In our fast-paced society, we need to develop strategies that reduce prep time. Cooking can be a social thing, but usually people just need to get it done and move on. By eating more of our foods raw, we can obviously reduce prep time while getting the highest nutrition possible from that product.
Other strategies can be developed that make prep time about the same as going to a fast-food restaurant. For example, you can cook a large meal and store the second half of it in your freezer for another day. Cooking meals ahead of time and freezing them is an excellent way to provide you with an easy meal on a busy day. Some foods, which are used in many different dishes, can be prepared at the beginning of the week and stored in the refrigerator. This will save you the step of chopping, cutting, or peeling later on.
Ultimately time, not money, seems to be the biggest excuse. People state that they simply do not have time to eat right. They are too busy to shop for food and fix it for themselves. If you are part of this group, consider this: Calculations have shown that for every minute of exercise, you gain two minutes in longevity. Doubtless, the same positive adjustment will be found when you choose to cook and eat healthy food instead of a hyper-processed food product tossed into the deep fat fryer by a nameless someone. The average American, regardless of income level, watches no less than 90 minutes of television per day. Take 45 of those TV-watching minutes and dedicate them to cooking yourself a beautiful dinner. You’ll be able to do it with time to spare, I assure you. The time is there; we simply need to prioritize.
Here are some simple rules for eating healthy and living longer:
Eat a large breakfast.
Eat 75% of your calories in the first two meals (breakfast and lunch).
Have only a light meal in the evening with foods such as soup, cereal, or a small sandwich— mainly foods that are easy to digest.
Remember to consume plenty of water.
Consume 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Eat a level handful of nuts each day.
20% of all calories now come from snack foods—eliminate snacks.
Choose whole grains—whole wheat bread, whole grain cereals, and brown rice
Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, including fruit juice.
Eat more legumes.
Learn to read food labels.
The subject of nutrition can be confusing and appear daunting, especially with the conflicting opinions people throw around on the Internet and TV. This program is designed to be simple and easy to follow, given your dedication to bettering your life. In our desire to live longer and feel better about ourselves, remember that good nutrition is one of the best ways to get there, and you can get there.
(Submitted by Betty Dean. Written by Randy Bivens, MD. Used by permission from www.lifeandhealth.org. Courtesy of LifeSpring – Resources for Hope and Healing Stuart, VA)