15 Ekim 2007 Pazartesi

Light Calorie Cooking: How To Cook Low Calorie Foods Which Still Taste Fantastic

by: DivineRecipes.com
Many people these days want to control their diets so they are eating low calorie foods, but low calorie foods that still taste great. The way to get low calorie foods that taste great is through light calorie cooking. There are a few tips to consider when embarking on light calorie cooking adventures where the calories are low but the taste is high.
Margarine As Opposed to Butter
When following recipes when preparing a meal, there are many recipes that now list a choice between using butter as an ingredient or margarine. By using margarine in the recipe instead of butter the cook cuts the caloric content significantly yet still keeps a good taste overall. It is very hard to tell the difference between margarine and butter that is used in cooked foods and since margarine is lower in calories it is a great substitute. So, the next time you are cooking and run across a choice between butter or margarine as an ingredient make the healthy and low calorie choice by using margarine. The taste will remain great and it won't affect your waistline!
Splenda as Opposed to Sugar
Another great way in which to save on the caloric intake is to use Splenda in one's recipes as opposed to sugar. Splenda consists of sucralose, which was approved for sale on the market in the late 1990s. Not only is this ingredient low in calories but it is great tasting as well. Splenda is also a wonderful ingredient to use in baked foods as it is heat stable and there is no real loss of the substance during cooking. For these reasons, Splenda is a great ingredient to use when cooking using those recipes which call for sugar. You won't notice a difference, but you will enjoy great foods and beverages with considerably less calories!
These are two ways in which a calorie-conscious individual can make fantastic light calorie meals that are abundant in the taste department and easy on the waistline as well.

About The Author
DivineRecipes.com features over 25,000 food and drink recipes including light cooking and vegetarian recipes. Visit http://www.DivineRecipes.com to start cooking tonight.

Cheap And Easy Party Food - Throw A Great Party Without Spending A Fortune

by: Angela Tyler
If you are planning a party, you already know that food can be one of your biggest expenses. However, you can take several steps to cut your party food costs. It is not necessary to purchase expensive appetizers and beverages to throw a great party. A little imagination and effort can make your party a memorable occasion.
Here are some ideas and suggestions to help you save money on food when throwing your next party:
Have a potluck
A potluck is certainly cheaper than hiring a caterer and you will save a lot of time and money by having your guests prepare a dish to share with others. Potluck is fun and you will surely end up with an interesting assortment of foods. To make things simpler, include a suggestion as to what type of dish you would like your guests to bring such as a dessert, vegetable, or salad.
Finger foods are fun
Small sandwiches, chips, dips, and vegetable trays are relatively inexpensive and you won't need to bother with place settings and bringing out your best china. Simply supply napkins and small paper plates and allow your guests to serve themselves from an assortment of bite size goodies.
Back to basics
Fruit and cheese are excellent choices for casual party foods that don't require fancy place settings or dishes. Buy fresh fruit in season when you are likely to find certain varieties on sale and fill your table will a variety of cheeses, crackers, and perhaps olives and nuts.
Go Italian
If your party will be a dinner party where fingers foods are not appropriate, you can try spaghetti with garlic bread and salad, or you could find a good deal on pizza that you can have delivered. You will save time and it is quite easy to find a bargain on different types of pizza.
Thrifty Thirst Quenchers
For party beverages, two-liter soft drinks and bottled water are inexpensive and very easy to serve. Provide ice and cups and allow your guests to serve themselves. Tea and coffee are cheap as is lemonade that you make fresh or from concentrate.
Your party does not have to cost a lot of money to be a huge success. Look for sales on the foods and beverages you choose and plan ahead so you will have time to shop around be fore you buy.

About The Author
Angela Tyler
Visit http://www.homeorganizationhelp.com for more ways to decorate your home quickly and easily, and http://www.freequickrecipes.com for delicious meal ideas.

The Food Pyramid

by: Bob Wood
Just a few calories ago, the government revised the food pyramid. You can see it at http://www.mypyramid.gov/
It has a snazzy new logo with a stick figure dashing up the Steps To a Healthier You on the side of the pyramid. It’s supposed to be in better tune with our complicated modern life, the latest Scientific Thought, and reflect a customized pyramid which better fits our lifestyle, not that there’s anything wrong with that. They have an animation, a mini-poster for the art-impaired, and, “a wealth of ideas to help you get started to a healthier diet.”
In better tune – with modern life? Then why a pyramid? Isn’t that Egypto-elitist? Doesn’t that perhaps reflect a suspect cash infusion from the travel industry? How many people will EVER run up a pyramid? And if they do, why aren’t they carrying a six pack of bottled water? “Water, the Almost Food.” Because the water lobby is weak, that’s why.
See, that’s what’s wrong with government – no big thinkers. All around us we see sellouts and commercialization: Product placement; Endorsements; Co-promotions; Synergism! But does the government see this? Noooo. Instead of cribbing money from this or that entitlement program, why not some good old entrepreneurship in our leadership! What do you think McDonalds would pay to have that stickfigure run up the GOLDEN ARCHES?
But I wonder if the department of food thought this through? There could be a stickfigure of a mom in a stick minivan (note: sell van logo) or a guy carrying a laptop (note: sell computer logo) racing to catch a train (note: place Amtrak logo), while talking on his cellphone (note: sell cellphone logo). Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? THINK of the monetization possibilities which could all go to reducing the budget deficit!
And while we are free-thinking here, why not go wild and sell advertising space on the one, five and ten dollar bill? Some court is going to strike down In God We Trust anyway. Consider: “Reach Out and Touch Someone – AT&T.” Wouldn’t they pay a billion for umpteen gazillion impressions? And here’s the best part – those bills have a limited lifetime. The treasury is ALWAYS taking old worn out ones out of the supply and printing new ones. How many OTHER advertisers would wait in LINE? What do you think Target would pay to replace that odd eye and triangle with the Target logo bullseye? And why show an old building on the rear of the $10? Why not show the latest Las Vegas resort? Keep the Eagle. What do you think PETSMART would pay for a little banner?
But back to the Food Pyramid. Why not monetize “calories”? What would McDonalds pay to change the word to “McNutrients?”
Of course, we’d need an Office of Promotional Tie-In. I think $500,000,000 would get it kick started. Hey, why do we need zeros? They could just as well be tiny Target logos.

About The Author
Bob Wood hosts two blogs and one website. His musings on everyday life, filtered through a wry sense of humor are at http://www.woodsgoods.blogspot.com. His home theater news is at http://www.woodsgoods2.blogspot.com and his site devoted to guiding folks through the purchase and setup of Home Theater is at http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com.

Healthy Foods That Your Kids Will Love

by: Angela Tyler
Is getting your kids to eat healthy foods is a battle in your home? If so, you’ll love these tips that will make your kids happy and give you the satisfaction of knowing you are feeding them foods that are good for them.
Start the Day Right
You can give your kids a delicious, healthy breakfast by getting rid of the ready to eat cereals and pastries and replacing them with bran pancakes and low-sugar syrup and/or fruit. Whole-wheat tortillas filled with fruit, scrambled eggs, or cheese and turkey bacon are delicious and your kids will have fun eating them, paying no attention to the fact that it is actually good for them.
Naturally Sweet
Most kids will ask for sweets such as candy and snack cakes. Instead of giving in to the pressure, give your kids applesauce and homemade oatmeal cookies prepared with a sugar substitute or honey rather than white sugar. Fruit snacks and dried fruit roll ups made from 100 percent fruit are great ideas for kids.
Replace fruit drinks and sodas with flavored tonic water and fresh fruit juice. Drink boxes containing pure fruit juice are relatively inexpensive and kids love the individual boxes, complete with straws.
Make it Fun
The secret is in the presentation. Arrange an assortment of healthy foods in a fun way on your child's plate. You can include smiley faces made from raisins or nuts and choose foods that are colorful. Kids will eat most things if they are presented in a unique design that makes eating fun.
Healthy Dinner
Dinnertime can include homemade pizza topped with cheese and vegetables, or soft tacos made with shredded chicken and cheese. Chicken strips prepared in the oven are always a hit and you could include an assortment of fresh vegetables and whole-grain breads. Fish sticks are relatively healthy if you prepare them in the oven rather than fried. Cheese and legumes are healthy choices.
It's not difficult to get kids to eat healthy foods. It just takes a little extra thought and planning. Start by using our tips and you may be surprised to see what your child will eat.

About The Author
Angela Tyler
Would you rather spend time doing the things you love rather than being stuck in the kitchen? http://www.freequickrecipes.com has quick recipes for mothers... and others. And, if you are looking for fun exercise videos for your kids, don't miss http://www.funexercisevideos.com.

Proper Food Storage

by: Matthew Noel
Using proper food storage is very important to your health and your family’s health. It is up to you to provide proper storage solutions for every type of food that comes into your home. This is no easy task. If you plan to store large amounts of food, you need to have the room. It is also important to realize that foods go bad quite easily and quickly. Taking the time to find the right solution to your food storage needs can even help you save money.
Purchasing And Storing
It is quite important for you to purchase foods that are in good condition especially if you will have them in your home for a long period of time. This is especially true for foods that will not last for long, such as fruits and vegetables that are purchased fresh.
But, you can also package them to keep them lasting longer. For example, fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits can be canned or purchased and placed into a vacuum sealing to keep them fresh much longer.
For meats, it is important to use them within their date or to freeze them. You should freeze them properly without defrosting them more than once to use. You can also use a vacuum sealer to do this work as well.
Having Enough Room
One of the biggest problems that many have when it comes to food storage is that it is hard to find enough room in our kitchen cabinets for the products that we purchase. In order to have enough room, you can think outside the box. Using your fridge and freezer effectively is one thing. You can store canned goods in boxes in a cool location as well. You can add bins or containers to your kitchen as well.
Using proper food storage means keeping everyone happy and healthy!

About The Author
Matthew Noel
For more information please see http://www.food-storage-shack.co.uk

Acne Program – Step 9 Protein and Other Food to Eat

by: Rudy Silva
Eating the right kind of food is what can give you a strong immune system and help you prevent sickness and all kinds of skin blemishes including acne.
Here are some of the foods that can help you overcome the acne on your face or throughout your body.
Protein
Eating excess meat is harmful to your health. Eating too much meat, more than 2-4 ounces per day, has been found to contribute to narrowing of the arteries.
If you do physical labor and are involved in a lot of movement in your work, then you should eat more than 2-4 ounces of protein per day. Just make sure that the meat has a minimum of additives and preservatives.
Remember, meat is high in saturated fat, which blocks the activity of EPA and DHA, which produce prostaglandin and control the activity of your hormones.
Meat and bread is a big contributor to creating constipation. Meat is difficult to digest and many times it will get into the colon partial digested. This condition benefits the bad bacteria and allows them to dominate the colon and create constipation.
Because meat and bread have little fiber, they move slowly in the colon, which leads to constipation and eventually to some type of colon inflammation.
Bad bacteria, decaying meat and other undigested food contribute to the build up of toxic matter in the colon. This is the type of condition you should try to avoid, if you have acne. You need fecal matter in the colon to move regularly and out the rectum, otherwise, toxic matter will build up and end up in your blood stream
Here are the grains you should be eating:
* Brown rice – contain many amino acids that help rebuild skin tissue
* Whole grains – contain folic acid, magnesium, and vitamin E, B vitamins, minerals, and fiber
* Oats – use them in the morning with honey or raisins. Oats have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and help to keep you regular.
Seeds and nuts
* Almonds - Almonds contain protein, the B vitamins, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Use them as a snack. These small nuts help to build muscles and tissue.
* Flax seeds – These seeds are known for containing plenty of omega 3 oil, an essential oil for life. They also contain fiber when used ground up and put into smoothies. Omega 3 is also an anti-inflammatory oil, which is good for acne.
* Pecans – This is one of the good nuts to eat. It contains Vitamin A, B’s, C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Use them as a snack.
* Pine nuts – these nuts also one of the best to eat. They contain vitamin A, C, B’s, protein and iron.
* Sesame seeds – They are high in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. They are helpful in relieving various skin diseases such as acne by reducing the swelling.
* Sunflower seeds – These seeds should be used as a snack. They are high in protein, calcium and vitamin A. They provide nutrients for building the whole body and are good for dry skin.
All of these nuts and seeds should be eaten raw. Heating and other processing will kill the life force of the nut or seed and also reduce the quantity of the vitamins and minerals.
Eat these nuts and seeds as snacks. Sesame seeds, sunflower, and flax seeds can be put directly into your blender as you make your smoothies.

About The Author
Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. He writes a newsletter call “natural-remedies-thatwork.com.” More acne hints and information on his acne e-book can be found at: http://www.acne-remedies.for--you.info

Four Changes You Need to be Aware of in the New Food Pyramid

by: Constance Weygandt
It has been twelve years since the United States Department of Agriculture has updated the Food Pyramid. Most of us are familiar with the old one. That pyramid emphasized foods you should eat more of on the bottom of the pyramid with foods to be eaten in smaller amounts on the top. The New Food Pyramid is an inverse pyramid. The food groups are color coded, with the size of the sections emphasizing the proportions of foods eaten in each group. You will also notice a figure, climbing some steps, on the side of the pyramid which symbolizes exercise as a part of the total plan.
The following are four important changes in the New Food Pyramid:
1 Have at least three ounces of your grains be whole grains. On a 2,000 calorie meal plan that would amount to one half of the grains allotted. Some examples of whole grains are millet, wheat , rye, whole wheat pasta and brown rice. Be careful in reading the labels on bread. If the loaf of bread is truly whole wheat the first ingredient on the label should be whole wheat flour.
2 There is an emphasis on nonfat and low fat in the milk and dairy group. On a 2,000 calorie meal plan, three cups of dairy is recommended. Dairy foods that are not sources of calcium are not included in this group. Some examples of these would be cream cheese, cream and butter. One cup of yogurt equals one cup of milk. One and one half ounces of cheese equals one cup of milk.
3 There is an emphasis on lean meats and less meat in the meat group. A 2,000 calorie plan allotment is five and one half ounces of meat. This would be one quarter pound lean hamburger and one ounce of lean meat on a sandwich for the day. The old Food Pyramid allowed two to three servings in this group.
4 There is an emphasis on exercise being needed when following the new plan. The new plan suggests being physically active for at least thirty minutes, on most days of the week. Sixty minutes of exercise is suggested to prevent weight gain and sixty to ninety minutes to lose weight.
While I feel that these changes are an improvement over the old Food Pyramid, I have some concerns. If you visit www.mypyramid.gov, you can input your age, gender and physical activity level and receive a personal plan. I did this. I found the caloric intake to be a little high. A very loose rule of thumb for maintaining a certain weight is to take the amount of weight that you want to maintain and multiply it by ten. A one hundred and thirty pound maintenance is about thirteen hundred calories a day. This does not take in activity level, however. If you are more active you can add a few more calories and if you are very active you may be able to increase your caloric intake to eighteen hundred calories.
The caloric amount suggested in the individual plans, in the New Food Pyramid, would be appropriate for growing children, teenagers, or persons with high activity levels. So use the New Food Pyramid only as a guide. While it would be optimum if we could all exercise for sixty to ninety minutes a day, it is not practical to expect that everyone will. With thirty minutes of activity a day, you need to modify your caloric intake and if necessary take a vitamin supplement that contains the minimum requirements.

About The Author
Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on nutrition and wellness, visit her site at http://www.balancedwellnessonline.com.