Healthy foods on a budget.

Eating healthily doesn't needed to cost you an arm and a leg, and can be done on a modest budget and as such may be more affordable than you think. With this in mind I came across this read at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8828443) that I thought would be of interest to all those claiming that healthy eating comes at a healthy price - well read here for more insight. Written by Blake Bowie (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Bowie) this short article may help dispel some myths about the subject.


If you are on a tight budget, finding healthy foods at the grocery store may seem like a challenge, but there are healthy and economical choices in every aisle of the store. As tempting as all that junk food out there may sound, it really can be cheaper to eat food prepared at home. And with a little imagination and experimenting with herbs and spices in the kitchen, it will taste better as well.

The first key to healthier eating is to have more healthy foods available to eat at home. So stop going to the drive-through and don't buy any more pre-packaged, over processed foods that you probably have in your kitchen now. Get yourself organised by creating a meal plan and a grocery list for the foods you need to prepare those meals. The next step is to go to your local grocery store and start buying whole foods that you can prepare at home with whatever kitchen resources you have there.

Increasing your consumption of whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, will actually make your food selections in general much simpler. If the foods you are choosing contain more than 5 ingredients and include a lot of unfamiliar, unpronounceable items, you may want to reconsider buying them. Counting calories, carbs, or fat grams won't be as necessary when you select foods that are more a product of nature than a product of industry. Finding healthy foods to eat at the grocery store is pretty simple. They are found in the "fresh food" sections like the produce and refrigerated meat and fish departments. The frozen and dry aisles also contain good healthy foods, although there are many unhealthy distractions there as well.

Healthy foods you should have available at home to cook with include whole foods (food in its most natural state), fruits and vegetables, dairy products (low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs), seafood, lean cuts of pork, beef and chicken, naturally sweetened whole juices and lots of water.

The kind of foods to avoid include refined grains (white flour or white rice), refined white sugar, any form of corn syrup and anything out of a box that contains more than 5 ingredients.

Making the switch to eating healthy food does require a change in mindset, along with some imagination and preparation. It will help to make a weekly meal plan, and from that a good, organised grocery list to take to the store with you. This will help keep you focused and cut down on the number of trips you make to the grocery store.

-WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Eat your way to slim, trim & healthy.

Already we are about six weeks in to 2015 and for some you may be well on the road to your new years fitness & health resolution, and others may have ditched it already! I came across this article that of course is very relevant if you did start 2015 off with every good intention, or not, but want to know more anyway about slimming down, weight loss and how you can help accomplish this through improved eating habits. Found at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8864831) and written by Chritsine M. Esters (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_M_Esters) this is worth a quick read to ensure you are on track, or to get you back on it before the year runs away entirely.


This is the time of year where New Year's resolutions are on the tip of everyone's tongue. Of course, it is no secret that the number one New Year's resolution is to lose weight. Whether it is to drop 10 pounds, 20 pounds or 30 pounds, everyone seems to be upgrading their gym memberships, and ridding their kitchen of all their junk food. But, the truth is, no matter how much dieting and exercise you do, you still have to eat and stay healthy. So, how do you stick to your New Year's goals when your stomach is rumbling? Let me share a few tips with you that will leave your stomach full and your waist slim.

Detox - First things first, if you want to slim your middle, you need to cleanse and detox. Throughout 2014, and especially during the holidays, you probably accumulated a lot of toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals in your body that caused it to go out of whack. If you were feeling sluggish, tired, irritable or just not yourself, most likely your body was filled with toxins. So you want to cleanse your body and get rid of all those little culprits that cause you to have poor health and extra fat that you don't need.

Eat Healthier - I know this rule is simple. However, it can be hard to follow. If you are a busy gal on the go, it's very easy to grab that bag of potato chips and soda instead of reaching for celery and hummus. If you didn't raid your kitchen and rid it of all the junk food, now is the time to do so. You can replace your junk food with organic fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.

Skip Deprivation - I know it may seem counter intuitive to tell you to eat a big chunk of chocolate cake, especially since it has a load of calories in sugar, but, the truth is, you can still enjoy all your favourite foods and treats without worry. The key word here is moderation. If you want a piece of chocolate cake, by all means have a bite or two without worry or guilt. However, you should worry if you eat the whole cake by yourself. Here's a quick tip. If you really want the chocolate cake or any other sweet treat, invite a couple of your friends over and split the cake amongst you all.

Chew your food slowly - It's no secret that many people are fast eaters. And for good reason, food is so tasty! However, eating fast can wreak havoc on your digestive system as well as cause you to over eat. On average, it should take you at least 30 - 35 seconds to chew one bite of food. Your stomach needs time to send messages to your brain to let it know that you are full. However, when you chew your food quickly, you don't have time to let your stomach digest the food properly. Not to mention, you won't enjoy every morsel that enters your mouth. If you take an extra 5 - 10 minutes at the dinner table to chew your food, you will feel fuller and eat less. This can ensure you stay slim and healthy in the New Year. Try using chopsticks.

Eat Often - I know there are a lot of critics out there saying you should only eat once or twice a day if you are trying to lose weight, but, the truth is, if you are trying to lose weight, you need energy and food is energy. Think about a car, if a car doesn't have fuel, it simply won't go. If it's low on gas, it won't function properly. Your body acts the same way when you don't give it the food and energy it needs to perform at optimal health. Now, when I say eat often, I don't mean have a big feast every time you sit down to eat. You can eat about every 2 - 3 hours to boost your metabolism and give you energy. Throughout the day, you can feast on nutritious snacks like cashew nuts, Greek yogurt, and fresh vegetables and fruit. Then have a nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you take the pressure off of losing weight, and focus on being healthy and happy, your waist will slim down in no time. However, follow these fun and simple health tips to stay healthy and slim in 2015 and beyond.

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Zero calorie foods!

Some foods burn up more of your energy and your calories than are derived from them, and for this reason these are a great food source to add to your healthy diet conscious recipes to ensure you get the best balance from your new found eating habits. This quick read article from Anita Marie (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Marie) sourced through ezinearticles (http://EzineArticles.com/6296183) will provide some clarity, and what these zero calorie or low calorie foods are that can be very easily combined into your new meal plan.


What is a negative calorie food you say? You see there is no such thing as a negative calorie.

Let me explain - a calorie is a unit of heat and it cannot be negative. So when people talk about negative calorie foods. They are talking about foods whose calorie level is so low that it takes more energy to eat and digest it.

Take cold water for instance, it contains no calories at all, but the body has to expend energy to bring it up to blood temperature. Therefore, every time you drink a glass of cold water. You burn a few calories and lose a little weight. There are very few foods like this.

Below are a list of some negative calorie foods to help in your weight loss efforts. A lot of the foods on the list below do not really use more calories than they add, if they do it is minimum. Our body is always expending energy just to keep us alive and breathing. You are always burning calories.

It is not healthy to use these foods as a long term solution to your weight loss program. Why? because eating them in abundance could cause serious damage to your body. They could however be used as a healthy detox or fasting plan for one to three days. Provided you are in a healthy state it can be a great way to clean out your system. You should always get medical advice before doing so.

For example, the acid in grape fruit and pineapple can damage your stomach lining. Some of these foods can put excessive burden on the liver and cause diarrhoea. They should be incorporated into your diet with other proteins, starches, and vegetables. To create a healthy natural diet.

Here is your list of foods that can be incorporated in your daily meals: Apples | Asparagus | Beets - better when grated | Blueberries | Broccoli | Cantaloupes | Carrot - better when grated | Cauliflower | Celery stalk | Celery root | Cranberries | Cucumbers | Eggplant | Endives | Garden cress | Garlic | Grapefruit | Green beans | Green cabbage | Lamb's lettuce | Lemons | Lettuce | Onions | Papayas | Pineapples | Prunes | Radishes | Raspberries | Spinach | Strawberries | Tangerines | Tomatoes | Turnips | Zucchini, and more!

Please use this list of negative calorie foods wisely. I can't stress this enough. Do not over eat one food, chew your food slowly for more satisfaction. You will also lose more calories that way - especially, if you eat some of them in their raw state. Use them in salads, soups, smoothies, and hearty side dishes. The possibilities are endless. Have fun! Good luck!

WhyWeight - don't hesitate, participate, before it's too late!

-Steve, at WhyWeight-