NP

Nutrition and My Pyramid

Do you feel like the person at the top of this page

when it comes to eating healthy meals?

The media confuses us so...

One day telling us eggs are bad for us and the next they are good.

And what's the latest on seafood? For years they told us to eat seafood for Omega 3 and now they're telling us

it's not safe because of the mercury in it.

What are we supposed to believe?

The adages that were true 30 years ago are still true today:

Eat a variety of foods from all of the major food groups.

Avoid too much sugar, salt and saturated fat.

Few foods are "bad" for you as long as you eat them in moderation.

Click on the links below for more nutrition information.

Breakfast

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We have not eaten since the evening before and need the nutrients and calories that we get from breakfast to get our bodies going in the morning. We wouldn't think of running our cars without fuel and oil in them

and yet we expect our bodies to run for most of the day

without the necessary fuel (calories) and oil (nutrients) that it needs.

Statistics prove that those who eat breakfast perform better throughout the day.

They are more alert, better able to concentrate on the work at hand, have less tardiness and fewer behavior problems! They have fewer health problems too!

But who has time to make breakfast?

Why do we think that breakfast has to be limited to traditional breakfast foods?

Some peanut butter or cheese on crackers or a yogurt will work.

Anything that is high in nutrients while relatively low in calories will fit the bill.

Are you trying to lose weight?

If losing weight is your reason for skipping breakfast then you are

defeating the purpose. Skipping breakfast keeps the weight on.

Start eating breakfast and you will find yourself eating less for lunch

and losing weight as well.

These websites will help you with your breakfast blues.

Reading Food Labels

Reading food labels is so confusing! What does it all mean?

The nutrition and ingredient labels on food packages are supposed to make it easier for us to select foods that are nutritious and healthy

especially if you have health concerns.

To many they add more confusion than clarity.

Some rules of thumb:

Ingredients are listed in order of quantity with the largest ingredient at the beginning of the list and the smallest at the end.

The nutritional facts label lists the number of servings in a package as well as the calories and nutrients per serving.

For more information on food labeling check out these sites.

Savvy Consumer

Is the latest breakfast bar really healthy for you?

What about all those added nutrients in cereal?

And is it okay to drink your breakfast instead of eat it?

Is Snapple really made form the best foods on earth?

Americans don't like to think of themseves as rainwashed

but perhaps we have been.

For years advertisers have been peddling their products

and we, as consumers, have believed what they've told us.

Perhaps that's why obesity has become the second leading

preventable cause of death in the United States.

Click on the graphics below to help you sort out what is fact and

what is fiction in advertising.

Get Moving!

Eating better is a good first step to a healthier you,

but what about getting yourself moving?

We know that exercise is important but how do we make the time for it?

Why not turn off the TV for 30 minutes and go for a family walk? You will be spending time with your family and doing something good for all of you.

Try taking the family on a short bike trip on a weekend, plant a garden,

do anything that will get you moving.