temimi

If you were to ask anyone outside of a chocolate shop, who had just bought some dark chocolate, he or she would say that it didn’t have milk in it and contained more than 60% chocolate. Now, that is hardly a comprehensive definition, is it? So we are now looking for chocolate That Is Good For You, rather than any old chocolate, but what are the other 40% of ingredients? Does anyone really know? I was really surprised at the lack of knowledge shown by people on the subject of healthy chocolate.

First of all, it is necessary to explain a bit of history. When the Spanish went to Latin America in the 16th century they discovered the cocoa plant. The Aztecs already knew of the health benefits and considered the cocoa seed as holy. So it was the Spanish who actually brought chocolate to the European mainland.

A cocoa seed looks like a large lemon in shape and fits into the palm of a human hand. When the seed is ground up, it becomes a fine powder with a fat like substance called coco butter. Both these ingredients are necessary when referring to true dark chocolate and these two ingredients coupled together with cane sugar make fine dark chocolate. Nothing more, nothing less and you must keep to those three ingredients only.

The last time you went to the grocers and bought chocolate, did you look at the packaging to see the list of ingredients. Were there two ingredients and a little bit of sugar cane added for sweetness? The next time you go, you will be surprised to see at least ten different ingredients. Educating yourself about chocolate means that you are interested in taking part in your health care and nutrition.

Healthy dark chocolate that is good for you, can be described as an extremely nutritious whole food. When the other ingredients are added and the chocolate is heat processed, this whole food looses it’s status and just becomes a candy bar, with little or no benefits to the consumer. The fewer the ingredients and the higher level of unprocessed chocolate powder, would normally mean a product is more healthy. Also milk chocolate has little or no health value whatsoever and milk fats or oils add to the calories. The world is definitely changing from milk to dark chocolate gradually over time.

The Natural cocoa butter, lets you enjoy the health value of chocolate and the sweetness should only come from cane sugar and not from corn or glucose syrup. The best chocolates arguably come from Europe and famous Belgian chocolates are made to be consumed rapidly as there are no preservatives and no altered ingredients.

Dark chocolate is a simple product, and as I stated earlier, the fewer added ingredients, the healthier it is. Yes, it takes some time to get used to, if you have only consumed milk chocolate previously. Dark chocolate is an acquired taste and may or may not be a favourite of yours immediately, when you first try it.

The beneficial effects of dark chocolate are great for the human body, when they are taken in their natural form. So the next time you go to the grocery store or supermarket, take a look at the bars of dark chocolate that are on display and you will see the unhealthy ingredients that they put into each and every bar. Something as natural as unprocessed chocolate, has been around since the beginning of time and is wonder of nature and very healthy and to be consumed to one’s heart’s content.

In Conclusion

Be careful when choosing to purchase dark chocolate and only consume the very finest dark healthy chocolate available. It may cost you more money, but the health benefits are worth the investment and the time spent choosing wisely.

Not only do you want value for money but you also should consider what any ingredients are doing to your body on a regular basis, whether we are referring to chocolate that is good for you or any type of food you choose.

Paul Bursey is a very successful network marketer, internet marketer and publisher. He is committed to assisting people succeed in online businesses. He is passionate about sports, health and nutrition

If you found this article on what is the best antioxidant interesting and you would like to read more of Paul’s information then go to his blog available at http://www.paulbursey.net or http://www.WorldOfHealthyChocolate.com

Living in this rapidly changing environment today with busy profiles and time constraints- many of us don’t have time to follow a proper diet plan or exercise effectively, thus, making us more susceptible to numerous infections and diseases. In addition, our increasingly polluted environment have a immense negative effect on health.

Ever wondered – a few millions years earlier- there used to be a dawn of pristine and unspoiled air surrounding this earth. How beautiful, navie the LIFE was on this beautiful planet. Imagine taking a deep breath in the Air so pure, serene, clean and fresh. Nothing used to be unnatural or artificial, no plastics or food additives or chemical sprays, pesticides so on so forth. These modern day illnesses like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension. . . . . no one has even fathomed.

Aren’t we paying too high a price for this Present day MODERNIZATION and its conveniences, for that matter?? It’s difficult to breath in smog -filled cities which choke us, diet mostly consist of saturated fats, salt or sugar, shortage of fresh fruits or vegetables as well as polluted drinking water.

We individuals, are surrounded by pollution bubble. So, How this Body pollution works? Pollutant or toxin(s) enters the body- it has to be detoxified – made water soluble and safely eliminated. We’re having a strong army backing us in our fight against pollution. While Liver and Kidneys take up the Detoxification task, lungs, skin and intestines play an important role. But besides such a powerful natural system, our bodies simply can’t detoxify and eliminate all the chemicals we ingest. So, whatever toxins are left behind [ active or partially deactivated] get stored in fatty tissues- even in brain and CNS. Slowly these can be released into the bloodstream thus adversely affecting the body systems leading to premature aging and disease. [free radicals -most destructive by-product, reduces immune system work efficiency, increase in cancer rates, heart disease, hypertensions etc. . . . ]

Next thing which comes to our mind is then- How our Body Fights Pollution??

We know body pollution is unavoidable in today’s environment- the picture is crystal clear in our eyes. Body pollution can have long term impact so we should keenly observe our lifestyle & eating habits in order to imbibe/bring about positive changes that eventually can help us to take control of our health and in turn fight body pollution. LETS GET STARTED, then, TAKE CHARGE OF OUR HEALTH AND OUR FUTURE.

The culprit is Lack of Good Nutrition and regular exercise schedule. BE INFORMED ABOUT NUTRITION. Over the past few years, we have seen dramatic changes in Indian household diet charts – courtesy – food processing technology, artificial ingredients, food chemicals, increasing inclination towards high calorie fast foods. Being aware of these facts,

We should and must make ourselves as well as our coming generations aware of what we are consuming and what long term healthy alternatives are available at our disposal.

Quick Health Tips For A Grasp:

1. Completely avoid or minimize the use of Refined flour, excess sugar, carbonated soft drinks, packaged and fast foods.

2. Switch high fibre diet; whole grains; use olive and canola oil [best for cooking coz contain highest levels of polyunsaturated fats], including small amount of protein in each meal help stabilize blood sugar levels& prevent sugar cravings; Increase intake of fruits and veggies – being rich in vitamins, minerals, anti oxidants& plant nutrients – essential for fighting body pollution; 8-9 to glasses of pure water daily; low fat dairy and fermented products.

While concentrating on diet plan don’t undermine the importance of exercise -it is a fundamental part of optimal health – essential in disease prevention, weight control, body tone up and aids in cleansing.

In nutshell, a healthy lifestyle well supported by a good exercise regimen, smart food choices and supplements – arm us in our fight against body pollution.

Excessive cholesterol in the bloodstream is one of the major causes of heart attacks and other cardio vascular diseases. However, despite this, cholesterol is essential for building membranes, manufacturing of bile, cell walls, nerve sheaths and the production of hormones. While many doctors prescribe medication to lower cholesterol or maintain levels in high risk patients, lowering cholesterol with diet is the preferred option for most people.

A cholesterol reading is made up of a number of parts but the two major ones are Low and High Density Lipoproteins (LDL and HDL). LDL is known as “bad” cholesterol which leaves plaque-like deposits in the arteries, which can ultimately narrow to such an extent that blood flow to the heart is interrupted, causing a heart attack. Scientific research has proved that consumption of large quantities of saturated fat raises the level of LDL cholesterol.

HDL is known as “good” cholesterol and it can help to clear away the LDL in the blood. Omega 3 from oily fish as well as lots of fruit and vegetables can raise the levels of HDL.

Unfortunately, diet isn’t the only culprit here; high cholesterol levels can also result from smoking, lack of exercise, drinking alcohol and fluctuating hormones.

Lowering cholesterol with diet really involves a lifestyle change, particularly for those with a fondness for red meat, charcuterie and deep fried foods so here are some tips for keeping that cholesterol down.

1. Red meat is higher in saturated fat than fish or chicken (without the skin). If you must eat red meat, choose lean cuts and remove the fat. Grill or barbeque without additional fat or just a spray of olive oil. Grill or poach fish and chicken.

2. Use a low fat spread rather than butter or margarine and choose other low fat dairy products such as yoghurt and skimmed milk.

3. Avoid cakes and other baked foods which can be high in fat.

4. Do eat wholemeal bread and use brown rice and pasta.

5. If you have to fry food, use olive oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil or vegetable oil rather than butter or lard.

6. Do eat your five portions a day of fresh fruit and vegetables.

7. Use plenty of garlic as it is said to have cholesterol lowering properties.

Lowering cholesterol with diet is not too difficult, but don’t forget to include regular exercise in your new lifestyle. If you possibly can, give up smoking and keep alcohol intake to a minimum. Don’t forget to check your cholesterol level after three months. If you’ve stuck to your healthy diet and your cholesterol hasn’t reduced, you must see your doctor as you may be one of those who needs medication to keep your cholesterol under control.

Liz Canham is a keen exponent of a healthy lifestyle and lowering cholesterol with diet, rather than taking pills. Her website, Best Fat Burner has many more tips for fitness and weight loss.

If you’ve been a member of a health club or have a fitness friend, you most likely have heard of or seen protein powder supplements. Have you wondered what they are used for or their benefits? What about which ones are the best? I’d like to share with you why I believe whey protein isolate is whey cool, and why everyone can benefit from it.

Whey protein provides all of the essential amino acids which cannot be made by the body. Amino acids are necessary for healthy muscles, skin, nails and other tissues. This is important for everyone’s health, especially those that exercise. Whey protein also contains the highest level of branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s) known from a natural food source. BCAA’s are metabolized directly into muscle tissue and are the first used during exercise. Also, BCAA’s help repair and rebuild lean muscle tissue. Other athletic benefits of whey are its ability to be absorbed quickly, and that is contains leucine and glutathione-which help maintain lean muscle mass and healthy immune systems.

Another great attribute of whey protein is its impact on maintaining a healthy weight. Digesting protein requires more energy, therefore causing the body to burn more calories. As mentioned above, whey contains leucine, which helps promote lean muscle and lower body fat. One of the things I love about whey protein is that it provides a great way to get protein without the added carbs and fat. For example, Jay Robb’s whey (which is super clean) provides 25 grams of protein with only 110 calories. That’s a great ratio! Exercisers need to ensure they are getting adequate results by consuming enough protein. One cool fact about whey is that it contains cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which are both appetite suppressants. This is great news for any health-conscious individual.

The last great attribute to whey protein is its support in preventing or fighting various diseases. A nutritious diet and regular exercise can improve our odds against heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Whether or not this is a reality in our lives currently, we will all be wiser by doing what we can to make sure it never is.

Overall, I think whey protein is whey cool because of its versatile health benefits and how quickly it can be used by the body. Also, its nutritious profile outshines soy, milk and egg protein. If you’ve never tried whey protein before, give it a shot. You will amazed at its benefits.

Want to learn other quick tips on eating healthy and getting fit? Visit my blog at http://FitKim.com to get started!
Kimberly Coventry has a MS in Holistic Nutrition, is a Certified Nutritional Consultant, Certified NASM dotFIT Coach, marathoner, duathlete and triathlete. She has led individual coaching sessions as well as group coaching programs such as Girls on the Run. Throughout her consulting practice, Kimberly has developed a passion for combining nutrition and fitness.
Check out her blog at http://FitKim.com for more healthy tips!

Here are your new rules:
1. Eat frequently
2. Eat smaller well balanced meals
3. Always have a protein and a fibrous carb

Sounds simple right! Well I am about to make it even simpler. Vegetables can be eaten in unlimited amounts, just make sure you are getting at least 5 servings of them a day. Let me caution you though, to start adding them in slowly. If you add fiber in too quickly, you can experience bloating and stomach discomfort. Try adding a new serving in every couple of days until you get to the 5 servings.

When it comes to fruits, enjoy a variety of them. Most people find it works best for them at 2-3 servings of fruits a day. Fruits can cause some digestive issues for some people, listen to your body and learn what works best for you. We want fruits due to their vitamins and nutrients so experiment with what amount works best for your body.

Protein- we need a serving of protein with every meal. That doesn’t include fried chicken either. Keep it clean…
Skinless chicken
Lean turkey
Lean beef
Fish
Eggs
Lean steak
Pork

These are always good choices of good quality protein sources.

Eat frequently means 3 meals followed with 2 snacks a day. Here are some ideas of good snacks to incorporate into your diet.

Almonds + a fruit
Walnuts
Pecans
Pistachios
String cheese
Nut butter and celery
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Trail mix
Hard boiled eggs + a fruit
Greek yogurt

When it comes to the starchy carbs question, “Do I or Don’t I”. I am partial to DON”T!! Our grains have become somewhat of unhealthy food; however I know that is a difficult task for most of you so at least follow these three rules:

No white flour of any kind, stick with oatmeal, brown rice, potatoes, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pastas.

Watch your portion sizes, a portion is not ½ the plate nor what a restaurant sees as a portion. This is where calories can really add up. Just a ¼ of your plate is all you need.

Only eat them after resistance training workouts. Yes, that’s right you are going to have to earn your carbs. Complex carbohydrates are used for energy, if you’re not working out what do you need the extra energy for? Besides, this will keep you on track with your workouts too.

Here are your new rules:

1. Eat frequently
2. Eat smaller well balanced meals
3. Always have a protein and a fibrous carb
Sugar is the villain here. We want to minimize the intake of sugar and artificial sweeteners drastically. If you want to lose weight, reduce your chances of diabetes, cancers, and heart disease then start breaking the habit now. Also, no trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) of any kind.

No Sodas not even diet
No alcohol
No donuts, cakes, or cookies
No fast food
No items with Trans Fats in the ingredients

Here is a great example of a day’s worth of meals.

7:00 Am Breakfast

2 eggs scrambled with fresh spinach, green and yellow peppers and a serving of fruit

10:00 AM Snack

12 almonds and a peach

1:00 PM Lunch

Large Spinach/Romaine Salad with cucumber, celery, peppers, carrots, grilled chicken, and vinaigrette dressing or a drizzle of olive oil.

4:00 PM Snack

Celery with almond butter

6:30-7:00 PM Dinner

Grilled lean steak, roasted asparagus, and maybe a small salad or second vegetable of your choice.

Get use to eating food without a barcode. Food shouldn’t come in a neat pretty little package full of advertising junk. It should be something you place in a bag, can wash and eat. If you really want to be lean, healthy, free of disease and aches and pains then you need to start reevaluating what you’re putting into your body. Food shouldn’t taste better than good health feels.

Transformations 4 Life is about empowering women to put their health on their daily to do list and become the best role model they can be. It is our mission to educate women on fitness, optimal wellness, and nutrition so they can transform in all the areas of their lives. Services include e-books, mobile personal training, online training, boot camps, and nutrition counseling. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and receive the 9 Essential Strategies on Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Report at http://www.Transformations4life.com

“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It’s as simple as that.”
– Earl Nightingale

When it comes to people drinking juice, many people still buy store-bought juice rather than juicing for themselves. People do not buy store-bought juice because it tastes better, because it does not; many people consider store-bought juice to taste artificial. People do not buy store-bought juice because it is a healthier alternative; a lot of store-bought juice contain quite a bit of sugar and added preservatives. One of the main reasons that people do not juice for themselves is because they do not have recipes that are easy to use.

Now you no longer have to worry about not knowing any vegetable juice recipes. In fact, this article will give you plenty of recipes that are not only easy to make, but also taste amazing and provide you with some amazing health benefits.

Apple and carrots

This is one of the easiest and tasty vegetable juice recipes you can easily make yourself. Almost every child knows about the benefits of eating carrots. Carrots have proven health benefits, they are a very good source of antioxidant compounds, protect against cardiovascular disease and the most famous one is that it promotes good eyesight.

You are going to need:

6 carrots

2 apples

dash of ginger

dash of cinnamon
 
Start by giving the carrots and apples a good wash. Like with most vegetable juice recipes, it is important that you work with clean vegetables and fruits. Remove the core from the apples and slice the end off all carrots. Process them in your juicer and serve with a dash of ginger and/or a dash of cinnamon to taste. For the best taste, you should serve the juice with ice, or chilled.

Veggie Bonanza

Many people use vegetable juice recipes to get them a serving of vegetables or fruit. After all, with so many vegetable juice recipes out there it is easy to mix and match with what you like. This recipe raises the bar when it comes to providing you with servings of vegetables and provides you with plenty of energy to last you through the day.

You are going to need:

2 big carrots

3 stalks of celery

5 spinach leaves

Half cup of alfalfa sprouts

Half cup of parsley

2 apples
 
You can actually create this drink without the apples, but I personally prefer my vegetable juice recipes to have a sweet kick to it as well. After washing all your ingredients, put them together and juice. Unlike other vegetable juice recipes, the order in which you juice these ingredients is not important. Like the other vegetable juice recipes listed here, this one tastes better chilled.

The Green Giant

For most parents getting their children to eat broccoli is a struggle. However, with this delicious vegetable juice recipe both young and old is going to enjoy getting their daily dose of vegetables.

You are going to need:

3 stalks of celery

4 apples

1 broccoli stem

Half a lemon (add only if you like a bit of tang)

Wash all the ingredients, but do not make the mistake of removing the leaves from the celery; you would be missing some great nutrients. Remove the core from the apples and make sure the rest of the greens fit into your juicer. Process them in your juicer and serve the juice with ice, or chilled.

I hope that reading these vegetable juice recipes is going to give you some interesting ideas. When it comes to juicing, you can make your own vegetable juice recipes based on your personal preferences. Create your own and see what you like.

Richard Weiss is a juicing expert. For more great tips on vegetable juice recipes visit http://www.juicesrecipes.net/recipes-for-juicing.

If you have done your research and decided that you would benefit from going on a low carb diet, the next step for you to take is choosing which specific diet is best for you. There are well over twenty-five low carb diet systems for you to choose from so it can be more difficult than you think. The first thing you should do to limit the number of choices you have is write down the things you want from your system.

For example, if you want to use a system that allows some carbs, then you can eliminate the systems that do not allow you to consume any. Some allow you consume a moderate amount of them and others only make room for a very minor daily consumption. Knowing what you want to get out of your system will help you narrow your list of choices and ultimately lead you to choosing the system that best fits your wants and needs.

The 17 day diet is a very popular choice and has become one of the trendiest weight lost programs on the planet. This program was originally designed to help people avoid gaining weight over the holiday and winter season. It is now used every day by millions of people. The advantages to using this program are it encourages your intake of natural, unprocessed foods, it uses calorie cycling to speed up the process of losing weight, and it is a very short, simple and effective program. The negatives to it include it not being suitable for people with diabetes, physically active people will have difficulties adjusting to the low calorie intake, and it does not address the important factors in achieving long term weight loss.

The Atkins diet is another one of the most popular programs to use and it was even named the most popular diet plan of all time at one point by Time Magazine. The benefits of this program are that it can generate success quickly, it allows you to eat out at restaurants and it works especially well for vegetarians and diabetics. There is really only one con to using this program but it is a very important one.

This program encourages you to eat fatty foods in small portions to lower your normal appetite level. If using this program for long periods of time, it could severely damage your health. Too much of a high-fat diet can lead to heart disease, early age heart attacks, and strokes. Also, if you develop the habit of eating high fat foods for or with every meal, as soon as you stop using the program you may gain a very unhealthy amount of weight.

Choosing the program that is right for you may just be the most important part of going on a low carb diet, aside from actually sticking to the diet itself. With all of the choices available for you to pick from, you should have no problem finding a program that fits your needs to the point where it seems like the program was custom made just for you.

A painful trip to the emergency room revealed that I wasn’t having a heart attack, I was having esophageal spasms due to wheat intolerance! When going gluten free, I learned how easy it is to also eat a low carb diet. I had fought my weight all my life. With a low carb diet plan, the pounds disappeared with little effort. Discover how easy it is. Click Free Recipes and get started living life the low carb way. Reviews, helpful advice, tips and more.

Banana is among the most nutritious, medicinal fruits that exist. Fresh banana benefits are many and it’s delicious. The banana is one of the most widely consumed fruit in the world. When unripe, a banana primarily consists of starch which constitutes 21%.As they ripen this starch converts to sugars such as sucrose, glucose and fructose. This leaves 1% starch in a ripe banana. The bananas rich content of potassium makes it ideal for prevention of arterial hypertension, stroke and even cancer.

Nutritional value of a Banana

Composition Per 100g raw edible portion
Energy 92kcal Calcium 6mg Vitamin B2 0.1mg
Carbohydrates 21g Magnesium 29mg Vitamin B3 0.74mg
Fiber 2.4g phosphorus 20mg Vitamin B6 0.58mg
Vitamin A 8ug RE Iron 0.31mg Foliate 19.1ug
Vitamin B1 0.045mg Zinc 0.16mg Vitamin C 9mg
Potassium 396mg Vitamin E 0.27mg

Banana benefits are numerous some of which are-:

• It’s rich in Pyridoxine also known as Vitamin B6 which helps metabolism and absorption of fats and proteins and helps to make red blood cells. Deficiency of vitamin B6 is marked by inflammation of the tongue, lesions on the lip and corners of the mouth and peripheral neuropathy.

Contains significant amounts of
• Vitamin C which has antioxidant properties and helps the body to use calcium and other nutrients to build bone and blood vessel walls.
• Vitamin B1 which is needed for energy metabolism supports appetite and central nervous system functions.
• Vitamin B2 which helps in energy metabolism supports normal vision and skin health.
• Vitamin E which is antioxidant, protects white and red blood cells membranes, is used in DNA synthesis and stimulates the body’s immune system.
• Soluble vegetable fiber and insoluble vegetable fiber.

Health Benefits of a Banana

Below are some of the major benefits of bananas-:

• Bananas are ideal fruit for people being treated for diarrhea, colitis, stomach ulcers and dyspepsia, and protein allergies.
• Bananas alkalize the blood, which helps neutralize and eliminate excess uric acid that causes arthritis and gout.
• Ideal in low sodium diets and is recommended in cases of low sodium diets.
• Due to its Fiber banana is lipid and cholesterol lowering food.
• They are also known to strengthen the stomach lining.
• The fruit is ideal for people with coronary heart disease.
• Bananas are not contraindicated for diabetics. However the use of carbohydrates they contain must be controlled. The sugars found in bananas are absorbed slowly and do not produce a sharp rise in blood glucose level.

In view of the above points, Health benefits of bananas cannot be underrated.

If you are reading this, you probably know how difficult enough it is to lose weight. However, keeping that weight off is a tedious challenge in its own right.

When the time comes to lose weight, the first strategies that come to mind for most are:

1. Cutting out all food that he/she enjoys eating, usually replacing them with something they don’t like. No matter what you think at the time, you won’t be able to go on for very long without ever eating your favorite foods again.

2. Picking up a plan that requires hours of preparation and effort to get results. Diets like these allow absolutely no room for mistakes and are easily sabotaged by unexpected events (work, children, family etc.)

3. Taking on unrealistically restrictive diets that shrink your menu to the point that it is all but impossible to survive on long-term.

Nobody in their right mind would think that a diet so restrictive would be a lifelong commitment. Many take on these punishing diets as short cuts to get down to their ideal weight quickly for an event like a wedding or vacation.

However, even if you lose all the weight you intended to, chances are you will go running back to your old diet as soon as you drop that last pound. Of course, once you pick up your old eating habits you will inevitably pick up your old weight in the process. This is why it is called yoyo dieting.

If you want to avoid the yoyo effect, you need to change the way you view weight loss. Instead of making your diet a short, torturous stint, try to think of it as a new lifestyle. Making baby steps towards changing your eating habits will support getting down to and keeping a healthy weight long-term.

There is no need to make these changes quickly or drastically. You can start out by making a single small change once a week or so. For example, the first week you can begin drinking more water, the next you start eating fruit and yogurt for breakfast and so on.

The final and most important key to losing weight is your approach. You wouldn’t jump into a new career with a short-term mindset, would you? With the right amount of patience and the right kind of attitude succeeding in your new, healthy, slim lifestyle will be just as easy as it is rewarding.

Click on This Link Now! Yoyo Dieting to Get Rid of Your Ugly Looking Extra Pounds Now!

Click Here Now! to Check Out This Amazing Top Secret Weight Loss Program That Does Not Need Will-Power or Right Diet to Lose Weight Permanently!

Toddlers and children alike can be one of the most fussiest eaters there are in the world! Getting them to eat healthy may be a huge mountain to scale especially if they already started off on the wrong foot. Most parents and guardians make a common mistake of introducing junk and not so nutritious foods and beverages in the first few years of the child’s life. The problem with this is that those are the kinds of foods that they become accustomed to and want to have all the time. And one of the many problems with this kind of diet is the fact that it may lead to childhood obesity, which in itself has several adverse health and emotional effects such as type 2 diabetes (which by the way some 20 years ago was only heard of in adults) and low self esteem amongst many others.

The thing is, it’s important to set the right example for our kids if we want them to lead healthy lifestyles long after they “leave the nest” and have their own families. As I’m sure you already know, children learn mostly from what they see and not from what they hear. In other words, they do what they see you doing and not necessarily what you say. So if you eat a lot of fast food and soda pops, it’s most likely that they will too and fancy it over any other type of diet.

One of the ways you can help your children to eat healthy is to cook homemade healthy meals. It can be pretty hectic if you lead a busy life, but you can at least try and prepare a meal from home twice or three times a week. To add to the excitement, ask your kids to come help you to prepare the meal, they will most definitely have an interest in eating what they have prepared (messy job it will be, but greater benefits at the end). If you are to eat out, choose healthier options, with less fat, cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat. If these are consumed over and above one’s recommended daily allowance, they may lead to health problems.

Another way would be to take a trip with them to the farmers’ market and have them see all the various kinds of fruits and vegetables. They can even engage the farmers, asking them how the fruit or vegetable comes to be and the benefits it has for their growing bodies. In fact, you can even go to a farm sometime and have the kids see for themselves how the vegetables and fruits come to be. And if you have space in your backyard, you can grow your own fruits and vegetables and have the children take part. As has been said, knowledge is power, so giving your children information about the benefits of fruits and vegetables and all the other food groups will help a great deal. They will know why vegetables are good for them and it will cease from being just a command. They’ll eat them all up without a fight.

Don’t give up when after you’ve tried this and your children don’t seem interested in eating healthy, give them time. If you stick to your guns, they’ll have no choice but to comply and before you know it, they would have acquired the taste and enjoying their meals. Instead of giving them chocolates and crisps to snack on, give them vegetable strips (like carrots and cucumber, etc),fruits, raisins, dried fruit, etc. They may put up a fight at first and suffer some withdrawal symptoms if they were used to junk food, but they’ll eventually go with the flow. And in the long run you’ll all reap the great benefits.

Not that they can never have pizza or ice-cream or any of the junk food ever again. You may give them as treats here and there but remember that moderation is key here. Don’t let them over-indulge. Also, variety is important. Give them a variety of the fruits and vegetables so they can enjoy the different tastes as well as get full nutrition.

Learn more on how to eat healthy and fruit nutrition by following the links.