Make Living Healthy a Family Affair This Fall
Your kids are developing eating habits that they will carry through the rest of their lives, determining to a large degree whether they grow up strong and healthy or indulge in junk food and suffer the consequences. Now’s the best time to steer them in the right direction, as the warm weather generates a veritable bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that are yours for the taking to prepare delicious and well-balanced meals that everyone will enjoy.Here are some tips to make this a reality in your home.Visit the Farmers MarketIf you’ve got a hankering for something fresh but no time to garden, then this is the next best thing. You’ll get everything you need for a spectacular salad or radiant ratatouille while supporting your local economy and teaching your kids an important lesson about where their food comes from. Their eyes will be dazzled by the variety of fruits and veggies on offer, many of which they’ve never seen at the local supermarket.Read LabelsOf course, there’s nothing wrong with where you usually do your grocery shopping as long as you pay careful attention to what you’re buying. One doctor speaking to Women’s Health suggests spending some time in the cheapest aisles, as that’s where you’ll find healthy items like whole grains. Also, make sure that you stick to your list, pick items that have the least ingredients on the label, and avoid sugar, salt, and fat.Cook the Right WaySome methods of preparing foods are better than others, and that goes for taste as well as nutrition. On the lower end, there’s fat-heavy deep-frying, which should be avoided except perhaps on special occasions. Boiling, on the other hand, requires no additional oil whatsoever, and neither does steaming, which brings out the best flavors in veggies like snap peas and broccoli. Poaching and broiling also have their merits for certain recipes.Soup Up Your KitchenYour adventures in healthy cooking will be much easier with all the right equipment easily at hand. A few must-haves include the 10-piece All-Clad 401488R Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set, as well as the 10-piece Bulbhead – Red Copper Ceramic Cookware Set, and the 17-piece Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Non-Stick Hard Anodized Set. Match those masterpieces with a proper set of knives and you’re ready for action.Take it OutsideOne of the most fun ways to cook is grilling on the barbecue, and dad would certainly agree with that verdict. It’s also relatively healthy, requiring very little fats and oils as the open flames give your meal all the savor it needs. The health nuts at Self have a few suggestions to ensure everyone’s getting the nutrition they need, such as throwing only lean proteins on the fire along with some veggie kebabs.Now you’ve got the whole family on the right track with healthy habits that will keep them fit well into the fall, winter and beyond. If you really want to kick things up a notch, plan a few outings in the sun, like a hike or a day at the beach, where everyone can get some exercise. And don’t forget to pack a nice picnic basket full of fresh fruits and veggies.
