Plan Your Meals

You know the feeling, you are driving home, stuck in traffic, you woke up late and worked an extra hour—the last thing you want to do is to make dinner. This scenario often results in stopping by Popeye’s or throwing whatever you have at home together at the last minute. Planning your meals will allow you to have your refrigerator stocked, and ideally your food already prepared. What I do is cook for the week on Sunday night; that way I have dinner ready to heat up when I get home from work on Monday. Another thing I like to do is use my slow cooker, this way my dinner was cooking all day and is finished when I walk in the door!

Make a List and Stick to It

After you have planned your meals make a list of items you will need. The time it takes to make a grocery list will save you money and calories. Making a list will prevent you from purchasing impulse items at the grocery store, which are most often high-calorie snack foods. It will also help you stick to a budget, if you know what you are going in for you won’t just buy things because they are on sale but because you know you will use them. Writing down what you plan to buy will also help you take a second glance at the foods in your diet. Use the list Ann gave you last week as a start!

Have Backup Plans

I am a realist, I understand that there will be weeks and days when cooking just isn’t feasible. In this case have your backups. When I use the slow cooker, since it is just my husband and I we usually freeze half of it. That way for weeks when I don’t have time to cook we have a meal ready to defrost. It might also work for you to keep a few Lean Cuisines or Smart Ones in the freezer. No, these aren’t home cooked meals, but they are portion controlled for a last minute option. Lastly, my go to on really busy nights is peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread—a little protein, fiber and you are good to go.

The key to taking steps towards healthy eating is thinking ahead, planning, making lists, and having alternatives in place when life seems to get too busy. I challenge you to plan your meals for the next week, see how it goes, let me know what challenges you face and if it seemed easy or difficult.

Come back next week for tips on healthy grab-and-go breakfasts!

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Lauren Futrell Dunaway, MPH, RD, graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Dietetics.  She then completed her dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After becoming a Registered Dietitian, she began to pursue a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Lauren currently works at the Tulane Prevention Research Center as a program manager for their core research project focusing on the built environment and how it affects obesity. Contact Lauren at befitnolard@gmail.com

Yesterday, I attended 1 one of the 3 Transition New Orleans Recreation Task Force Public Meetings – held by the New Orleans Recreation Department Citizens Advisory Panel (NORDcap). The goal of NORDcap is to provide recommendations for the development of high quality, broad-based playgrounds, facilities, programs and services creating a sense of community, enabling a safe and secure environment, and enhancing New Orleans’ quality of life.

By far the biggest thing that clearly stood out last night is how extremely passionate the citizens of New Orleans are about improving recreational opportunities and facilities because of how critical it is to the proper formation of our youths.

Coaches, parents, children and communities leaders stood up one by one; taking their 2 minutes and 30 seconds to express their concerns, disappointment, and burning desire to see changes in NORD and to see community parks, facilities and programs returned and be properly managed.

In the last five years, since Katrina, it’s clear that the citizens of the city, the parents, coaches, booster clubs and volunteers have put forth the efforts, the money, the time, love, and care in reviving the parks, and organizing the programs.  The citizens of New Orleans are heart broken by the recent raise of violence and are demanding change and better opportunities, and programs for the kids in the city.

The members of the NORDcap chaired by Rod West, CEO, Entergy New Orleans, Inc. and Roy Glapion, Founder and past President, Citywide Testing & Inspections, Inc., listened carefully, took notes and have a big job to fill in making the best possible recommendations to Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

To find out more about the New Orleans Recreation Task Force I recommend listening to the New Orleans Recreation Department Citizens Advisory Panel presentation to the New Orleans City Council, August 28, 2009 – Rod West clearly articulates the current situation, the issues that need to be addressed, the challenges ahead, and mission NORDcap has undertaken.

I personally stood up last night, stepped to the microphone and expressed that as the parks and recreation centers are revived, it’s critical that the entire family and community is taken into account. As the CEO of Be Fit NOLA – what I’ve discovered is how many people have no access to any kinds of facilities or ability to exercise and workout.  I do believe it’s critical to setup programs for kids but it’s also imperative to give parents access to exercise programs and equipment.  Lets setup Green Gyms in our parks…lets invest in the health of the citizens in New Orleans by providing parks and recreation centers that support all – people of all ages.

I really hope that amazing things will happen in the next few years…real change, real improvement, real innovation.

Per my previous post - time to talk about program structure and design.  Everyone who enters a gym has their own unique goals based on their body type, lifestyle and work schedule.  While conducting the initial evaluation, the personal trainer (PT) should be talking to you to understand how you’ve been training, any areas of concern, any injuries, certain things you can’t do, etc…  All of these details will help the PT when designing your program.  It’s much better to know that type of information up front instead of learning about it after the program is designed and you’re getting ready to do the exercise for the first time.

What you should understand is you’re paying a PT to design a program custom made for your specific needs – that’s the point/purpose of hiring a personal trainer and essentially what personal training means.

Probably one of the most sought after goals clients have is to tone up, lose body fat and drop weight – those 3 goals essentially go hand-in-hand.  The various types of training that exist to meet those goals are limitless; a good personal trainer can be pretty creative with exercise in maximizing results.  Since a client will generally have a one hour session 2-3 times per week, it’s incumbent upon the PT to provide the client with the best program that will maximize results in that rather short period of time.  In order to make that possible, the PT should have knowledge with regard to the human body (physiological effects, biomechanics, kinesiology, etc…) and how it works relative to the client’s lifestyle.  You can’t just take cookie-cutter workouts and expect them to work for everyone.

Here’s a general example of what I’m referring to when I talk about custom made program designs; I’ll use 3 of my clients as an example.

• 3 clients, 3 different body types, 3 different lifestyles but the SAME goal; all 3 of their programs are different and use a variety of different types of exercise.  One client does more cardio than the others.  Once client lifts heavier weights and has less rest in between sets.  One client has an injury and can’t do many of the traditional exercises that most people take for granted.  Some of the training that is incorporated into their program designs are interval training, supersets, drop sets and core conditioning, to name a few.  I can’t take one workout and make it work for all three, even though they all have the same goal.  Having just described all of this too, more than likely this will change very quickly as they become more conditioned and their endurance increases.

In the next few posts we can discuss some of the methods of training I mentioned above: supersets, interval training and core conditioning.  Some of you are probably wondering what those are.

Here are a couple of tips:

• If you have a good trainer, he or she will explain the importance of diet & nutrition as they will work in synergy with your training program.  You can work as hard as you possibly can in the gym but when and what you eat will make or break all the hard work.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the personal trainer questions.  Make he or she answer your questions in a manner you understand.  Too many times, I see personal trainers try to talk around the questions and use big words to make you think they know what they’re talking about.  Chances are, if they can’t explain it to you in a way you can understand it then they probably don’t really understand it themselves.

Well…I’ve got something good for you today courtesy of Ochsner and Rouses.  Now, mind you, this list does not obligate you to shop at Rouses…

What is this list?!?  Ochsner nutritionist Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD has handpicked a list of groceries guaranteed to boost the quality of your diet. By filling your shopping cart with these items, you’ll be reducing or eliminating your intake of saturated and trans fats and processed carbohydrates, and increasing whole grain, protein-rich and vitamin/mineral-rich foods in your diet.

The list is separated by produce, meat, dry food, condiments & sauces, poultry & eggs, dairy, seafood and so on.  This is an extremely thorough and helpful list.

You can find the the full list at Choose Healthy Grocery List - here is a look at what’s on the list.

Hot and Cold Cereals
Cold
Kellogg’s Special K Protein Plus
Post Brand Flakes
Post Shredded Wheat: original
Post Shredded Wheat: spoon size
Quaker Crunchy Corn bran…

Bread
Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat Bagel
Pepperidge Farm Natural Whole Grain 15 Bread
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain English Muffin (100% whole wheat)
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Oatmeal Bread
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bagel
Thomas Hearty Whole Wheat Mini-Bagel…

Frozen Vegetables
Edamame
Ore-Ida Roasted Potatoes: Original
Best Yet: green peppers, cut-leaf spinach, lima beans, cut okra, broccoli, cut carrots, collard greens, black eye peas, butter beans
Pict Sweet: carrots, butter beans, purple-hulled peas, sliced yellow squash, mixed greens, chopped turnip

Canned Goods
StarKist Chunk Lite Tuna in Water
Chicken of the Sea Pink Salmon
StarKist Yellowfin Tuna Fillets (Pouches)
Hormel Breast of Chicken in Water
BlueRunner Creole Cream-style Red Beans
BlueRunner Creole Cream-style Navy Beans

Rice, Dried Beans, Pasta
Basmati Rice: All brands
Brown Rice: All brands
Dried Beans (pinto, kidney, navy, lima, black-eyed, etc.)
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Whole Grain Pasta
HeartLand 100% Whole Wheat Spaghetti
Barilla Plus Spaghetti & Penne Pasta

Print out the list and make your grocery shopping off of that list – choose recipes that use the ingredients on that list and eat in moderation.  Continue to read the blogs posts from our wonderful registered dietitians Lauren and Steve, for more tips, information and nutritional advice.  We do like to keep things simple around here!

For a quick review…in the last post on this topic, we discussed establishing structure by: setting a workout schedule, establishing your home gym, ensuring your write out your weekly workout plan, investing in the proper equipment you will need, setting realistic goals and including activities like walking, running and biking into your routine.

Do It Yourself (DIY) Routines

If you aren’t ready to invest the time in creating your own routines – the best thing to do is to get the right home workout video series.  An example of a great workout series we discussed in the past is P90X. Between paying for the DVDs and the equipment you’ll need – the cost will be approximately $300.

If you want to truly create your own routine…than you can do so for free or very little money with websites like:

Exercise TV: What I like about Exercise TV is that they will put a workout routine together for you and break it down from day to day. I’m a little hesitant to say that following their guidelines is enough…but it’s certainly a good start.

yogadownload.com: Yogadownload.com is a great way for you to include yoga to your DIY routines. Many of the 20 minute workouts are free to download and the cost to download longer videos is very inexpensive.

Don’t Weight To Lose YouTube Channel: Our own local motivator Jacques Courseault created a series of workout videos that you can do with just using a resistance band – which counts as resistance training.

SparksPeople YouTube Channel: To be honest, there are a lot of various workout channels on YouTube – so if you take the time to check them out; you’ll be able to line up the workouts you need to put a good routine together for FREE.

Creating your DIY Routines

1. Watch and Tag Videos – watch a lot of videos of various lengths to know exactly what the video will require of you, the intensity of the workouts and whether or not you would enjoy doing the workout(s). Tag all the videos accordingly, i.e. high intensity cardio, yoga routine, low intensity cardio, bicep, shoulder and back workout…etc.  You might actually want to use a bookmarking site to do this.

2. Mix and Match – Start planning your routines by mix and matching your videos.  If you are trying to lose weight, than you need to be doing 40-60 minutes of cardio…preferably 5 times a week and resistance training 3 times a week. Remember…add going for a walk, run or long bike ride in your routines.

Example One Week DIY Routine:

Monday – 3 miles run/walk (depending on your level of fitness), abs workout video

Tuesday – (2) 20 minutes workout videos medium intensity and arms and back resistance workout

Wednesday – Rest Day

Thursday – 1 hour of yoga video and abs workout video

Friday – Bike ride and shoulders resistance workout

Saturday – Rest Day

Sunday – (2) 25 minutes workout videos ((1) high intensity (1) low intensity) and calves, legs resistance workout, abs workout

Yes…I know – that is a lot of planning!! But that’s what it takes to save money by working out at home.

A stumbling block to a healthful diet is deprivation. People think that it is all or nothing and that there are “good foods” and “bad foods.” One key to sticking to your plan is tricking yourself with treats so to speak. This doesn’t mean eating a piece of candy every time you need a little motivation, but it does mean giving yourself desserts, snacks and other rewards!

Sweet Treats

Don’t worry about giving into your sweet tooth, instead plan ahead and have healthier dessert options in your refrigerator and pantry. Make a fruit and yogurt parfait, peach pie smoothie, or a tropical fruit pizza. Other options are having individual ice cream bars, popsicles, or ice cream cups on hand so you can control the portions and you know how many calories you are eating.

Safe Snacking

If you are feeling the urge to snack in the afternoon, go ahead! Making healthy changes  doesn’t mean you have to be hungry! Again the idea is to plan ahead so you aren’t running  to the vending machine at 3 pm and your only choices are chips or a candy bar. Keep  nutritious snacks on hand like nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. Bring some celery and carrots  with hummus, or some crackers with peanut butter. Aim for about two 100-150 calorie  snacks if you are eating three solid meals a day.

Reach for Rewards

Treats don’t always have to mean food. Set goals for yourself and when you accomplish them reward yourself! If you are aiming to lose weight, reward yourself at your half-way point with some new work out clothes, and when you reach that goal those new jeans you never thought you could buy! Whatever motivates you, shoes, dvds, music, give yourself prizes when you eat healthy for a week, or try four new foods each month.

The trick to sticking with healthy eating is finding what motivates you, of course within moderation. Planning ahead for desserts and snacks will leave you satisfied but not feeling guilty, and those new shoes you’ve been eyeing are calorie free! So if you have a sweet tooth like me, need an afternoon snack to keep you going, or like setting goals and reaching them, find the treat that works for you!

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Lauren Futrell Dunaway, MPH, RD, graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Dietetics.  She then completed her dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After becoming a Registered Dietitian, she began to pursue a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Lauren currently works at the Tulane Prevention Research Center as a program manager for their core research project focusing on the built environment and how it affects obesity.

Fill each basket with healthy items i.e. sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free Life Savers, sugar-free suckers and carrots – cuts the sugar and calories

Use colored plastic Easter eggs for scavenger hunts – using real boiled eggs can put the little one’s at risk of food illness – when eating real eggs don’t let them sit at room temperatures for more than 2 hours

Avoid all-you-can eat buffets on Easter Sunday; opt for restaurants that offer a la carte menu items – this will help eliminate adding extra calories to your meal

Try giving kids non-edible items in their baskets such as Easter erasers, stickers, pencils, tattoos, coloring books and toys (Hot Wheels for boys and dolls for girls) instead of traditional high calorie sweets.

Limit egg consumption around this holiday – one regular egg has 210mg of Cholesterol – it is recommended to eat only 300mg of Cholesterol per day – choose brands like Christopher eggs and Eggland’s Best – these brands have less cholesterol/Saturated (unhealthy) fat and added omega fats + vitamins for heart heath in their eggs.

Add a little physical to your holiday gatherings – hide physical activity games in the plastic eggs i.e. Hop like the Easter bunny to find the next egg or try egg toss contests and spoon egg races or take the family out to see the Chris Owens Easter parade in the French Quarter which starts at 1pm or check-out the Easter on the Avenue on St. Charles at 12:15pm.  The Parade will start at Emeril’s Delmonico Restaurant and make its way around Lee Circle, then up Cadiz Street where it turns around and returns to the restaurant.

Freeze fruit and offer natural sugar/sugar-free drinks instead of giving the children candy – the sweeter fruits work best i.e. papaya, berries, grapes/grape juice, sugar free Hawaiian punch mix

If you must go for the traditional sweets – go for Elmer’s dark chocolate heavenly hash and Gold brick eggs – you can also buy Hershey’s dark chocolate bars and melt them into a fondue bowl – dip strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, and nuts in to make a yummy dessert

For more information on healthy Easter recipes and meal ideas, visit the EatingWell Magazine.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Steve J. Roch Jr., RD, LDN, CFT is a registered and licensed dietitian. He is also a certified personal trainer. Steve is the owner and president of BestRD Wellness, LLC, a company that provides nutrition therapy and wellness services to residents and businesses in the areas of New Orleans and South Louisiana. Steve can be contacted by email at steve@bestrdwellness.com.

Image via Wikipedia

We’ve covered the basics of a healthy eating plan over the past two weeks but within those categories there are new things to try and new favorites to be found!

One reason people don’t stick with healthy eating plans they try is it seems that there are only certain things they can eat or they don’t like the way the “healthy” food tastes.

Within the food groups we’ve discussed over the past two weeks there is a wide range of choices and selections to find things that you not only enjoy but that are healthy too!

All it takes is being willing to try something new and before you know it you will have an expanded grocery list. Try one of these suggestions this month and you might be surprised with a new favorite food!

• Start Small—Try foods similar to those you like. If you like mashed potatoes, try smashed cauliflower, if you like meat loaf try making it with ground turkey.

• Branch Out—Do you eat the same meat all the time? Instead of beef or chicken try a new fish. Head to the fish counter and ask for suggestions for a local catch. A recipe for that locally caught mahi mahi is only finger tips away with websites like www.allrecipes.com, www.cookinglight.com, and one of my personal favorites www.healthylivingwithellie.com (recipes from a dietitian that taste great!).

• Switch Sides and Snacks—Sides and snacks are a good way to incorporate new foods because you don’t have to commit to a main dish. Try a handful of walnuts, sunflower seeds, or dried fruits for a snack. For a side, choose polenta or couscous instead of rice

• Have Fun—Try new foods with friends. Have a potluck and have each person bring a new recipe for the group to try. Feeling brave? Go out to a new restaurant with friends and let the server decide what you will eat based on what most people order.

A healthy eating plan that is designed by you and incorporates new and old favorites will be much more sustainable than eating foods you don’t really enjoy but eat them because you are “supposed to”. So step out, try a new fish, sauté your vegetables instead of boiling them, choose a new fruit to add to the grocery list each week. Before you know it you will find healthy favorites to keep you satisfied and on track.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Lauren Futrell Dunaway, MPH, RD, graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Dietetics.  She then completed her dietetic internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After becoming a Registered Dietitian, she began to pursue a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Lauren currently works at the Tulane Prevention Research Center as a program manager for their core research project focusing on the built environment and how it affects obesity.

Many of you might have never heard of us before but rather seeked out the advice of ‘Nutritionists’ for nutrition counseling – beware! In Louisiana, an individual may only promote themselves as a Nutritionist if they are also a RD or vice versa. Self-proclaimed Nutritionists do not hold the necessary credentials nor have they undergone the training or posses the knowledge to provide you with safe and accurate nutrition recommendations.

I’ve been involved with health and wellness for over 15 years and during that time personally witnessed many ‘self proclaimed nutrition experts’ give clients (you) diseases/illness specific nutrition advice that is dangerous and potentially harmful! The truth is…following dietary instructions from non-licensed individuals can drastically increase your chances of injury or sickness for you and your family. Just because someone eats or looks like a Greek statue does not mean they can tell you how to eat for your specific health conditions.

The most frequent offenders of non-licensed people you have to be most careful of are: multi-level marketers, health food store salespersons, personal trainers, former bodybuilders, some allied health professionals and friends and neighbors who may all be good intentioned, but misinformed about the science of nutrition and how it can affect our body. Now, before I get blasted with your comments for picking on these folks – let me say that some helpful health information may be collected from the aforementioned population. They may promote non-specific nutrition information to you such as: following the food guide pyramid, eat your fruits and vegetables, and tips on cutting calories which will help you lose weight, etc.

However, the moment they give you a specific diet i.e. eating program to lower your cholesterol – it’s illegal! According to the Louisiana Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition which is the credentialing agency for RDs and watch dog for nutrition fraud in our state – it’s illegal for any person’s other than a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (LDN), Medical Doctor, Dentist, Osteopath, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist or Chiropractor to give out specific dietary instructions to treat an illness.

You may be asking yourself – why is the RD the food and nutrition expert? Good question. The American Dietetic Association Commission on Dietetic Registration (ADA-CDR) has worked with major colleges and universities throughout America to set up educational guidelines for RDs. A high school graduate interested in becoming a RD must complete 3 steps –

1) Enroll in a 4-5 year dietetic program in an accredited university which classes include: medical nutrition therapy, cultural nutrition and counseling, nutrition assessment, organic and biochemistry, healthy cooking/food technology as well as many other medical and science based courses;

2) Complete a 1200 hour (~12 month) dietetic internship program from an approved college;

3) Pass a national exam from the ADA CDR.

Additionally, we must complete 75 hours of continuing education every five years to stay up-to-date. So, as you can see, we do not only take a weekend course in nutrition. Every RD makes a commitment to the pursuit of lifelong learning to help to provide their clients with reliable scientific nutrition information. So, when you are looking for help with your eating habits – make an appointment with a RD/LDN!

For more reading on how to report someone who is giving out illegal or dangerous nutrition information, check out the Louisiana Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition Website.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Steve J. Roch Jr., RD, LDN, CFT is a registered and licensed dietitian. He is also a certified personal trainer. Steve is the owner and president of BestRD Wellness, LLC, a company that provides nutrition therapy and wellness services to residents and businesses in the areas of New Orleans and South Louisiana. Steve can be contacted by email at steve@bestrdwellness.com.

Fruits and vegetables come in many shapes, sizes, varieties and tastes. Many of us shun the idea of 5-A-Day, because we have this build in phobia that we acquired somewhere in our lives that fruits and vegetables ‘esp. vegetables’ taste bad. It does not have to be this way. Fruits and veggies are what we make them to be. They can be mouth watering and irresistible or they can taste like a lump of clay in our mouth – it’s all in the preparation.

If you just chomp down on a raw eggplant – no that’s not too appealing. However, if you stuff it with a trio of seafood, bread crumb’s and spices – we love it. Many clients I’ve counseled over the years had never tasted or experimented with uncommon fruits and veggies in our area. Some examples include: papaya, horned melon, kale, sprouts, kiwi, parsnips, lentils or garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and varieties of lettuce (butterhead, arugula or watercress). Another fear of my clients is not knowing how much to eat. We’ll get to what counts as a portion in a couple of weeks.

Provided below are tips that offer you ideas on how to get more fruits and vegetables into your daily meal planning. If you put a little thought into getting 5-A-Day – it’s very possible to meet your objective.

20 Ways to Get More Fruits And Vegetables In Your Diet

1. Grab an apple, orange, bag of grapes as you walk out the door and much on during your morning commute.

2. Before eating that fried shrimp Po-boy for lunch – order a house/green salad when dinning out.

3. Choose a ready-to-eat fruit cup instead of chips, candy bar or unhealthy sweets.

4. Add some veggies such as mushrooms (Red Hill local brand at Rouses), tomatoes, onions, green peppers, squash, zucchini to the grill when planning a BBQ.

5. Dip a few bananas into liquid dark chocolate (50 – 60% cocoa) and freeze for a couple of hours – kids love these.

6. Make a vegetable pizza for the family – load it up with carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, onions and other favorite veggies.

7. Add Louisiana blueberries, blackberries or raspberries to pep up your morning breakfast cereal.

8. Try a meatless dish for dinner – examples include: roasted veggie lasagna, broccoli and tofu stir fry, veggie fajitas, replace angel hair spaghetti with spaghetti squash marinara or red beans and rice w/o the sausage.

9. Pack a small bag of dried apricots, apples, prunes, pineapples, and cranberries for a healthy snack.

10. Substitutions – use veggies instead of original ingredients i.e.: spaghetti squash for wheat spaghetti, mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes, eggplants instead of veal parmesan.

11. Stop by and get a smoothie from Smoothie King for a snack – ask to double your fruit (strawberry) on drinks like the Caribbean way and Muscle Punch – but ask to wash the fruit to avoid too much sugar

12. Visit a Mediterranean restaurant – Acropolis on Vets in Metairie is a favorite of mine – order dishes like Hummus – which is made from chickpeas, Baba Ganoush – made from eggplant, Greek Salad – made with tons of veggies, or Spanakopita – made with spinach

13. Add some canned ‘no sugar added’ fruit cocktail to Jello and feed the family

14. Marinate some veggies of your choice and a dash of Tony Chachere’s (low sodium of course) or some of Chef Paul’s Magic seasoing and water overnight – I recommend using carrots, cucumber, bell pepper, celery and/or okra

15. Throw in some pears, mango, plums or grapefruit to take your ordinary vanilla yogurt blossom with flavor and nutrition

16. If cooking at home – try a traditional old style Italian side – wrap prosciutto around asparagus, sprinkle a little black pepper and extra virgin olive oil (first press) and bake for about 20 minutes – you can also wrap prosciutto around cantaloupe or honeydew melon or both for a nice appetizer

17. For a healthy dessert – slice some fresh or canned peaches, fresh or canned cherries, fresh kiwi or raisins on angle food or sponge cake

18. Participate with your children in community sponsored gardens – you take home and eat – nothing beats local. If you child’s school does not participate in this concept – volunteer with the school to start one

19. If dining out or eating at home – make it a Mexican night – choose guacamole, salad, salsa, tacos stuffed with veggies, gazpacho soup

20. Add some baked sweet potatoes or pumpkin with a little margarine and cinnamon to your pork or chicken meal as a healthy side

For more tips about how to create a successful home garden or to participate in community based gardening visit the LSU Agricultural Centers Website. For recipes, check out the CDC Fruit and Vegetable More Matters.

I also encourage ya’ll to go buy a fruit and vegetable cookbook – Vegetarian Times and Cooking Light are recommended – and start trying some new foods or put a new face on an fruit or veggie that you’ve tried before, but did not prefer. Remember that you’ll never know if you like something if you don’t try it (at least once or twice).

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Steve J. Roch Jr., RD, LDN, CFT is a registered and licensed dietitian. He is also a certified personal trainer. Steve is the owner and president of BestRD Wellness, LLC, a company that provides nutrition therapy and wellness services to residents and businesses in the areas of New Orleans and South Louisiana. Steve can be contacted by email at steve@bestrdwellness.com.