Eating right=Prosperity in the mind

lets face it.. the way people are buying their foods is changing Many people are finally beginning to realize the importance of proper eating thus Awakening to the benefits and prosperous life that comes with eating and maintaining balance within the body.  According to a study by the market research group mintel, more people are choosing locally grown produce over fruits and vegetables that are labeled “organic.”


Make healthy choices by incorporating a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole grains and lean proteins into your meals.

You are probably familiar with the adage to eat five a day — three vegetables and two fruits — but the latest research says that number needs to be increased.

The diet and lifestyles of more than 300,000 people across eight countries in Europe found people who ate at least eight portions of fruits and vegetables per day had a 22 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate three portions per day.

In Alaska, we don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. When surveyed on their consumption, 27 percent of Alaskans eat three servings of vegetables and 30 percent eat two servings of vegetables.


Here are some ideas to increase your number of servings.

Make it easy. If vegetables are ready-to-eat, you will eat them. Take the time to cut enough fresh vegetables for several days worth of cooking and snacking, and keep them at eye level in the refrigerator. When you open the refrigerator to grab something that is higher calorie and lower nutrition, they will tempt you. If you don’t have the time, buy a bag of baby carrots.

 Make your next wrap a lettuce leaf. Instead of using a tortilla, put fixings on a lettuce leaf and roll it up. We often use lettuce leaves with kids — particularly with a smear of peanut butter and a few raisins. It’s a great snack and low calorie.

 Keep it handy. Leave fruits in a bowl where they are accessible and noticed. When fruits are stored in the refrigerator it can be easy to forget about them. If they are stored in the open, you may be more likely to reach for fruit instead of something unhealthy.

 Use up fruits and vegetables in smoothies. This is especially helpful in using produce that is overly ripe and about to go bad. Smoothies are an easy way to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables because they taste good and don’t require much preparation. You might be surprised how good spinach or kale tastes in a smoothie.

Use low-fat dips, spreads and melts. A good tasting dip will mask the taste of vegetables you aren’t fond of. Veggies such as cauliflower, green beans, carrots and celery taste great with low or nonfat ranch dip, salsa or peanut butter. Hummus is made from chickpeas, so eating it with carrots and other fresh vegetables will give you a double dose of vegetables.