September 25, 2008
Posted by admin on Food And Recipes

Try And Follow The Food Pyramid

This article about food pyramid are looking to provide you with the proper education regarding the subject matter at hand, no matter what your previous experience on the topic are.

Many of us have our plates full, so to speak, with a merry-go-round of tasks and activities that keep us on the run. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that a proper diet is necessary to keep us going. Each family member may have a different schedule and gathering everyone around the dinner table may seem next to impossible. Does this sound like your family? Do you fret over your teen grabbing a frozen snack and calling it dinner?

The new food pyramid provides a handy way to make sure your family gets the nutrition they need, no matter the pace of life. Let’s take a look at how easy it can be to ensure good nutrition.

The food pyramid is divided into five major categories: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats. We’ll offer suggestions on working these essentials into the daily fare with nary a complaint.

Grains encompass many of the staples we all have on hand in our cupboards. Food pyramid guidelines recommend the inclusion of whole grains, such as whole wheat, rolled oats and brown or wild rice. Try whole wheat pita bread for the lunch box sandwich. A baggie loaded with whole-wheat crackers in a mix of nuts and raisins makes a delicious and nutritious snack. Use rolled oats for a batch of oatmeal cookies.

Fruits provide essential vitamins as well as dietary fiber. Fresh fruits that are in season are at the peak of flavor and are less expensive than out of season choices. Pop a fresh peach in the lunch bag. Make your own granola mix with a liberal sprinkling of dried fruits. Fruit and yogurt make a tasty dessert or breakfast smoothie. Homemade fruit pie is always welcome.

Vegetables hold a prominent spot on the food pyramid and are easy to make into subtle dietary stars. As possible, choose fresh vegetables in season. Put them in pilafs, dinner salads, omelettes or casseroles. A plate of whole grain crackers, celery, carrots and cheese cubes with dip on the side makes a triple hitter for the food pyramid priorities.

Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. Cheese, yogurt, calcium-fortified juices and soy beverages offer good alternatives for the lactose intolerant. A sprinkling of shredded cheese adds a dose of calcium to a dinner salad or layered into a sandwich. Encourage the kids to reach for a glass of milk or soy beverage instead of a soda.

Meats are best for your health when they are lean. Chicken breasts, fish and pork chops rate high on the food pyramid, as good sources of protein, while being low on fat. Vegans can keep their protein intake up with tofu, veggie-burgers, beans and nuts standing in for meats.

Use these tips to get nutrition on your family’s meal agenda. A quick glance at the food pyramid components can inspire healthy menus and snack items to keep you on track with good eating habits. Bon Appetit!

To learn more about food pyramid, ask your family for for help on the topic, or search the world wide web to get the information you are looking for.

Tags: chicken breasts, dried fruits, fresh fruit, fresh fruits, fruit pie, fruits vegetables, liberal sprinkling, new food pyramid, nutritious snack, proper diet, wheat crackers

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July 13, 2008
Posted by admin on Food And Recipes

Tasty Fruit And Vegetable

Everyone has different things that they enjoy doing. My husband and I enjoy fishing. He is also an avid hunter. This means that we often have a variety of meats and fish in the freezer. We also like to entertain so we throw wild game feeds twice a year for friends and family. Many of my husband’s friends are also hunters so they like to give us different cuts of meat to prepare for the feeds. Coming up with side dishes that are unique is sometimes a challenge.

Some of the people we have for the game feeds are not very adventuresome when it comes to trying the different game dishes that we prepare. They will usually eat fish so we always have fish prepared a few different ways. I try to find a fruit and vegetable that compliments the geographical area where the meat and fish come from. My husband travels all over on his hunting trips so I ask him to check what the local fruit and vegetable specialties are in the various areas. He goes to Idaho for elk hunting so I serve Idaho potatoes as a side dish with the elk roast. We have picked wild blueberries when we have gone into Canada fishing. I usually incorporate them into a dessert. Other fruit and vegetable side dishes we have tried include; strawberries, cranberries, rhubarb, squash and tomatoes. I always make a huge tossed salad with fresh fruit and vegetable combinations and different dressings served on the side. Most people like salad so they will not go hungry if they are unwilling to try out some of the different game dishes.

Breads are another filler that most people like. I have found some interesting European bread recipes that are quite easy to make. The smell of fresh baked bread is always welcoming and puts people in the mood to eat. My husband also checks out local wineries when he is hunting. It is fun to have different wines from various regions of the country. We try to have both white and red wines.

Most people like to bring something when they come for the game feed. The first year if anyone asked what they could bring I told them they could bring something for dessert. This has now turned into a tradition of the guests bring a variety of desserts. This is my favorite part of the game feed. We eat the wild game all the time, but having several desserts to choose from is a real treat. I try to limit my self to eating from the fruit and vegetable selection and the dessert bar.

Tags: bread recipes, cuts of meat, european bread, fresh fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable, meat and fish, recipes, side dishes, vegetable side dishes, wine, wineries

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