Posted by Michelle Hering on Wed, Jul 15, 2009
My six-month-old son Reid is cutting teeth, which is not just a pain for him, but for me, too. Now, he wants to be held more than before and is always gnawing on my finger, which makes it hard for me to do anything that requires two hands. All of the sudden, my busy life has gotten even busier.
Fortunately, the tools on TheBestLife.com have come in very handy. For instance, when I go out to eat, I can avoid looking at menus because of all the great dine-out tips I've read in articles in the Best Life library. While everyone else is flipping through the menu, I know to look for grilled dishes, like chicken or fish, and to avoid things that say crunchy or crispy (code for fried). This helps make the decisions easier, which allows me to concentrate on keeping the baby happy. And in certain places, I don't even have to look at the menu—there are a number of online articles that provide the best picks at various eateries and cuisines. For example, if I'm out at an Italian restaurant, I know that I can easily cut calories by ordering an entree without mozarella and instead, topping it with a sprinkle of the more strongly flavored Parmesan.
And of course, food shopping is also a lot easier thanks to the Best Life seal and treat seal, which are given to food products that contain good-for-you ingredients like healthy fats, fiber and vitamins, and contain limited amounts of sodium, saturated fats and other harmful ingredients. If I see either of these lables on a product, I know that I don't have to read the label—I can toss it in my cart and feel comfortable knowing I've chosen a healthy product for me and my family.
These things save me only a few extra minutes when I'm out shopping or eating at a restaurant, but when you have a fussy baby, every minute counts!
Posted by Willow Jarosh on Wed, May 27, 2009
I got made fun of by my friends last weekend—all because of, believe it or not, snacks. It all started when I decided to meet a group of friends out for a drink and/or dinner after work. While moderate drinking can definitely fit into a healthy diet, I know that I'm more likely to go for a second drink or make a not-so-healthy food choice if I start out on an empty stomach. I also know that happy hour can easily turn into dinner and that it can take a long time for everyone to decide on a restaurant—and that usually means arriving at dinner ready to eat the first thing I see. And to top it al off, I wasn't even sure if I'd be having just a drink or dinner.
For all of these reasons, I decided to stash a small bag of trail mix in my purse. Sure enough, happy hour ensued and dinner was in the distant future. So, I took out my trail mix, only to face some gentle mocking from my friends. After all, who would bring a snack to a bar?
The answer to that is that I would—and I was quite glad that I had. In fact, after all the jokes were made, most of my friends actually dug in and had some trail mix, too. The lesson here is that your friends and family aren't always going to agree with what you do, and that's OK. Living your Best Life isn't about convincing everyone in your life to think like you do and adopt the same habits. Instead, it's about living as healthfully as you can and encouraging those around you to do the same. You can set a positive example for them by eating well, trying new foods, taking care of yourself, and yes, even bringing a healthy snack out to the bar. Chances are, your positive habits will catch on!
Posted by Janis Jibrin on Fri, May 01, 2009
Salads are my mainstay in the spring and summer—some greens, precooked chicken strips, dressing—I never have toturn on the stove. In the cooler months, my salads are a little moreinteresting. I'll poach or grill fish and lay it over a bed of tossedgreens. I'll add oranges or grapefruit—both winter fruits. Happy towarm up the kitchen, I'll boil beets and stir-fry the beet greens andstick those in a salad, too.
When you're trying to make a mealout of a salad, toss carefully:
A salad can either be a diet boon or bust. They're a boonif you keep your calories to about 400 to 500, and include a mix ofvegetables, lean protein and healthy fat. With a salad like this, you canwalk away from your meal feeling pleasantly full for relatively fewcalories.
On the other hand, your bowl can become a big bustif you load it up with fatty toppings like bacon bits, cheese and extrafull-fat dressing. Your so-called "healthy" meal could end up costingyou more calories and fat than a burger, fries and shake would have!
So what does a healthy salad look like? Stick with these guidelines andyou'll be able to enjoy a satisfying, low-calorie meal whether you'reeating at home or your favorite restaurant. Feel free to be creativeand add your favorite ingredients, and soon you'll be craving saladsall the time.
Start with a generous bed of plain vegetables.Think beyond the standard salad fixings. Try roasted red peppers, sweetstand-ins for tomatoes; canned artichoke hearts, which will give yoursalad texture and provide extra fiber; and hearts of palm, a rich andextravagant add for a mere 20 calories and less than half gram fat per½ cup.
Use a little fat.Stir in one high-fat addition, such as 2 tablespoons of shreddedcheese, 1 tablespoon of nuts, or ¼ cup sliced avocado. Keep your saladslim by choosing only one.
Pump up protein.Make your greens more filling by including a serving of protein in yourbowl. Smart picks include tofu, steamed shrimp, grilled skinlesschicken or lean beef. Eating out? Avoid "crispy" chicken; that's codefor fried.
Dress your greens. Use 80 to 100calories worth of full-fat dressing (that's 1½ tablespoons—about athird of what's usually served in most restaurants). Make your dressingwith olive oil, which is high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, orcanola or walnut oils, which are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats. Ifyou like a more heavily dressed salad, then opt for reduced-fatdressings. They're better than fat-free options because you need alittle fat to help your body absorb some nutrients in vegetables.
Choose a complex carb.Enjoy a medium whole-wheat roll on the side. Or, you can add somegrains right to your salad. Sprinkle on ½ cup of whole-wheat croutons,diced potatoes or corn. Then get ready to dig in.
For more healthy-eating and weight-loss advice, join TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Janis Jibrin on Fri, Apr 17, 2009
Your daughter calls to let you know she won't be home for dinner. Your husband has been getting home late, and your son likes to eat early. Sound familiar? While life may make it nearly impossible to sit down to a nice family dinner every night, it's worth trying to get the gang together for a meal as often as possible. Research shows the old-fashioned tradition is good for your family's health.
The more dinners eaten at home, the healthier the family—it's a simple fact proven over and over again. In fact, one study from Harvard University in Boston found that children who ate at home most often consumed about 50 percent more fruit and vegetables, and less fried food and soda than those who ate at home less frequently. As a result, they had a lower intake of saturated and trans fats, and a higher intake of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Although more than half of the 9-year-olds surveyed ate family dinner daily, the rate dipped to only about a third for 14-year-olds.
Not surprisingly, it's a lack of time—for both parents and young adults—that seems to keep us out of the kitchen. In fact, a survey from the University of Minnesota found that men and women ages 18 to 23 complain they don't have the time or the cooking skills to prepare meals at home. That's not only bad for your wallet (takeout and restaurant meals are often more expensive than home-cooked), it's also bad for your health: Just like children who eat at home, young adults who eat in at least once a week took in substantially less fat and saturated fat, and consumed more fruit and vegetables and fiber than those who said they cooked just one to five times a year.
More fiber and less fat aren’t the only benefits. Home-cooked meals can also boost brain power. Children who frequently eat dinner with their parents get more A's and B's in school than children who have just two or three family dinners weekly, according to research from Columbia University in New York. This together-time can also keep your kids out of trouble: Some research indicates that teens who eat family meals are less likely to smoke, feel depressed or abuse alcohol and drugs.
Ready for the best part? You don't have to be Julia Child to pull off a family dinner. Try these easy tricks, and you'll have a delicious meal on the table in no time.
1. Rely on prepared foods. Pick up a rotisserie chicken, a bag of salad greens and some whole-wheat rolls. You now have all the fixings for healthy dinner.
2. Graduate to simple recipes. Once you feel a little more comfortable in the kitchen, test yourself out on some easy recipes. (TheBestLife.com has a great recipe database with hundreds of easy-to-made dishes.)
3. Enlist help. Have your children run the greens through the salad spinner and/or set the table. This will help you get things done, and get them used to working with food and being in the kitchen.
4. Turn off the TV. It's not only the food, but the conversation and bonding that make family dinners so important. So turn off the tube, sit back and enjoy the great company and tasty meal!
Posted by Sidra Forman on Thu, Apr 09, 2009
We all know why experts recommend cooking at home instead of heading out for a meal—home-cooked dishes are usually healthier and more diet-friendly. Plus, they're a lot less expensive, too. But if you're a cooking-phobe, you probably find that you just don't have the ingredients you need to whip up a tasty meal. And while many people say they don't like cooking, even more say they can't stand grocery shopping.
Of course, food shopping doesn't have to be frightening or stressful. Try these tips to breeze through your next shopping trip:
Go to the same store. The first time you walk into a grocery store, it takes forever to find anything. But after a few visits, you'll start to know your way around. And before long, finding what you need will be a cinch. Try to find one store you like (one that's closest to your house, is newer, has the best produce selection), and stick with it.
Shop during off-hours. Nothing is worse than standing in line or fighting through a crowd of carts after a long day at work. Try going after dinner on a week night or early on a weekend morning when it's not as busy.
Do delivery. Many stores provide grocery delivery for a nominal fee.
Find a farmers market. Heading outdoors to do your produce shopping can be a welcome change from the fluorescent lights and overcrowded aisles of your supermarket. To find one near you, check out Local Harvest.
For more great healthy eating advice, check out TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Bob Greene on Fri, Mar 27, 2009
Happy hour, birthday dinners, business lunches—it always seems like
there's some occasion that needs celebrating. But for most dieters,
these events can be anything but happy: Instead of enjoying yourself or
catching up with friends, you're stressing over what to order, counting
calories and wondering how you'll refuse dessert. You're afraid that
all your hard work thus far will be undone by one irresistible Death by
Chocolate.
Relax! You can eat out without blowing your diet.
The secret is to know how and what to order. And with more and more
places offering low-fat options or smaller portions, it's easier than
ever. Use the tricks below, and your next happy hour with friends will
be just that—happy.
Choose the place. Pick a
restaurant you're familiar with, one that serves a lot of
nutritious, tasty food. If someone has already made reservations, go
online ahead of time to check out the menu (most restaurants post menus
on their websites) so you can avoid the pressure of trying to find a
diet-friendly dish on the fly.
Eat ahead of time.
Have a small snack, like a piece of fruit and part-skim string cheese,
before you leave. It's hard to order healthfully when your stomach is
growling.
Master the menu. Certain words can tip you
off to the nutritional value of a meal. For instance, baked or broiled
is healthy; fried, creamy or crispy isn't. And don't be afraid to ask
for something that's not on the menu or to make a special request, like
having your meal prepared with little or no oil.
Bypass the bread basket.
Try to steer clear of the bread basket if possible—that's no easy task,
I know. To make it a little easier, ask the waiter to bring it out with
the main course so you're not tempted to nibble while you wait. Or,
order water and sip it until your meal comes. If you must have a piece,
go for one small roll or a single slice of bread.
Start with a salad.
You'll eat less of your main course if you have a salad first. Opt for
a bowl of plain greens (Caesar or Cobb salads do not count!), and
remember to use a low-fat dressing.
Take two. An easy
way to keep your calories in check is to limit yourself to only two
courses. For example, if you want an appetizer and an entrée, skip
dessert. Or, order an entrée and dessert, and pass on appetizers.
(Green salads are exempt from this rule as long as they're not loaded
with fatty extras; see tip above.) And feel free to split dishes with
your dining companions. Portions are usually large enough to serve
several people. You're just a few smart moves away from a happy and
healthy restaurant meal.
For more great weight-loss advice, join TheBestLife.com.