Eating Healthy On The Run

Whether your traveling on the go or around the home, you don't need to give up healthy eating  simply because you are on the run.  The fact is, healthy eating is even more important when your trying to keep up with a busy schedule.

Having a good diet will help your body to handle stress better.  As you hustle about, a healthy meal
is probably the last thing you think about.  The following tips can help you eat when your on the go.

Restaurants

With tempting menus, large portions, and a festive atmosphere, it's easy to skip healthy eating.  It's okay to splurge every now and then, although you'll pack on a lot of weight if you make it a habit. When you eat out at restaurants, always be smart  about it.

Airports

An airport can be a very stressful place, although you shouldn't scrap your diet because of it.  Eat because you are hungry, not because of stress,  boredom, or to kill time.

In your car

Keep some healthy snacks in your car at all times, so that when you get hungry - you have them.

At home

Evenings and mornings are busy times in most homes. Making the time to eat can be hard, although you shouldn't run out the door without eating breakfast first.  Cereal with milk, a banana, muffin, or even
a bagel is a great way to start the day.

Anytime you are on the go, always make sure that you make the right food decisions.  You can take healthy
food with you if you need to, so that you have it when you need it.

  Eating healthy on the go is easy to do, once you know how.  Never sacrifice healthy food for junk, as your body will regret it later.

4 Important Cooking Oils

Everyone knows the foods to eat that improve health, although how we cook the food can be just as important. With there being so many oils and butter products claiming to be the best, it can be quite difficult
to know which ones to use and which ones to avoid.

1.  Canola oil

Canola oil is a popular oil, with many physicians claiming that it has the ability to lower the risk of heart disease.  The oil is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, and offers the best  fatty acid composition when compared to other oils.

You can use canola oil in sauting, as a marinade and even in low temperature stir frying.  It has a bland flavor, which makes it a great oil for foods that contain many spices.  Unlike other oils, this one won't interfere with the taste of your meal.

2.  Olive oil

olive oil offers a very distinct flavor with plenty of heart healthy ingedients.  The oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, helps to lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk of cancer.  It's also rich in antioxidants and has a very long storage life.

Even though it can be used in cooking, it's the healthiest when uncooked, such as with a salad or dipping sauce.  When you use it with cooking, you should heat it on low to medium temperatures, making sure to avoid high heat.

3.  Butter

Butter is one food that has been around for many, many years.  Butter tastes good, and offers sources of Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins such as E, K, and even D.  Butter is also made from natural ingredients and not chemically or artificially processed.

You can use butter with cooking, baking, or even as a spread.  You can also pair it with creamy sauces, marinades, baked dishes, or even bread.

4.  Margarine

Margarine was first introduced as an alternative to high fat butter.  When it was first created however, it was loaded with trans fat, a substance that we now know raises bad cholesterol.

As a cooking oil, margarine tastes good, it's lower in fat than most oils and butter, and it's quite easy to spread.  It's available in a variety of different products and a good source of vitamin E.

When it comes to cooking with oils, there are several at your disposal.  There are many more than what is mentioned here, although the ones above are the most popular.

 Eating healthy involves cooking healthy food - which is where your cooking oil really takes center stage.

Eating Healthy When Outside

If you go out to a restaurant to eat, you probably watch your calories very closely.  To assist you with your calorie watching when dining out, these tips will help you make the most of it.

-  Always order salad dressings or sauces on the side, as this way you have control over how much you add
to your meal.

-  When you order grilled fish or vegetables, you should ask that the food be grilled without butter or oil, or prepared with very little or either or.

-  Anytime you order pasta dishes, be on the lookout for tomato based sauces instead of the cream based
sauces.  Tomato based sauces are much lower in fat and calories, and tomato sauce can even be counted as a vegetable!

-  You should always try to drink water, diet soda, or tea instead of soda or beverages that contain alcohol. 

-  If you order dessert, share with a friend. Half  of the dessert will equal half of the calories.

-  When you choose a soup, remember that cream based soups are higher in fat and calories than other soups.  A soup can be a great appetizer, as most are low in calories and you fill you up pretty fast.

-  When ordering a baked potato, ask for salsa instead of sour cream, butter, cheese, or even bacon.  Salsa
is very low in calories and provides a healthy alternative with plenty of flavor and spice.

-  When you are full, stop eating.  Listen to your body and what it tells you.

-  If you get full, take half of your meal home. The second portion of your meal can serve as a second meal later.  This way, you get two meals for the price of one.

-  If you're looking to eat less, order two appetizers or an appetizer and a salad as your meal.

-  If you get a choice of side dishes, get a baked potato or steamed vegetables instead of french fries. 

-  Always look for food on the menu that's baked, grilled, broiled, poached, or steamed.  These types
of cooking use less fat in the cooking process and are usually much lower in calories.

-  Plain bread or rolls are low in both fat and calories.  When you add the butter and oil, you increase the fat and calorie intake.

-  As key ingredients to your meal, choose dishes with fruits and vegetables.  Both fruits and  vegetables are great sources of dietary fiber as well as many vitamins and minerals.

-  Choose foods made with whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and dishes made with brown rice.

-  If you crave dessert, look for something with low fat, such as berries or fruit.

-  Always remember not to deprive yourself of the foods you truly love.  All types of foods can fit into a well balanced diet.