Making Healthy Eating a Little Easier

One of the most challenging things about eating healthy is knowing what to eat on a daily basis in your home.

Nutritious Bites

Holiday Eating: Use Smaller Portion Sizes

Our dietician says to enjoy the tastes of the season - just do it in moderation.

Holiday eating is often a time of lots of cookies and candy and eating on the run, two behaviors that can pose a challenge to a goal of healthy eating. Have no fear you can enjoy your holiday treats and still keep a healthy eating plan.  If you’re spending the next two weeks baking for holiday parties you know that cookies, cakes, bars and candy are plentiful not only in your house but also at work – after all that’s where we take those “too many to keep” items. Manage your sweet eating by trying these tips. When it comes to grabbing meals on the run, studies show that we make poorer food choices and we eat more when we aren’t focused on what we are eating. If your day is packed with work, decorating, baking and shopping make sure you keep…

• Photos (1)

Preparing a Healthy Family Dinner

Esse Health Pediatrics offers advice on preparing nourishing, delicious, healthy meals.

Health Beat

How to Have a Healthy Holiday: The Key Is Balance

WUSTL obesity prevention experts offer tips to navigate the holidays.

There’s nothing wrong with a cookie or a glass of eggnog at the holidays, says Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD, director of the Center for Obesity Prevention and Policy Research and the Center for Diabetes Translation Research at Washington University in St. Louis and associate dean for research at the Brown School. The key, Haire-Joshu said, is balance. “The holidays are a great time of the year – time spent with family and friends – and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy them,” Haire-Joshu said. “But the key is to balance those treats with healthy habits and choices. “Drink more water. Reduce portions. Limit TV viewing and keep moving. All these things can add balance and ensure that 2012 is the year of the healthy holiday,” she said. Haire…

• Photos (1)

Nutritious Bites

Thinking about Thanksgiving: Healthy Eating Tips

Ways to make your Thanksgiving meal a little bit healthier.

While Thanksgiving might be a week away you are hopefully thinking about your menu and preparing your grocery list. As you put together the meal, take some time to think about how healthier food choices fit within your plan.  The traditional Thanksgiving meal revolves around the lower fat turkey but some of the accompaniments can boost calories, salt and sugar. Making recipe medications is one way to manage the calories and shifting some preparation techniques can lower salt and sugar. As you put together your menu plan consider the following tips. In addition to these recipe changes, consider smaller portion sizes for pies and desserts so that people can enjoy them without having to eat large portions – they can always go back for seconds…

• Photos (1)

Recipes for a More Healthy Diet

These healthy salads are a matter of finding fresh ingredients and using them in new ways.

Here are some fresh takes on building a healthy salad courtesy of Chef Candice Kumai and Glad Products Company: Spicy Tequila Lime Shrimp Salad For the shrimp: For the salad: For the dressing Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add chopped garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add cumin and red pepper flakes, and let flavors blend together. Add shrimp and toss. Carefully add tequila and cook until alcohol burns off. Season with salt, and add dried chipotle powder. Once shrimp are cooked, add chopped cilantro, toss and put aside on a plate. Toss mixed greens in a large salad bowl and add in roasted red peppers and black beans. In medium bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients together and alter to desired …

• Photos (3)