1. When I was 12 years old I heard on the television that dark pop attacks our nervous system and white pop is a better choice….yes they actually used the word “attack” and I remember thinking “I’m never drinking pop again”. Funny how things stay with you when you are young. Till this day if I do choose to drink pop (which is rare) I choose clear soda.
2. My High School volley ball coach used to tell us that water cures all. Of course I know that water does not cure all, but I still hear his voice in my head saying “drink water”, after I complain about and ache or pain.
3. My grade 9 Biology teacher told us that he drinks a large glass of water after he showers because by showering he cleans the outside of his body and by drinking water he cleans the inside. Since that day I always drink a large glass of water after I shower.
Every day we lose water through breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For our body’s to function properly, we must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. There is some disagreement over how much water is necessary but a good rule of thumb is to drink eight to twelve 8-ounce glasses per day. If you are active and exercise a lot, you may need more due to fluid loss through sweating.
What helps me drink allot of water is my water cooler at home. I love my water cooler; I always have cold water ready to go. Glenn and I have water bottles that we keep with us and re-fill them when they are empty, by always having water next to us we are more likely to drink it, it’s become habit for me to have my water bottle at my work desk and always go fill it up when it gets empty, by getting up to go re-fill my bottle is also helps me stretch my legs. I always keep my water bottle next to the couch as I watch TV at night and I get up to refill when it’s empty. By having water next to me from dinner time to about 9pm I can easily drink up to 1L. By stopping at 9pm I have an hour or so before bedtime so im not up all night using the washroom.
Whether you’re a healthy living advocate,
or a couch potato, you need water. If you don’t like plain water, try adding a few drops of fresh lemon, lime juice or fresh cranberries to make it taste better. The problem may also be the kind of water you’re drinking. If you don’t drink tap water because it tastes bad, try bottled water. If you don’t like the taste of your bottled water, try another brand., you’ll be surprised how different bottled water can taste.
Now that you have a few tips to help you drink more water here are a few reasons why you should, the first one is my favorite.
Look younger – drinking water hydrates your skin – When the skin is properly hydrated, it looks plump and more radiant
Drinking water can reduce hunger – Experts say that hunger pangs are often misinterpreted cravings for water
Combat ailments by drinking more water – In many cases, fatigue, headaches and back pain may be caused by dehydration. If you suffer from an afternoon nod off, try drinking more water at lunch. If you or your children complain of frequent headaches, the amount of water you’re drinking could be responsible. And, muscle spasms are also caused by not being adequately hydrated.
Regulates body temperature – On a hot day or after a good workout drink a big glass of water it will help you cool off faster.
You can find water bottles of all shapes and sizes, some fashionable one’s, funky looking one’s and some that clip onto your bag. There is no excuse not to carry a water bottle around with you, and make sure when you fill up that bottle with water, you drink it.
Our bodies are 60-75% water, not 60-75% soda.
