So now that you have paid attention to what’s around you, here's my simple category system that helped me manage my changes. I want you to know there is NOT ONE CHOICE on healthy living. We all live different lifestyles, some are fast paced, some are pay check to pay check, most are too stressful, so making a difference in your life and your families life is a process and there are always Good, Great and the best Choice. Understand that picking anyone of these choices IS A BETTER choice then doing nothing.
Example 1 - Fruit
Light Syrup/Heavy Syrup means that the fruit is canned in Corn Syrup. Usually High Fructose Corn Syrup (Read XXX on HFCS). Canned fruits in their Natural juices are best. Since there is no added preservatives. So what was in your closet? Clearly if it’s Natural Juices that’s great. And even if you have light or heavy syrups that’s OKAY too. Yeah – really. The next time you are preparing to serve the syrup canned fruit, simply rinse the fruits and dispose of the syrup before serving or baking. Yeah that’s it – rinsing the fruit and getting rid of the syrup in it IS the difference. You have just made a healthier eating choice!
More details on the fruit choices we make everyday... You know you should eat 5 fruits a day. (I am going to assume you do eat fruits, if not, this is an important place to start!). Eating a good variety of fruits doesn’t mean you have to buy all organic fresh fruits. But you have several good and better options:
Best
But fresh fruits (and vegetables). Make sure to wash them with running tap water and scrub the skin with a sponge. If you want to buy organic start simple. What do you eat at home? Try to buy those items fresh, and if possible try to buy 1 or 2 fresh fruits organically grown (see side bar on the top 12 preservatives used list) and switch to organic. Organic Fruits and Veggies are naturally grown, preservative and pesticide free. A BETTER choice then preservative sprayed fruits and veggies.
Great
Do you buy canned fruits? You have 2 options here.
Can you buy frozen fruits? Frozen fruits are cleaned and frozen at the peak of freshness. We don’t know yet if any9like they loose when heated) nutrients are lost because of freezing , but they are more beneficial then canned fruits. I recognize that sometimes the frozen version of fruit is out of season and too expensive so look at option b.
Good
Or If you prefer canned fruits buy fruits that are preserved in their natural juices. This way you not adding “preservatives” or added sugar to your diet. If natural juices are hard to come buy then but fruits canned in light syrup and rinse the fruits before serving. YES – get rid of the canning syrup – its not good for you.
How I learned about these options. Many places. i read reliable websites, and watch local TV that has educational tid bits. The organic advice comes from a afternoon news broadcast on WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago about the 12 most pesticide-laden foods. The Natural Juice versus corn syrup from the Book Mommy Made. To learn more here are some resources:
ü Mommy and me book
ü WGN TV Article & Book: induce "panic if it ain't organic," according to Renee Loux, author of "The Balanced Plate" (Rodale, $22.95). WGN TV Article web site: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/09/best-foods-to-b.html
ü Sited Environmental group - The Environmental Working Group – great resource!
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