Healthy Halloween Snacks For The Entire Family

Halloween is the time of year that parents await with anxiety as their little pumpkins go around the neighborhood collecting gallons of candy treats.  Here are a few sinful delights for family and friends that are easy to prepare and more nutritious than your typical Halloween treat.

Hand Dipped Chocolate Fruit
Melt 2-3.5 ounce  bars of 70% cacao chocolate in a double-boiler over medium heat. During the melting process add 2 tbsp butter and reduce heat to medium-low.  Continue stirring until smooth.  Pour the melted chocolate into 5 individual serving bowls and serve with fruit.  Slice up apples, bananas, cantaloupe or whatever fruits you enjoy.  Strawberries are especially great.  Everyone takes their fork and dips the fruit into their individual chocolate bowl to enjoy an amazing treat.  The natural sugars of the fruit actually sweetens the chocolate to perfection.  Another variation is to finely chop nuts or use unsweetened shredded coconut.  After dipping the fruit into the chocolate you then roll it in the nuts or coconut for a tasty variation.

Spiced Popcorn
Just about everyone likes popcorn and it makes a healthy snack.  However, when you add butter you eliminate all of the health benefits.  You can buy your own popcorn kernels and pop them on your stove yourself.  It's a lot cheaper than the pre-packed bags and you can control the amount of salt. Plus, its more fun too.  Add 2 tbsp oil into the center of a pot.  Place 1/2 cup popcorn kernels on the oil.  Add 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp salt.  Cover and heat on high until the kernels begins to pop.  Reduce heat to medium.  Be careful not to burn the popcorn.  When the popping sound gets 2 seconds apart remove from heat.  Keep your face away from the pot when removing the lid to avoid coming into contact with the steam.  Pour into a serving bowl and enjoy.

Remember, the best way to enjoy treats is in moderation. For more healthy recipe ideas consider these Easy Veggie Meal Plans.

The USDA Raises Recommended Portions Of Fruits And Vegetables

      I think that everyone is well aware by now that fruits and vegetables are the most wholesome food groups ever discovered. The problem that most people have is understanding how much to eat and which ones are the best antioxidant foods. A short time ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture refreshed its recommended dietary guidelines which now suggests that we consume five servings of a a range of of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.  The recommendations further spell out that the recommended portion size needs to be 3-4 ounces each. 

While there is truly no such thing as a bad fruit or vegetable, some offer more nutritious value than others.  As a matter of fact, citrus like tangerines and grapefruit are especially nutritious due to their superior antioxidant concentration of Vitamin C.  Cantaloupe melon is especially advantageous because it packs a substantial dose of vitamins 'A' and 'C' and Potassium. Interestingly,  one-quarter portion provides a little more than half the potassium as a banana with just half of the calorie consumption. On the subject of nutrients per calorie, strawberries are tough to match.  Eight strawberries incorporate thirty percent more Vitamin C than a half grapefruit with thirty percent fewer calories.

Vegetables like broccoli and bell peppers have the most Vitamin C containing good amounts of potassium. Additionally, both potatoes and tomatoes have the highest concentration of potassium.  Concerning nutrients per calorie, broccoli packs almost double the Vitamin C as an orange and as much potassium as a banana for a mere 45 calorie serving of just one medium stalk. You may be amazed to uncover that a three ounce serving of chopped red leaf lettuce has very high quantities of both Vitamin A and potassium.

Fruits and vegetables play an important role in our diet.  Don't forget, that for you to receive the maximum essential nutrients, they should be consumed without cooking to prevent a reduction in the amount of nutrients. Also, plenty of fruits and veggies that are in jars comprise added sugars and other additives to extend their storage life. Therefore, when buying canned produce, search for those that are either vacuum packaged or are stored in plain water.

Regrettably, as much as 75% of consumers are not consuming the recommended daily requirement of essential nutrients.  The fact of the matter is, nutritionists recommend that you purchase close to eight pounds of fruits and veggies per week so we can get our five daily amounts.  It would be surprising if households are eating even half of the advised quantities. That's why nutritional supplements have become so popular.  A large number of supplements have plenty of essential vitamins and minerals in a single tablet. It's a lot more convenient to take a capsule than to constantly dash out to the grocer. Also, natural supplements normally do not contain unnecessary carbs that are identified in a lot of produce, particularly those that are in jars. 

Regardless of how you dice it, we all will reap the rewards from eating  a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.  They not only make your taste buds happy, but they are great for you too. Remember, the more antioxidant-rich items you devour, the stronger you will be.  Besides, it will give you the strength you want to carry out your daily tasks.
   
   

Can Foods Really Help You Lose Weight?

      It is not uncommon today for individuals to try and figure out the best foods that help you lose weight. They have gone on some really peculiar diets following some of the gurus with no facts to back their claim. What if I told you that there are foods that actually help you lose weight?

There are many foods that can support weight loss, like fruits and vegetables. Everyone knows that fruits and vegetable are healthy and are low in calories, but most people are not familiar with which ones are the best for weight loss.

This negative calorie effect simply means you burn more calories by eating the food then the food itself. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables makes it easier for you to lose weight and keep it off.

Another benefit of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is that those that are high in vitamin C like lemons, oranges, apples, tomatoes, broccoli, and watermelon can actually break down and flush out the fat cells.

Apples help burn fat, because it contains a large amount of pectin. Pectin helps to prevent your body from absorbing fat. It actually helps to soften the fat. Having an apple with your meal will make you feel satisfied and you will be less likely to overeat. Studies have shown that if you eat an apple before a meal you can lose up to thirty three percent more weight. This seems like a quick way to lose weight.

Also, raw figs are another one of those uncommon foods that help you lose weight. This fruit contains ficain, which is an enzyme that helps clean the colon and detoxify your body. This has help some people to lose up to ten pounds in just one week.

Moreover, small recent studies have proven that this fruit does help promote weight loss. All you need to do is add half of a grapefruit to your daily diet and you can lose weight. There is a compound found in grapefruit that lowers insulin levels which helps you to feel full. This has been the basis of the famous Grapefruit Diet that was created in the 1930's.

Furthermore, there are many other foods that help you lose weight too. If you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables it will help you with your quest to lose weight. Their negative calorie effect means that you will burn more calories than you eat. This is why, I consider fruits and vegetables to be the best foods that help you lose weight and stay healthy.