Choosing Healthy Foods

The holiday season is right around the corner which means lots of celebrating with parties and gatherings accompanied by much to eat and drink, not all being "healthy." First up is Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks, centered around a huge feast. So how do we keep it happy and healthy without weight gain during this joyous season of eating? Here are a few tips on how to have your feast and eat it too without the weight gain. Think About Portion Control Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs when we look at the Thanksgiving spread in front of us. It is important to consume proper portion sizes of our favorite holiday foods versus stacking our plates high with everything. Keep these visual markers in mind as you fill your plate to make sure you’re not over consuming. 1 serving of turkey is 3 oz, about the same size as a deck of playing cards A serving of gravy is 1/4 of a cup, about the size of a golf ball A serving of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes is 1/2 cup, abo...

With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Patrick H. Norwood Caffeine is the single most widely used substance in the world over, regardless of age group or cultural background. It is known as a common stimulant. We find it in a variety of foods, including coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate. Given its popularity and social acceptance, many of us come to enjoy at least a modest serving in our daily lives; Americans consume an average of 300 mg per day -- the equivalent of about 2 medium cups of brewed coffee. What, if any, are the health implications of caffeine consumption? And what if, rather than 1 or 2, we drink 5 or 6 cups of coffee each day? Are there major concerns to be had? The short answer is "No." Having a few cups of coffee throughout the day yields nearly the average intake. However, with that said some people may experience a particular hypersensitivity to caffeine even at moderate levels, in which case they may do better by avoiding it. Others, however, m...

As we enter the colder months of fall and winter, squash of many different shapes, sizes and colors are appearing in grocery stores and farmers markets. These nutritious, delicious and colorful seasonal wonders are known as winter squash. Winter squash are low in calories and fat and contain no cholesterol while being loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber. Squash is also low in carbohydrates. Many of these varieties are loaded with vitamin A, which is essential for immune function, vision, cell growth and the maintenance of many of our bodies organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Seeds are edible as well providing protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber and taste great when roasted. Eating these foods seasonally also benefit our bodies as well as the environment. Because they are in season they have been picked at their peak and are fully ripe and loaded with nutrients. Vegetables that are not in season are picked earlier to ripen during its travel in...