Healthy meals for busy people.

In today's world we are all very busy people - at work, at rest, at play, with our families and with friends . . . and in keeping fit, exercised and healthy. We are time poor and having the inclination to plan your diet out, watch what you eat (and drink!) can sometimes put the skids under your best laid plans to do the right by your weight loss goals. With this in mind, I came across this article on 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8866754) written by Morris Johnson (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morris_Johnson) that might provide the advice & guidance you need.



Many would agree that healthy meals for busy individuals appear difficult. While the majority of us know that consuming healthy is a must, many are not mindful as to how this can be attained. I understand it is easier said than done however the pointers mentioned below ought to help you eat healthy and still have time to beat those deadlines or make those sales.

1. Do not skip breakfast
Believe what your mama said. Breakfast is the most important dish of the day. If you are hurrying, a healthy option is the ever dependable instant oatmeal. You just put the sachet in the microwave for 90 seconds and you will certainly have a semi-heavy as well as fibre-rich breakfast. Other healthy breakfast options are yogurt, banana or apple. OK, you could do the popular Starbucks coffee breakfast, but ensure you get hold of some bread. Ideally, your breakfast should be heavy so as to sustain your hectic morning particularly if you are not preparing to have in between treats (and you wound up having a late lunch).

2. That elusive lunch
Ensure that your lunch includes an excellent amount of protein. Recommended lunch which is not just healthy but also makes you full are sandwiches (tuna, chicken and egg), vegetable soups, green salads and rough bread. Pair these with healthy fruit juices like apple, orange or pineapple. Stay away from sweets specifically soft drinks as these will certainly just make you crave for sugar all day long. For your sweet tooth, why not have those fruit salad in little cans? Avoid fatty food too. Sometimes you get these from gravy, additional cheese or sauce.

3. Make time for afternoon tea
There is a long space between lunch and supper so try to get an afternoon snack. You could have crackers with low-fat filling or nuts. Another alternative is your protein bar. You can get these from most grocery stores. Include a cup of tea to make it an extremely healthy snack. Ideally do not get too hungry prior to supper as this would simply tempt you to over consume. It is necessary that you handle your cravings to stay clear of overindulging specifically in the evening time when you are least active.

4. Supper - save the very best for last
Many would advise to skip dinner, however for busy and working individuals that is the saddest way to end a day. After the long hours, tension at work, meetings and errands, all you want to do is to take pleasure in a rewarding end of day meal. The good news is supper could still be healthy. The secret is to consume a light dinner-- grilled salmon/chicken/beef, vegetables and salads. Attempt to pick the leanest part of the meat as fat would just beat the purpose of having a light supper. It is also a smart idea to include fibre in your dinner so get some fruits and veggies which are rich in fibre.

Keep in mind that the above are simply suggestions which hopefully could help the busy everyday individual eat healthy. Awareness that something might be done is essential. Enjoy your healthy and satisfying dishes.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

5 weight loss tips for women!

Continuing the theme of new years resolutions and sticking with your diet, exercise and fitness goals in 2015, here are some further insights to kick start 2015 and help get you (back) on the right path. Found at 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8868707) and written by Jon Allo (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Allo) this might tell you something new, or simply reinforce what you already know - but good advice nonetheless!


Weight loss for women and men is different as men usually want to bulk up and build big muscles, whilst women usually want a toned and more shapely body. There a number of good ways for women to lose weight and some simple things that you can do to make it easier on yourself. Let's take a look at 5 weight loss tips for women that will help you with your new diet goals.

1. Drink Plenty Of Water.
Drinking water is one of the most simple ways to lose weight and you can do it everyday. By staying hydrated, you optimize the amount of calories your body burns each day and therefore burn more body fat. In addition to this, by drinking plenty of water each day, you'll feel fuller and be less prone to overeating. To start enjoying the weight loss benefits of water, simply drink a minimum of 8 glasses per day.

2. Get Somebody To Support You.
When you're trying to lose weight alone, it's easy to make excuses, cheat on your diet and skip workouts. After all, no one will know except you. An accountability partner takes these easy excuses out of the equation by giving you someone to answer to. They'll check in on you and make sure you're sticking to your healthy eating plans, working out regularly and achieving your weight loss goals. If you're not, they'll hold you accountable and help you get back on track.

3. Eat Healthy Snacks.
You may eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner but if you neglect your healthy diet between meals by eating sweets, crisps or biscuits you'll end up piling on hundreds of excess calories. There are plenty of healthy snacks that can satisfy your hunger cravings between meals without sabotaging your weight loss goals. Fruits contain around 100 calories per serving and Greek yoghurt is another top healthy snack which packs less than 100 calories per half cup.

4. Consider Resistance Training.
You will not build bulky muscles by including a mixture of resistance, or strength exercises into your exercise plan that work your entire body. Muscle cells burn 3 times more calories than fat cells. When you increase the amount of muscle cells in your body you'll accelerate the rate at which your body blasts through calories. By integrating resistance training into your workout routine, you can enjoy some serious fat burning benefits.

5. Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself.
Negativity and self-criticism destroys thousands of women's weight loss goals every year. As soon as they experience a setback, make a poor dietary choice or skip a workout, they focus all their attention on it and criticize themselves heavily. This negativity often derails their weight loss progress and leads to them quitting. When you do experience a setback, accept it, strive to improve going forward and then move on. Continue with a positive attitude and focus firmly on your weight loss goals.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Eat more to lose weight - ten healthy snacking tips for you!

With snacking such a popular sustaining thing between meals, the important thing to remember when embarking on a weight loss programme is to remain regimented in your approach to snacking as much as your approach to mealtimes. Snacking has a part to play in your programme, but remain focused, be disciplined and use these handy hints below to aid you along the way. I sourced this from 'ezinearticles' once again (http://EzineArticles.com/4402778) and this one is written by Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach Monica Tangry (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Monica_Tangry)

In order to lose weight more efficiently, you need to eat more. It may sound too good to be true and it contradicts the entire concept of dieting, but it is a proven fact. The catch is, however, you need to eat more of the good stuff.

For a fire to keep burning it needs to be stoked, much like our metabolism, which is our internal fat burning furnace. Stoking your metabolism requires eating a small meal or snack approximately every three hours. Over the course of a day this will add up to five or six small meals (for example: breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack). The size of the meals will depend on your total daily calorie allowance.

It is recommended that snacks generally be between 100 and 200 calories each, which does not seem like a lot. You are probably wondering what type of snacks could possibly be 100 to 200 calories and still be satisfying. You can be certain that it rules out any sort of processed or junk food options, which are loaded with empty calories and next to zero nutrition. Processed snacks will not satisfy you for long and generally cause a drop in blood sugar levels, which lead to unhealthy food cravings. The key to avoiding this viscous cycle is to find foods that are naturally low in calories and nutrient dense.

Top 10 Nutrient Rich Snacks:

• Nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, pine nuts)
• Dried Fruit (raisins, dates, prunes, cranberries, cherries - unsweetened)
• Veggies (baby carrots, celery sticks, sugar snap peas, etc)
• String Cheese
• Fresh fruit & Berries
• Popcorn (air popped, unsalted, no butter or margarine)
• Cottage cheese & fresh or frozen berries and honey
• Whole grain crackers with Hummus, Peanut butter
• Smoothies
• Dark Chocolate

These healthy snacks are great for on-the-go or at your desk at work. Portion control is very important even with healthy snacks. Measure out and pack proper portions in advance so they are ready when you need them, this requires a little planning and preparation, but is well worth the effort. By having these healthy snacks readily on hand, you can avoid any dietary pitfalls and feel good that you are stoking your body's natural fat burning potential.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

10 easy healthy snacks for you!

Getting toward the end of this week hopefully you've read up on some good advice for snack time between meal time that are fairly simple to make, won't cost a fortune, can be prepared in advance, and are wholesome, nutritious and light on calories but will satisfy nonetheless. I found these ten handy tips and hints on 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/8849156) and written by Christina Major, a Natropathic Doctor and Holistic Nutrionist (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Major)


There is a balance between getting healthy snacks, maintaining weight, and loving food. But it can be done. My go to snacks are all about nutrition, pleasure, and taste. If you have picky kids, these snacks please. They replace the empty sugar snacks with brain boosting alternatives.

My favourite 10 Go-to Healthy Snacks

• Apples - I love apples just the way they are. Crunchy, tart, sweet, and packed with fibre, magnesium, potassium, healthy polysterols, and tens of thousands of phytonutrients.

• Homemade Granola - toast oats, nuts, and seeds; add dried fruit; dust with cinnamon - that lots of fibre, healthy fats, sweet taste, and it's easy to take along.

• Dark Chocolate covered almonds - melt dark chocolate; stir in nuts; cool - just make sure you portion this one out, because they are so good, I ate a whole pound without realising the first time I made it!

• Almond butter (get the hint nuts are good for you) - this omega-3 fatty acid powerhouse is so easy to spread on veggies and fruit (like the apples).

• Hummus - Another dipper for veggies - good protein, high in healthy fats, and low carbs!

• Yogurt with fruit - an easy way to get billions of probiotics, that serving of fruit, and if you combine frozen fruit with really cold yogurt, it's like eating ice cream!

• Mini Pizza - homemade, of course - use a tiny, thin homemade crust (here's the one I like), lots of sauce, stack on the veggies, top with cheese and spices.

• Fruit - I love just snacking of fruits - so much goodness, so little summer to grow.

• Cheese - Aged, flavorful cheese is good, when combined with something health - try apples and cheese, or shredded cheese on hummus.

• Jerky - make your own - flavorful (hopefully local, healthy) meats, seasoned heartily, and dried - makes a great accompaniment to the granola

Here's a tip for parents that have picky eaters and say their kids won't eat these snacks: There are two types of picky eaters, and they are:

• Medical conditions
• Stubborn

If you child has a medical condition, such as an allergy, it's important to get that checked and recorded. It could save their lives one day. And don't feed them the foods that irritate them! But, most kids are just stubborn. They want the foods that taste good and make them feel good. That's why they choose sugar. But you are the parent. It's your job to make them eat good food. Give them a choice, the healthy snack or no snack. Kids will only go so long without before they eat the good food. And most will find they actually do like the good food!

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Great healthy snacking ideas for you!

One more for today and still sticking with the healthy snacking idea to aid your weight loss programme and keep you focused over the forthcoming holiday season. You can still have fun make no mistake, and you can treat yourself, spoil yourself and let your guard down occasionally so you join in the festivities with family, friends and loved ones. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the prize and remember your end game. These helpful hints and tips will be sure way to help. Sourced from 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/6672131) and written by Martin Gandhi they offer some good advice that is worth a read (http://EzineArticles.com/expert=Martin_Gandhi)


If there is one thing you should know about dieting, and that is not to starve yourself. If you can control your hunger and develop a healthy food regimen, it should help you to stay fit. If you get very hungry, and the urge to overeat kicks in, it is helpful to always carry healthy snacks with you. That will keep you from overeating because of hunger. Also, always have a bottle of water with you because hunger pangs are sometimes confused with thirst or dehydration.

What I mean by "healthy" is something that's less than 100 calories and is not more than two to three handfuls in total. Portion control is important. Try making the healthy snack a natural one if possible, containing fruit or vegetables that are not processed. How about an apple?

Here we will discuss a few healthy snacks that are considered great on the go. These snacks are tasty and low in calories. They are great for work, airports, or road trips and they are easy to carry in your bag. It may take some time to change your snack eating habits. If you usually like snacking on potato chips, then it might take you awhile to switch to raw vegetables; such as selecting an apple to munch on instead of a bag of chips or maybe choosing yogurt instead of a soda and fries.

If you really want to start eating healthy snacks, then prepare for a regimen change. You will need to have your kitchen filled with healthy foods only. Like the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind. Always keep a snack with you, a granola bar would be the perfect example of a healthy snack.

10 Healthy Snack Ideas

• Vegetables - carrying chopped celery or baby carrots is easy to take to the office of just on the go. They both have tons of minerals and fiber to fuel your body up, instead of bringing it down. Also they are low in calories.

• Sliced Fruit - these are in grocery stores and even fast food restaurants nowadays. They can be found in a mix variety of fruits. Just go to the produce section of your grocery store and buy it pre-cut or whole. Some examples are apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, plums, peaches, and pears.

• Variety of nuts - peanuts, cashews, almonds, and walnuts are some of the nuts that are a great snack. A handful should be just enough when you get hungry. They do not need refrigeration and are easy and light to carry in a Ziploc bag. They are also good in peanut butter form.

• Raisins - raisins are loaded with fiber so you feel full. This is a low glycemic snack that is filling and at the same time very healthy. A little box only has 45 calories and easy on the go. Raisins can also be added to salads and cereals. A quarter cup of raisins provides you with a full serving of fruit.

• Eggs (hard boiled) - eggs are easy to cook and only have seventy six calories. The egg contains proteins, minerals, iron, iodine, calcium and vitamin A. You get all those healthy nutrients from one little egg. Egg white is also very good all by itself.

• Popcorn - this is a great snack that is easy and inexpensive. It is light and healthy with lots of fiber. Try to be light on the salt and no butter if possible. There are many brands out now that are fat free and available in small bags, and typically each bag has only 100 calories.

• Protein bar - these bars are great for individuals looking for extra protein in their diet. They come in many flavors and are convenient to carry. Try to avoid the bars with lots of sugars. These protein bars can be found in grocery stores, but you do get a better selection at a nutritional store.

• Oranges - this is a great source of vitamins C, B, B1, and high fiber all from one fruit. It has a delicious sweet flavor and also good in its juice form. If drinking the juice be aware of the sugar content. Try to always buy naturally fresh squeezed if possible. Different varieties of oranges are available year round. 

• Yogurt - this is a delicious source of calcium that comes in a variety of flavors. Most yogurt cups have less than 170 calories and are 99% fat free. Yogurt is also loaded with vitamin C, D and A.

• Cheese sticks - you can find low fat cheese sticks or cheese cubes in the dairy section of your supermarket. They are a great source of calcium and vitamins. The cheese sticks having as little as 60 calories and are usually individually wrapped. Kids love these cheeses and it's a healthy snack and a great way to get their daily calcium.

There are many healthy snack ideas. These are just a few that you can grab quickly when on the go. When home make your family healthy snacks. Have a fruit platter or a tuna salad instead of bringing out the bag of chips and salsa. If you're having a party, do the healthy alternative.

Everyone feels much better when eating healthy. Have you ever snacked on junk food and realized later you feel terrible, bloated or have an upset stomach? That's usually the difference between eating healthy or eating junk food.

It is all a matter of getting yourself accustomed to the healthier alternative when snacking. If you have children, teach them at a young age to eat healthy snacks. Have them snack with fruits and vegetables. Keep them away from sodas and sugary snacks. Many of the problems found with obesity are the lack of a nutritional diet at home.

Place a fruit basket accessible to everyone in your kitchen. Have the pantry with only on the go healthy snacks. Once you start only eating healthy snacks you will not crave the junk snacks. So, clean out the kitchen and get rid of all that is not good for you. You'll be glad you did.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-

Healthy snacking tips to munch on

The last couple of Blog Posts have been around healthy snacking and drinking, and so I'm going to continue with that theme today with a few more helpful hints, tips, advise & guidance to ensure you are well informed and can remain focused over the coming Festive Season. I sourced this one from 'ezinearticles' (http://EzineArticles.com/7993197) and written by Stephen G. John (http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_G_John)


Much has been said about snacking. Food experts attest to the benefits of taking food during snack time, which has become part and parcel of the daily eating pattern. Most people are familiar with taking snacks in between meals, while others prefer to have snacking during midnight. The problem with snacking, however, is that it has become a mindless and emotional habit eating for many. Satisfying food usually make up the menu for snacks, not merely to alleviate hunger pangs but to simply have something to munch on while taking a break from activities such as work or play.

Needless to say, health consciousness encompasses everything that eating is all about, including the type of snack food that you usually enjoy with family and friends. Ponder on some important points to make tasty, healthy snack ideas come to life.

Think nutritional value.
If you've been used to serving the crunchy, the salty or the sugary for snacks, it is high time to find out how the body - not just the taste buds - can benefit from these types of food. Do they contain any nutritional value? Everyone, especially kids, will need to be conscious about getting the right amount of nutrition in this era of tasty, zero-nutrient appetisers, dishes, desserts and refreshments.

Consider healthier substitutes.
People pay less attention to how snacking can affect the overall diet, and usually go for the typical bread, cookies, pastas, pies, pizzas, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, chocolates, popcorns chops, crackers, noodles or biscuits. Most serve these calorie-filled snacks because they taste good and take less preparation time. Aren't fruits, nuts, salads, yogurts, real juices, low-sodium and sugar-free recipes just as equally tasty and easy to prepare?

Creativity counts!
Most people frown at the thought of having some boring fruit, veggie, wheat-based food or oatmeal for snacks. The quick remedy? Put in variety, experiment with pretty or fun plating, and recreate a recipe to make it your own. Give these items your own personal touch, and explore different ways to perk up your snack.

Bear in mind: portions matter in healthy snacking.

You may not give it much thought, but the moment you purchase that bag of fries to fry for snacks, you tend to go for the size XL packs because they are cheaper and provide value for money. While you weigh in how practical the savings are from these deals, it may also be reasonable for you to think about serving smart. Remember that your snack serving portions play a great role in keeping your healthy diet in check.

Paying attention to what your body needs - more than what it wants - is not easy. Such is the case with finding the perfect snack, with all the traditional choices that people have been used to.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-
 

Quick weight loss from healthy snacking!

Most of us want to lose some weight, even if only a little to get a little more toned, some more definition or for a special event for which you want to look on top form. Sometimes we want to shed that little bit of weight quickly, and it can be done, and that little bit can turn into considerably more with a sustained focus, discipline and effort that will soon become the new normal is you stick with it.

With this in mind what can you do in your daily eating habits to support the cause and get you to where you want to be? I found this at 'articles base' (http://www.articlesbase.com/low-calorie-articles/healthy-snacks-for-quick-weight-loss-6972186.html) and it is written by Carter Perry, and contains some good pointers that you can easily adapt to at snack time in between meals when you need to curb those hunger pains.

Could it be feasible that after eating healthy snacks you may lose your body weight? Fine, the reality is that you can, however on condition that you intermix this with various other practical habits. Why snacking is so important because most of the people rarely focus on it. Hence, in case you're seeing many other facets of your well-being, bettering the level of quality of your appetisers might be the one lacking element that is keeping you away from weight reduction!

Most of us usually take our morning meal quickly and race off to the workplace, after which enjoy an overwhelming lunch followed by an equivalently overweight evening meal at nighttime. This process of dietetic intake will not help you in cutting down your excess fat even if you decide to go on your regular exercise session. Many people start off using weight loss pills in order to keep their tummy full. In the centre of two food occasion, we often really feel hungry and during this time everyone is more likely to make mistakes like grabbing refreshments which neutralise each of the good hard work we make in our exercise routines.

We will most likely not even know it; however the most important disappointment to our vision of developing a slim physique is due to the food we eat in the middle of our daily meals. We must always be educated about the hazards of all the meals plus the beverages in addition to the healthy snacks for fat reduction to succeed in our tasks. Most people, as soon as they consume healthy snacks, started off consuming things like whole wheat bagels, bran muffins and commercial yogurt, you will certainly feel happier using these as compared to the junky varieties. They even include added sugar and are high in calories. What you genuinely wish to search for are unsweetened meals which are all natural, organic as well as lower in body fats or include healthy fats.

Why are healthy snacks handy for quick weight reduction? Below are a few factors:

1. When you have snacks in the middle of daily meals, you'll not eat the most if you take a seat for the primary meals.

2. By sitting down and eating healthy snacks it is possible to fulfil your appetite ache and avert consuming processed food.

3. By regularly eating in little volumes during the day, you assist in increasing your own body's fat burning capacity charge. This results in more calories burning, hence quick weight reduction.

4. Take healthy snacks and make a routine of consuming large amounts of water. This will likely make certain that you remain hydrated. Drinking water also provides you a dose of power, letting you hold lively.

You should have determination while purchasing by not investing in any kind of fast food stuffs at all. No matter if you are hanging out or with friends, courteously decline when someone will give you harmful or fattening snack products. Gently you may overwhelm this routine and be en route to solid, quick weight reduction.

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

-Steve, at WhyWeight-