Avoid Common Food Allergies By Checking the Label

If you suffer from food allergies, you know the importance of reading labels. Thankfully, over the past few years, food labels have made it a littler easier to spot common allergens, like milk, egg, nuts, wheat, soy, and peanuts. Follow these tips to avoid eating common food allergens:

  • Some allergens, like the ones we've listed above, are considered common food allergens. If you have a common food allergy, it has to be listed on the label at least once.
  • Keep a look out for items made from common allergens. The ingredient list could say milk, non-fat milk, whey, or casein. All those ingredients are derived from milk and could cause a reaction if you have a milk allergy.
  • The packaging could say "may contain." In that case, the food may have come in contact with a certain allergen but was not necessarily made with said allergen. Putting "may contain" on the label is voluntary, so it's still important to check the ingredient list.
  • Sometimes manufacturers change the ingredients used in a product. It's very important to actively check the packaging if your allergy is severe. 

· Have Food Allergies? Read the Label [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]

5 Ways to Cut 100 Calories

Deciding to go on a diet can be a big commitment. All of a sudden you have to exhibit self-control over all the temptations you encounter. Say goodbye to those office donuts. Instead of forcing yourself to change the way you eat, which can be nearly impossible, make small, healthier choices throughout the day, and watch the pounds melt away. You'd be surprised how just swapping one food for another can cut up to 100 calories without sacrificing taste.

Watch Your Beverages
Our drinks have a sneaky tendency to add hundreds of calories a day to our diet. That regular soda you drink with lunch and dinner adds up. Try cutting down your soda intake. Swap your soda with a glass of sparkling water. Instead of drinking a full glass of orange juice in the morning, cut it down to half a glass or switch your regular orange juice to one with half the sugar. Switch your milk from whole milk to 2% or skim, and use less cream and sugar in your coffee.

Drink Water
Speaking of water, drink more of it. If you take the time to drink a six to eight ounce glass of water before lunch and dinner, you'll find yourself eating less at meals. The water takes up space in your stomach, so you'll feel fuller longer, and you'll automatically reduce the amount you eat, and the calories you take in.

Control Your Condiments
Those dipping sauces and dressings can be adding a lot of unnecessary calories to your day. Instead of using ketchup or mayo switch to mustard, or go half and half. That way you'll still get the taste, but with less calories. Instead of pouring ranch all over your salad ask for dressing on the side, or go with a lighter option like oil and vinegar. Opt for hummus and salsa instead of heavy dips like spinach and artichoke.

Monitor Your Portions
We've all heard that the portion sizes in America have grown tremendously over the years. Well, it's true, and remember, you don't have to eat everything on your plate! Be more conscious of the amount of food you're eating, and try only eating half of your bagel in the morning. Cut your sandwich in half — eat the first half, and then check in with your body. Are you still starving? Probably not. Save the other half for your next meal. You'll save money and calories.

Don't Super Size
Fast food is convenient. When you're always on the go, it's hard to find the time to cook a meal. You don't have to eliminate the drive thru from your life just make better choices. Go for a regular cheeseburger instead of a quarter pounder. Better yet, choose a grilled chicken sandwich. Skip the large fountain soda for a small or a bottle of water. Just these small changes can have big results over time!

Make These Easy Pasta Salad Recipes Tonight!

If the words "pasta salad" conjure up images of mayonnaise and barbecues, you're not alone. But, there are actually a variety of ways to make delicious, savory pasta dishes that won't make you feel like you're picnicking. Below are five pasta salad ideas that break from tradition to provide outstanding flavor!

Caprese Salad
Draw inspiration from the Italian caprese salad, and season your pasta, such as hearty rigatoni, with fresh basil, good olive oil, vine-ripened tomatoes, and chunks of mozzarella. Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste, and you're all set!

Greek Pasta
Taking your cue from Greek Salad, add a mix of cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, tangy feta cheese, and robust olives to the pasta. Try using mostaccioli, the small, curved pasta named after the mustache, as the base of the salad so all the elements are comparable in size. Complete it a dressing of olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice.

Soba Noodles
Prepare a pasta salad an Asian cuisine feel by using soba noodles, which are made from earthy buckwheat flour. Season the noodles with soy sauce and sesame oil, and top it with slivers of carrots and diced scallions for a delicious, simple dish that offers take-notice flavors.

Mediterranean Side
For an alternative to pasta salad, make tabbouleh instead. This side makes use of kernels of bulgur wheat instead of pasta, and seasons them with a combo of finely-diced mint and parsley. It’s a wonderful option if you're tired of noodles!

Five of the Planet’s Healthiest Foods

As a New Year swings into motion, many people make resolutions to lead a healthier lifestyle. Whether or not you’ve put “better health” at the top of your resolutions list this year, you’ll benefit from adding some of these nutrient-dense superfoods into your diet:
 
Kale
Kale is a dark green leafy vegetable that is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with Vitamins K, C, and A, as well as many other health-enriching vitamins and minerals. It is noted as a particularly strong food source in the prevention of cancer, due to its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Kale is easy to grow, wash, and prepare, and can be used in a variety of dishes. 
 
Blueberries
Blueberries continually land on the top of healthy food lists, known for having one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, seasonings, and spices. Many studies have shown that their unique phytonutrient content has a positive effect on the human cardiovascular system. They can be delicious when eaten in pies and other cooked dishes but are particularly beneficial to one’s health when consumed raw.
 
Garlic
Garlic is an undeniably scrumptious and aromatic enhancement to countless dishes and it has the added benefit of being one of the healthiest foods you can consume. Studies have shown that garlic can lower blood triglycerides and total cholesterol while also protecting blood cells and vessels from inflammatory stress.  
 
Spelt
Spelt is a highly nutritious grain with a rich nutty flavor. Think of it as wheat’s much healthier cousin. In fact, it can often be used as a smart alternative for wheat in products such as pasta and bread. Packed with manganese, protein, copper, and zinc, spelt can help with lowering cholesterol, protecting against heart failure, contributing to cancer prevention, and even combatting childhood asthma, among a host of other notable health benefits.
 
Beets
Beets possess a unique phytonutrient content that makes them strong providers of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. Beets help protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and birth defects, and recent studies have shown that the lutein and zeaxanthin in beets make them particularly effective at maintaining eye health. Beets can make tasty and colorful additions to salads and main dishes.

Start Your Day Right: Healthy Breakfast Ideas

I'm sure you've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gets your metabolism going, and gets you going for the day. Unfortunately, though many Americans don't eat breakfast, or if they do, it's not a healthy, balanced mea. Instead of scarfing down a sugary donut or a fattening Egg McMuffin, start your day with a well-balanced meal.Try one of these healthy breakfasts, to enjoy an energized start to your day!

One traditional, healthy breakfast option is oatmeal. It’s packed with complex carbohydrates that break down slowly, giving you ample energy that will carry you easily until lunch. Top your bowl with nuts for protein, mix in a little milk for calcium, sprinkle with some berries to get extra antioxidants, and drizzle on some local honey for sweetness. And, voila, you have a well-balanced, nutritious meal!

Yogurt is also a fantastic breakfast staple. Not only is it high in protein and calcium, but the probiotic bacteria that live in yogurt can aid stomach function and digestion for the entire day. Sprinkle it with healthy granola and berries, and you’ll be satisfied, happy, and ready to go.

Scrambled tofu may seem a little foreign for some, but, believe it or not, in consistency it’s very close to scrambled eggs! Plus, it has far more protein and less fat. Mix-in veggies like tomatoes, onions, or spinach for taste, and top with a little cheese for a great morning scramble!

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