Every busy parent agrees that healthy meals are crucial, but in the pressure of daily living, eating healthy can be difficult. Carla Hall, known to many as a popular finalist on season five of Bravo TV's Top Chef recently teamed up with Alere Health at the 8th Annual World Health Care Congress (WHCC) to talk to people about healthy eating.
Hall put together five food tips for a healthier life, which are great building blocks to helping reach that "make healthy eating a lifestyle" goal. Take a look and see if they can make your life just a little healthier.
- Keep it simple. Hall suggests trying a healthy fruit smoothie for breakfast; making a chocolate banana protein shake for a snack; and always having lots of fruit, nuts and fresh veggies around for snacking as opposed to chips. In San Jose check out the Flea Market for its great produce or the many farmers markets.
- Get three to four meals out of one. Planning ahead lets you cook one meal and enjoy it several times throughout the week. A roast chicken can be used for quesadillas, chicken salad, tacos, etc. Too busy to shop and clean up for this type of cooking? Try a meal preparation and assembly service where you go in and create your own "food to go" (and someone else does the shopping and clean up!). There are several in San Jose such as Dream Dinners, on Coleman Avenue, and similar businesses in most major metropolitan areas.
- Meet the crock-pot − the best friend for busy families. "To save time, toss some vegetables, fresh herbs and your choice of protein into a Crock-pot and let it do its magic," says Hall. "It's easy, tastes great and dinner will be done when you come home from work."
- Involve the family. Weight management is not just an adult issue these days; children need to take an interest in cooking healthy meals too. Spin a globe to pick a country and then incorporate the tastes of that country. Your children will learn about geography and culture, while cooking a healthy and delicious meal, too!
- Indulge a little. Indulge yourself but in moderation, and only occasionally. Have a bowl of fresh fruit, topped with your favorite ice cream (as opposed to the other way around). "Never say never when it comes to the foods you love – you'll only set yourself up for failure," says Hall.
If you have any you can add in the comments section, please do!
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