Healthy Living Blog

If you've ever taken a look at the food pyramid, you've probably noticed how many servings of grains are recommended. Who can eat six to eleven servings of bread each day? It's a good thing that cereal provides a good alternative for some of those servings. Or does it?

Breakfast cereal has a long history of being promoted as the quickest way to get a nutrition-filled breakfast. Yet many cereals are surprisingly low in fiber, and perhaps not so surprisingly, high in sugar. Still, those who are looking for an easy way to get in some fiber, dairy, vitamins and minerals in the morning stock their cabinets full of them.

There are lots of cereals on the shelves that are not that good for us. But that doesn't mean that they're all bad. Many breakfast cereals provide excellent nutrition. It just takes some effort to find the ones that do.

People have been making juice for centuries. Commercial fruit juices have eliminated the need for us to juice fruits and vegetables by hand. But in light of concerns about pesticides, preservatives and other issues with mass-produced food, juicing has experienced a resurgence in popularity.

Benefits of Juicing

By making your own juice, you control what goes into it. There are no hidden ingredients that may cause allergic reactions, and if you grow your own fruit or buy organic, you can ensure that there are no pesticides or growth hormones present. You can take comfort in knowing that your juice is just juice, and nothing more.

Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. It gives us the energy we need to get going, wakes up our metabolism and provides valuable nutrition. Sadly, it is also the most skipped meal of the day.

Sometimes it seems that there's just not enough time in the mornings to eat. We have to make up the bed, get ready for work, get the kids ready for school, and perhaps do some morning chores. But it's very important that we eat a good breakfast.

Preparing a nutritionally complete breakfast doesn't have to take a long time. Here are five power breakfast ideas that can fit into any schedule.

1.  Cereal with low-fat milk, sliced bananas and raisins - Eating cold cereal is a quick and easy way to include fiber, carbohydrates and dairy in your morning meal. Add some freshly sliced bananas and a handful of raisins, and you've also taken care of one of your daily servings of fruit. There's no cooking required, and cereal is nice and filling.

2.  Whole-grain waffles topped with fresh strawberries and yogurt - Waffles are a breakfast favorite, and you no longer have to drag out the waffle iron to make them. Frozen whole-grain waffles are nutritious and delicious, and you can warm them up in the toaster in a snap. Instead of syrup, add yogurt and fresh sliced strawberries to make a well-rounded meal.

When your child comes home from school, does he make a beeline for the cookie jar? Kids need food between meals to nourish their growing bodies. But processed foods laden with sugar are not the best choice for them. They need a snack that offers vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Keeping healthy snack options on hand will help your child get the nutrition he needs while satisfying his hunger. Here are some ideas:

* Raisins - Individual serving size boxes of raisins are great for snacking. They have that sweet taste that kids crave, and they provide nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, vitamin C and the B vitamins.

It's easy to get stuck in a rut when packing lunches. When we can't cook or even warm up our food, our options are somewhat limited. But the standard lunchmeat and cheese on bread with potato chips doesn't do much for our health.

Sometimes we just need to think outside of the box (or in this case, the lunchbox). With some creativity, we can pack healthy lunches for ourselves and our kids. Here are a few suggestions: