Eating For Health

Are you setting some health goals for 2020?   Every year people have good intentions and make some New Year’s resolutions.   And then people keep those resolutions for about a month and then backslide.   Actually, many people don’t even last a month.   Statistics show about 75% of us last only about a week , while   less than half of us last 6 months   .   Setting health goals for the new year is a good idea.   But how can you set some health goals you are more likely to keep?   In the nutrition class I teach, we talk about setting SMART goals.   SMART is an acronym for setting goals that is often attributed to Peter Drucker in Management by Objectives .   Although used in business, one can also set SMART goals for their health.   What are SMART goals and how can you set some health goals for 2020 that you may actually keep longer than a week or a few months? When setting health goals for 2020, focus on goals that are v...

Feeling a little overwhelmed after all the holiday hustle and bustle?   Well, there are some foods that can help you de-stress.   WebMD has a great article on Foods That Help Tame Stress .   Are there really foods you can eat to help calm those stressed out nerves?   Yes, there are and here are some suggestions.      Comfort foods – no, not the whole gallon of ice cream.   But try a bowl of oatmeal topped with some fresh fruit.   For an extra treat, sprinkle on some brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped walnuts.   How can a bowl of oatmeal help you de-stress?   Believe it or not, oatmeal can raise your serotonin levels – the chemical that helps calm your brain cells.   Oatmeal is also super healthy, full of vitamins and minerals and a good source of heart-healthy fiber. Enjoy some carbs for comfort – no, not the high sugar carbs that we all have been enjoying, but whole grain, complex carbs.   Choose some whole grai...

So much good food over the holidays.   Everywhere you go there are holiday parties with so much delicious food, chocolates, Christmas cookies, and everyone seems to be bringing in homemade goodies to share.   Who doesn’t want to enjoy all that good eating?   Well, enjoy and enjoy every bite.   As Joyce Meyers says, “Eat the cookie..”   On the last day of the nutrition class I teach, I had M&Ms in a glass on my desk as we were talking about the food coloring in food.   At the end of the class, one student asked for the M&M’s.   I gave them to her and another student stated, “You know, those M&M’s have added sugar.”   The student carrying out the M&Ms said, “Yes, but I went to the gym today and I can afford some discretionary calories.”   So true, we can enjoy some “discretionary calories” every day.   What do nutritionists recommend so that you can enjoy the holiday treats but still eat healthy and not overdo eating ...