Month: June 2011

Categories
Weight Loss Exercise

Healthy Soup Recipes


We all know that soup is comfort food, but did you know that soup can also help you lose weight? Include healthy soup recipes in your diet if you want to shed unwanted pounds.

During the cold winter months nothing is more comforting that a bowl of hot soup. Chicken soup with noodles and vegetables will warm your body. Studies show that eating soup produces greater feelings of satiety compared to other types of food. The high water content of soup helps to fill us up. At the same time, soup that is piping hot has to be eaten slowly. This allows us to savor the full flavor of the soup and gives us time to notice when we feel full.

Making soup is easy, and you will find healthy soup recipes that are simple to make. Most of the time, you won’t need a recipe at all. Cut out all unnecessary fat if you want a healthy soup recipe for weight loss.

Making Soup Stock

Healthy soup recipes use stock, although you can use plain water. You can also use stock cubes or bouillon powder. Make your own vegetable or chicken stock for a more flavorful soup recipe.

Chicken Stock

You can make a good stock using the carcass from a roast chicken or the raw bones. Break up the bones and put them in a large pot. Add roughly chopped carrots, onion, celery, peppercorn, thyme, parsley and a little salt. It’s all right if you don’t have all of these extra ingredients. Add enough water to cover the chicken, bring to a boil, and skim off the foam. Let it simmer for three hours, allow to cool, and strain the liquid into a bowl. Chill the stock and remove the congealed fat. This stock freezes well.

Vegetable Stock

Put vegetable trimmings and peelings, a little salt, peppercorns, bay leaf and dried herbs into a pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes. Allow to cool, and then strain the liquid.

A Healthy Veggie Soup Recipe

You can have a delicious, healthy soup in less than an hour if you follow this recipe. You will need 4 cups of stock, 2 stalks of celery (diced), 1 onion (diced), a small turnip (diced), 3/4 -cup barley, and 1/4 Savoy cabbage (finely shredded). Bring the stock to a boil and then add all the vegetables except for the cabbage. Season and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in the cabbage, simmer for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.
There are hundreds of other healthy soup recipes including Carrot and Lentil Soup, Ravioli and Vegetable Soup, Broccoli-Cheese Chowder, and Chicken Noodle Soup with Dill. These nutritious soups pack a lot of nutrients without a lot of fat.


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Categories
Weight Loss Exercise

Healthy Recipes on a Budget


Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can no longer afford healthy food. It’s possible to eat nutritious food while pinching pennies. All you need are healthy recipes that you can make on a budget. While the thought of preparing delicious, healthy meals may seem daunting when you’re on a tight budget, keep in mind that you have complete control over what goes on in your kitchen.

By cooking smart, you can stretch your food dollars and enjoy the quality food that you and your family deserve.

The first step in saving money and eating healthy is to cut out (or at least limit) junk food and alcohol. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats and limit salty and sugary foods. Drink plenty of water and eat a wide variety of nutritious foods.

Stock Up on Budget-Friendly Ingredients

When you’re on a budget it’s easier to prepare healthy recipes if you have budget-friendly items on hand. Make sure you fill your fridge and cupboards with the following items:

? Beans and lentils are nutritious, rich in protein and fiber, and easy on your wallet. Buy them canned or dried. They make a hearty, nutritious soup and can be served as a main course with rice or fresh vegetables.

? Pasta is quick and easy to cook. You can pair it with fish, vegetables, chicken, meat, or a fresh green salad. Whenever available, choose whole-wheat pasta,

? Brown rice can be added to leftover meat and vegetables to make a new dish. Brown rice is a bit more expensive than white, but the nutritional value is worth it.

? Fresh fruits and vegetables in season are important ingredients when you are making healthy recipes on a budget. Vegetables are great for stir-fries, while fruit makes a quick and nutritious snack. Canned and frozen varieties are also good options especially if you can get them on sale.

? Meat and fish are excellent sources of protein and should be kept on hand for last-minute meals. Stock up on inexpensive cuts of meat for stews and casseroles.

? Herbs and spices add flavor to your dishes. Keep a good selection of dried herbs, spices, marinades, vinegars, curry powder, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and stock cubes in your pantry. The simplest recipe will taste exciting and new with the right condiments.

? Soups are filling, hearty, and healthy with the addition of vegetables and leftover meat. Use canned or packet soups, and experiment by adding herbs and spices.

It only takes a little planning and creativity to make healthy recipes on a budget. When you think of the money you will save and the health benefits for your family you’ll find it’s worth the extra effort. Start with healthy easy recipes, economical pasta recipes, and hearty bean or lentil soups. You’ll be amazed to find that good food does not have to cost a lot of money.


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Categories
Weight Loss Exercise

Healthy Recipes for Kids

It’s important to teach kids to eat healthy foods while they are young. This will help them develop healthy eating habits for life. Healthy recipes for kids will get them excited about cooking and eating nutritious foods that children love. Delicious and healthy kid-friendly recipes will teach your kids to love whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables.

There are many sites where you can find collections of healthy recipes that kids and the whole family will enjoy. You will also find recipes tested and rated by kids themselves. These recipes will make meal planning easier, and you can be sure your kids will love them.

Get The Kids Involved

Many parents have discovered that the best way to get kids to eat healthy food is to get them involved in the cooking process. This doesn’t mean they have to make dinner themselves, but kids should be encouraged to help choose recipes, shop for ingredients, and prepare the food. They get to taste and rate each recipe. If you have a backyard garden, it’s also a great idea to allow your kids to grow some of the ingredients.

Kids can actually help out in the kitchen, and you can spend some quality time together. They are also more likely to try a dish if they have helped in its preparation, or even just in picking out a healthy, kid-friendly recipe. What’s more, healthy eating habits developed at a young age will last a lifetime.

Find Healthy Recipes For Kids

You’ll be amazed at the number of kid-friendly recipes that you can find online. Many of these recipes include a variety of vegetables and proteins that are naturally low in calories yet rich in vitamins and minerals. Kids need plenty of protein and calcium to build strong bones and a healthy body. Be sure to include calcium-rich and protein-rich recipes for growing kids.

The internet is a rich source of healthy recipes for kids, including healthy breakfast recipes, healthy snack recipes, and healthy dinners. There are also healthy dessert recipes, because everyone deserves a treat. All of these recipes are designed with kids’ palates in mind.
Start your kid’s day right with a healthy breakfast. A fruit smoothie for breakfast is refreshing, tasty and healthy. Kids also love oatmeal with bananas and cinnamon chips for breakfast.

Other recipes that kids will enjoy include Healthy Macaroni and Cheese, Vegetarian Chili, and Grilled Chicken Breasts with Soy Honey Sauce. There are also healthy dessert recipes for kids. Yogurt Sundaes, Low Fat Brownies, and Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies have less fat, less sugar, and less calories than many desserts, but they also have more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

It’s easier than you think to get your kids to eat nutritious foods. All you need is a collection of healthy recipes for kids.

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