5 Tips for Healthful Eating

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This past week, students attending our Nutrition Connect program were asked, “What prevents you from eating a healthy diet?” The general trend was that “time restraints” got in their way of making smart food decisions. I can definitely relate. In fact, before the presentation that night, time was lagging, and that’s when I managed to shovel down… let’s just say way too much food… without even realizing it. And to make matters worse, it wasn’t the healthy stuff (loaded with stars, that is) I quickly packed away either. Instead, it was the fast and convenient foods (with absolutely no stars) that left me feeling sluggish and quite disappointed in myself. Here I was about to give a presentation on healthy eating, and yet I too had fallen into the “time restraint” trap.

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Trick or Treat?

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The long standing tradition on Halloween is for children to roam the neighborhood dressed up in spooky garb asking neighbors for treats, namely candy. If a treat was not forthcoming, then the children could play a “trick” on that neighbor. With all we know about the negative impact on our health from too much sugar consumption, especially for children, who is really getting tricked in this situation?

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Tip Swap (Share Great Ideas!)

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For those of you who aren’t aware, September 10 was National Swap Ideas Day. While no Congressional decree establishes it, no founder is identified and no presidential proclamation supports its very existence, come on: it’s a darn good idea. So in the spirit of “two heads are better than one,” I’d like to share a couple of handy ideas I’ve come up with over the years to simplify my life in the kitchen–both professionally and in my personal life. At the bottom, you can learn how to share your ideas as well. We can get a conversation going about how problem-solving common household nuisances can leave us more time and energy to do the more enjoyable things in life.

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Eating to Beat the Heat

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Summertime has finally arrived, even in North Dakota! With temperatures hitting the 90s, the last thing most of us want to feel is weighed down by the heat and our meal choices. We find that the traditional three-meal-a-day outlook no longer applies, as the last thing we are craving on a sweltering hot day is a heavy meal. Jaclyn and I have found that breaking up meal times to five smaller meals a day, rather than the heavier three, is not only a proven healthier choice, but more satisfying in the summer weather. Although, having five smaller meals seems a less daunting task when compared to cooking three larger meals, it is important to still incorporate the needed macro-nutrients in one’s diet. We’ve decided to take a typical day in our own lives to create a summer meal plan that you can incorporate in your own lifestyle.

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Another Health Lesson from Italy

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John’s recent post on his travels to Italy reminded me of a few things I noticed when I was over there. Italians are very different from Americans in some ways, and it’s definitely worth contrasting the two cultures when thinking about public health issues. If I had to guess why there is less obesity, I would agree with John’s points about fresh food and activity, and also add this: Italians have much lower stress than Americans.

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