We are continuously focused on healthy eating and nutrition at The Dinner Daily. We came across this article recently that we thought was very compelling about the power of food and good nutrition. The title of the article was “What to Eat to Live Longer” from Fitness Magazine. Some of the research comes from studying cultures around the world where the rate of disease is lower than in the US and life spans are longer. A good thing to study!
Some of the factors cited most likely will not surprise you but others we thought were worth thinking about. The good news? Most of them are surprisingly easy and affordable. We especially liked Tip #9 : “Cook your meals at home!” Goes without saying we are a big fan of that one!
A link to the original article, with the reasons behind each of the items below, is provided at the end of the post:
Ten Tips to A Healthier You!
1. Eat Watermelon
So easy to do! I buy this almost every week in the groceries (year round) and often will cut it up and put it out for the kids right before dinner. Its great in lunch boxes too and gives them a hydration boost!
2. Eat Asparagus
We were happy to see this one. We try to use asparagus often in our meal plans. Its a great veggie to get your kids used to eating at a young age. One of our favorite ways to eat it: roast it in the oven at 400 with some olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, cook for 10 mins, and sprinkle with some feta. Delicious!
3. Drink red wine
Not much to say about this one except “Cheers!” (I should point out it does say only one glass!)
4. Eat Some Vegetarian Meals each week
We have all seen this one before but it is possible to find good, hearty dinners that will appeal to the most devoted meat lover. We try to include one vegetarian meal each week on our menu plans and we have found through our testing that many dinners that may not sound great on paper are happily consumed at the dinner table, meat lovers and all.
5. Watch your Weight
No surprise here…staying at a healthy consistent weight is good for you!
6. Be aware of the diets of people who live the longest
I have always found it fascinating to study the eating habits of cultures that boast the longest life spans in the world. The article mentions Okinawa as one such place. Tofu and Sweet Potatoes are staples. Okay I know many of you might be saying I won’t eat tofu (we actually are working on testing some recipes with it right now) but the humble sweet potato is easy enough to include. One of our favorite ways to eat it: steam it with baby carrots, parsnips (or turnips) until its soft, mash them all together, and serve it with a bit of low fat sour cream or butter (just a bit!). Its is hearty and a perfect side dish for this time of year.
7.Make your rice brown
Again, no big surprise. Brown rice surpasses the white variety on so many nutritional levels there just is no good reason to use white.
8. Eat mushrooms
We loved this one! Mushrooms are one of those foods that many people have strong reactions too. We get it…not everyone loves them. But, its worth trying them every once in awhile in a new recipe and most importantly, get your kids to try them! Kids sometimes need to try a food numerous times before their taste buds will accept them and if you read about all the health properties of mushrooms, you might be inspired to try them again. They are so easy to add to your diet as well: chop them up for salads, throw them in your Slow Cooker (they go with almost anything!), roast them in the oven with other seasonal veggies, saute them with onions and garlic to serve alongside your main dish. My kids eat mushrooms probably three to four times a week, and I would say in many cases, they do not even know!
The article also mentions you do not have to buy the more expensive variety to get the most benefit either..the basic brown or white variety delivers a big nutritional punch.
9. Cook your meals at home!
Okay need we say more? We totally believe in this one. Not only is eating at home good for your health and controlling what you eat, but its amazingly good for your budget!
10. Stay away from Fad Diets
Fad diets are just that… a fad. We’ve all fallen for them, and we’ve all been disappointed by them. They are never good for long term health and usually involve banning entire healthy food groups from your diet. Rather than investing time and energy on a new fad diet, try just cutting out the processed junk in your diet, up your intake of fruit and veggies, try some new and exciting recipes that use whole food…it will surely make you feel better and is much more sustainable than the newest diet craze.
Hope you enjoyed this article! Here’s to your health!
Source: Fitness Magazine. Here is the link to the original article
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/what-to-eat-to-live-longer/?page=1
