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What’s In Season? Your Guide to Spring Produce

March 17, 2016 by

Spring is a bountiful time of the year when it comes to fresh produce, but it always helps to know exactly what’s in season. If you want to purchase only the freshest, most flavorful fruits and veggies and ensure that they last as long as possible in your fridge, use these helpful tips for understanding spring produce.

  1. Artichokes. Whether you use them on pizzas or add them to your salads, artichokes are a great way to add flavor and nutrients to your meals. Their main harvest takes place during the springtime, so look for artichokes with close, compact leaves and clean-cut stems.
  2. Asparagus. This popular veggie is found in a number of high-end restaurants, but you can easily prepare it at home if you purchase it fresh in the springtime. The thickness doesn’t necessarily indicate tenderness, so don’t overlook thinner or thicker spears at your grocery store.
  3. Carrots. While carrots are commonly found in grocery stores year-round, they taste best during the spring season. Only purchase bundles that are firm to the touch for maximum freshness.
  4. Leafy greens. Nutrient-rich veggies like chard, kale, and other cooking greens tend to turn bitter during hot summer months, so purchase them in the spring for the best taste.
  5. Fennel. If you’ve never cooked with fennel, experiment with this green (a relative of celery) when it comes into season during the warmer springtime.
  6. Grapefruit. Create a nutritious breakfast by adding grapefruit, which starts to become plump and juicy in January.

Spring Produce: Your Guide to Picking the Best [Greatist]
What’s in Season? Spring [Fruits and Veggies More Matters]
Fresh Spring Fruits and Vegetables [About Food]

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Three Iron-Rich Foods You Might Not Know About

April 16, 2015 by

Consuming the right amount of iron each day prevents anemia, a condition that can lead to fatigue. This essential mineral also helps cells transport oxygen throughout the body. Adding more iron to your diet isn’t difficult when you know which foods to look for; here are three of them:

  1. Beef liver. Meat eaters have some delicious options when it comes to eating iron, with beef liver containing 5.8 milligrams per serving. Beef liver also boasts the lowest fat count in comparison to other beef products.
  2. Clams. Enjoy a tasty seafood meal while also getting your daily value of iron. Twenty small clams contain 53 milligrams.
  3. Pumpkin seeds. A great source for iron, pumpkin seeds contain 4.2 milligrams per serving. Eat them as a healthy snack in between meals.

Best Foods For Iron: 20 Foods Packed With Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron Rich Foods [WedMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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Easy Ways to Incorporate More Iron Into Your Diet

August 21, 2014 by

While you may think that iron is only important to bodybuilders and Popeye, it’s actually a very beneficial mineral that all humans need to survive. In fact, if your body doesn’t get enough iron you could start to suffer from anemia, an iron-deficiency that causes fatigue, weakness, and brittle nails and hair. These healthful foods will help to provide you with the right amount of iron each day.

  1. Mollusks. Seafoods like clams, oysters, and mussels have some of the highest levels of iron of any food groups. Oysters contain the most, offering 53 milligrams of iron in just a 20-count serving. Because the average person’s recommended percent daily value is just 18 milligrams per day, this means that you can get 295% of your daily value from an weekly oyster night at your favorite seafood spot.
  2. Liver. While you may have hated liver and onions as a child, liver is actually filled with quite a few health benefits. Beef liver is very low in fat and calories, and it also provides an incredible 26 milligrams of iron in just one 4-ounce serving. If you don’t eat beef, you can also get similar amounts of iron from chicken, pork, lamb, or turkey liver.

Best Foods for Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron-Rich Foods [WebMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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Get Into a Fitness Routine With These Motivational Tips

April 17, 2014 by

You’re certainly not the first person to admit that sticking to a fitness routine is hard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. All it takes is time, patience, and a reliable fitness plan that works with your lifestyle. Here are some great tips that will help you to get in shape and feel better about your body.

1. Stop beating yourself up. Many people enter into a workout regime with a negative mindset because they feel bad about their bodies, but this isn’t a healthy way to begin. You need to think about the good things rather than focusing on the negatives.

2. Something is better than nothing. Don’t feel like your workout was a failure if you couldn’t complete it. We all have off days, and just getting onto the treadmill is a small victory in itself.

3. Make it a habit. Begin by telling yourself that you’ll work out every day for 30 days. While at first you may just be counting down until those 30 days are over, you’ll eventually become used to working out and it will become a part of your daily routine.

4. Make exercise possible. Sure, you could work out at 5 a.m. before work, but are you actually going to? Schedule your workouts at times that are accessible and easy to manage with the rest of your schedule.

How To Motivate Yourself Into an Exercise Routine [Lifehacker]
15 Tips to Restart the Exercise Habit [Lifehack]
7 Habits of Highly Effective Exercisers [Fitness]

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Eat Healthfully When Dining Out

March 6, 2014 by

You know the feeling: you go out to a restaurant, and you’re instantly overwhelmed by the amount of options on the menu. Your companions order a few appetizers for the table, and you might have a cocktail as well. You’re already a bit full when the meal arrives, but it’s so delicious that you can’t help but eat it anyway. Before you know it, you've eaten too much!

If you’re familiar with this situation, these helpful tips from the USDA can help you keep you on track:

  • Set the tone by taking control of your beverages. Choose water or unsweetened iced tea instead of sugary beverages.
  • Start your meal with a salad. This helps to avoid fried or fattening appetizers, gives you full serving of vegetables and keeps you from overdoing it once your meal comes.
  • Ask for dressings or sauces on the side so that you can control the amount you consume.
  • If portions are large, limit yourself by immediately putting half in a takeout box or sharing with a friend.
  • Avoid dishes with words like “fried” or “sautéed” in favor of things like “steamed” or “grilled”.
  • If you order a sandwich, ask for whole wheat bread instead of the usual white.

For more helpful tips for eating healthfully at restaurants, visit the USDA website.

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Find Your Body Mass Index with This Online Calculator

November 20, 2013 by

Body Mass Index is oftentimes much more helpful than your weight in determining your overall health. If you’re unsure of your BMI and want to assess your obesity-related health risk, this simple online calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s website will tell you your accurate BMI in just a few simple steps.

  • The BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight
  • By inputting your height and weight, the calculator can find your exact BMI and help you to determine if you need to gain or lose weight to reduce health risk
  • The BMI groups people into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity categories
  • Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce your health

Once you’ve found your BMI, this online guide can also recommend ways to control your weight, plan meals, and become more physically active. The online BMI calculator can provide great insight into your overall health, and it only takes a few seconds to use.

Body Mass Index Calculator [NIH]

Public Domain/Public Domain

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Five Ways to Introduce More Water into Your Diet

November 6, 2013 by

Drinking enough water is the key a healthy diet and can make a difference in your mood and appearance, as well. Try these five tips to make sure you are getting the hydration you need without having to drink gallons of H2O.

Eat cucumbers
Water-rich vegetables are a great way to ensure you are meeting your water intake goals, and cucumbers are among the most hydrating. Sprinkle them in your salad or nibble on a few slices in between meals for a quick, fresh snack.

Make it sparkle
Flat water can be tasteless and hard to drink without a little something to go with it. Pick up a bottle of sparkling water to give your mouth an added texture to offset the lack of flavor.

Fruit cubes
Instead of just regular ice cubes, add a little fruit juice to the ice tray to give your next glass of water a fruity flavor. The new tastes will have you drinking more than just one glass, a great way to get your daily fill.

Yogurt
Protein-rich and hydration-filled, yogurt is a double dose of diet essentials. Have a cup for breakfast or as a snack to make sure your hydration needs are being met.

Coconut Water
A recent trend, coconut water is everywhere these days. Pick up a bottle or two of this super hydrating juice that gives you all the benefits of a glass of water plus sweet, refreshing taste.

Skin Secrets: How to Add More Water to Your Diet [Yahoo Shine]
Benefits of Water: How to Incorporate More Water into Your Diet [P&G Everyday]
How-To Get More Water Into Your Diet [SkinnyMS]

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