Archive for the Category ◊ diet ◊

The Nesco/American Harvest Food Dehydrator Is Always There For You
Author:
•

 

Having been the leader in food dehydration for over 30 years, Nesco/American Harvest is considered to have the best food dehydrators in the world.  Nesco/American Harvest Food Dehydrator processes fruits, vegetables and jerky for times of need, like the times we are experiencing this winter with some severe snow and ice storms. Without a doubt the Nesco/American Harvest food dehydrator is always there for you.

A food dehydrator will take the worry out of being house bound during blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, etc .and facing the dilemma of finding the shelves in your grocery store bare.  You will always have vegetables, fruits and meat to create wonderful soups and stews or delicious desserts, just to mention a few.

A food dehydrator can save you money.  If you are a gardener,  here the perfect way to utilize your crops for future use.  Or if your local store is running a sale on produce you can buy at a lower price and dehydrate for later use at a savings!  Fruits are very tasty when dehydrated as well.  I especially like apples, strawberries and pineapple.  With the fruits you can also make fruit leathers, which most children love.

Below is a list of drying information for various vegetables and fruits:

Vegetables:

  • Beans, green:Stem and break beans into 1-inch pieces.Blanch. Dry 6-12 hours until brittle.
  • Beets: Cook and peel beets. Cut into 1/4-inch pieces. Dry 3-10 hours until leathery.
  • Broccoli: Cut and dry 4-10 hours.
  • Carrots: Peel, slice or shred. Dry 6-12 hours until almost brittle.
  • Cauliflower: Cut and dry 6-14 hours.
  • Corn:Cut corn off cob after blanching and dry 6-12 hours until brittle.
  • Mushrooms: Brush off, don’t wash. Dry at 90 degrees for 3 hours, and then 125 degrees for the remaining drying time. Dry 4-10 hours until brittle.
  • Onions: Slice 1/4-inch thick. Dry 6-12 hours until crisp.
  • Peas: Dry 5-14 hours until brittle.
  • Peppers, sweet: Remove seeds and chop. Dry 5-12 hours until leathery.
  • Potatoes: Slice 1/8-inch thick. Dry 6-12 hours until crisp.
  • Tomatoes: Dip in boiling water to loosen skins, peel,slice or quarter. Dry 6-12 hours until crisp.
  • Zucchini: Slice 1/8-inch thick and dry 5-10 hours until brittle.

Fruits:

  • Apples:Peel, core and slice into 3/8-inch rings, or cut into 1/4-inch slices. Pretreat and dry 6-12 hours until pliable.
  • Apricots: Cut in half and turn inside out to dry. Pretreat and dry 8-20 hours until pliable.
  • Bananas: Peel, cut into 1/4-inch slices and pretreat. Dry 8-16 hours until plialbe or almost crisp.
  • Blueberries: Dry 10-20 hours until leathery.
  • Cherries: Cut in half and dry 18-26 hours until leathery and slightly sticky.
  • Peaches: Peel,halve or quarter. Pretreat and dry 6-20 hours until pliable.
  • Pears: Peel, cut into 1/4-inch slices, and pretreat. Dry 6-20 hours until leathery.
  • Pineapple: Core and slice 1/4-inch thick. Dry 6-16 hours until leathery and not sticky.
  • Strawberries: Halve or cut into 1/4-inch thick slices. Dry 6-16 hours until pliable and almost crisp.

You can pre-treat your fruit with lemon juice or ascorbic acid so it won’t darken while you are preparing it for drying. Just slice the fruit into the solution and soak for 5 minutes.

Dried fruits can also be used to make beautiful wreaths and swags for gifts combined with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves.  These last for years and you can refresh their fragrance with a spritz of cinnamon oil.

Here is how you would prepare your fruits and vegetables for use in your recipes:

  • Apples: Add 1 1/2 C. warm water to 1 C. apples and soak for 1/2 hour.
  • Beans, green: Add 2 1/4 C. boiling water to 1 C. beans and soak for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Beets: Add 2 3/4 C. boiling water to 1 C. beets and soak for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Carrots: Add 2 1/4 C. boiling water to 1 C. carrots and soak for 1 hour.
  • Corn: Add 2 1/4 C. boiling water to 1 C. Corn and soak for 1/2 hour.
  • Onions: Add 2 C. boiling water to 1 C. onions and soak for 1 hour.
  • Peaches: Add 2 C. warm water to 1 C. peaches and soak for 1 1/4 hour.
  • Pears: Add 1 3/4 C. warm water to 1 C. pears and soak for 1 hour.
  • Peas: Add 2 1/2 C. boiling water to 1 C. peas and soak for 1/2 hour.
  • Potatoes: Add 1 1/2 C. boiling water to 1 C. potatoes and soak for 1/2 hour.

Many people enjoy meat jerky. Jerky does not store as long as fruits and vegetables. For storage longer than a month you will want to consider storage in the freezer or refrigerator. To aid in the curing of jerky, meat must be marinated in salt and spices. In days of old people used 1 1/2 cups pickling salt to 1 gallon of water and soaked the meat strips in this for a couple of days.  Below are several marinade recipes for you to choose from. You will want to marinade the meat strips overnight.

Jerky Marinade No.1

  • 1/4 C. Soy sauce
  • 2 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 t. pepper
  • 1/2 t. garlic powder
  • 1 t. liquid smoke
  • 1 t. salt

Jerky Marinade No.2

  • 4 t. salt
  • 1 t. pepper
  • 1 t. chili powder
  • 1 t. garlic powder
  • 1 t. liquid smoke
  • 1/2 C. water

Jerky Marinade No.3

  • 1 C. ketchup
  • 1/2 C. vinegar
  • 1/4 C Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2 t. dry mustard
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1/2 t. pepper

In checking the shelf life of dehydrated fruits and vegetables most resources recommended one year.  Be sure your items are stored in a dry environment.

If you are an avid camper, a dehydrator can help in the preparation of awesome trail mix!!  There are many recipes and suggestions on the internet proving the Nesco/American Harvest  FD-80 Square- Shaped Food Dehydrator Is always there for you. To learn more information about this dehydrator please click on this link:



Category: Camping, diet, family, gardening, health, Helpful Hints, home, Hurricane Preparedness  | Tags: , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Obesity in Children
Author:
•

The news has been laden with the fact that obesity in children is reaching overwhelming percentages.  I hope the following information will be helpful to parents seeking solutions to this situation.  I would like to preface this article by saying I was an obese child.  At the age of 13 I was around 5 feet tall I weighed in at 160 pounds.  My heart goes out to children in this category as I know it was not a happy time in my life.

As was my case, research shows that the root of the problem with our children, as with adults, is that we are suffering from emotional eating.  My mother, unfortunately, was not well versed on healthy nutrition and if I was having a difficult day or feeling upset her usual solution was, “Go get a dish of ice cream.”  Now truthfully, that was the last thing I needed!

Childhood and adolescence obesity increases the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes as a youth. One disease of particular concern is Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and has increased dramatically in children and adolescents, particularly in American Indian, African American and Hispanic/Latino populations.

Family environment can definitely add to emotional eating problems.  With the divorce rate on the rise as well, a lot of children are dealing with split custody situations.  Or, if the parents are choosing to stay together for the sake of the children, the increased tension in the household between the parents does not promote a healthy environment.

Lack of healthy communication and support between parents and their children creates insecurity within the child and only adds to the challenges they are facing in their lives.  Quality time spent with your children is much more important than quantity of time.  With a lot of parents having to work two jobs to make ends meet with our economic crisis it is difficult to spend quality time with their children.  Let’s face it by the time you get home after working two jobs you barely have the energy to climb into bed let alone have a good one on one conversation with our children.

While on the issue of time this prompts another issue.  Fast- food, or prepared foods you pick up at the grocery store are not going to be as healthy as meals you personally prepare taking into consideration the nutritional value of what you are eating.  Remember excessive calories and lack of exercise is going to result in stored fat!

Children who come home after school and spend hours alone may not be making the healthiest food choices.  Be sure that the snacks that are available are not going to sabotage a good eating program.  It might take some extra planning on your part, but it will definitely be worth it.  The internet is full of tips and suggestions for making right food choices.

Being overweight causes self esteem problems amongst peers causing self-induced pressure and leading to a child feeling very overwhelmed.  Overweight children lack popularity with other children.  It is sad to say, but it is true.  They end up feeling “different” and alone.

When children are experiencing these situations they turn to something to lessen these feelings.  Some children turn to “comfort food”.  This is a real problem.  Instead of being able to sit down and talk over what is bothering them, children turn to a dish of ice cream, a bowl of cookies and a glass of milk, or other less than nutritious food choices.

Before dealing with the food issue, it is important to recognize if there are other issues involved.  Create a healthy communication and support system for your child.  Once that is established it will be a lot easier to get the message about healthy nutrition and exercise across and show them the process that will benefit them, not only now in their younger years but even as an adult.

Healthy, fit bodies fill our air waves putting more stress on those of us, children and adults alike, whose bodies are not picture perfect.  Vitality takes second place to physical appearance.

Living a healthy life involves much more than just your appearance.  Exercise, healthy food and nutrition choices will play a big part in the quality of your child’s life now and later.  It is important to get your child’s attention by sharing with them the illnesses mentioned previously in this article that can be directly related to obesity.  Choose the tactics you will use with your child before you delve into your conversation.  Perhaps there is a family member that suffers, or suffered from illnesses related to obesity.

There are many mixed messages out there.  It is important for parents to be involved with proper education in helping their children.  Too often the blame is placed on the school lunch program or someone else responsible for caring for the child.

In closing, I personally feel that a good way to approach a situation with an overweight child is to make it a family effort.  Everyone in the family can do well to learn better eating habits and a healthy exercise routine.  Our children have an overabundance of video games. Unlike the “days of old” when kids were out playing ball or other outdoor activities, many children sit for hours in front of video games.  The Wii System can be an asset with its many programs that get children up and moving.

Yes, obesity is a hard thing to deal with.  As I am finishing up this article the thought crossed my mind that this is a situation that can be challenging to deal with, but the same situations that cause emotional eating habits can also drive children into much more serious problems, like drugs.

Our children are valuable human beings.  God has put them in our lives to raise and help them grow up to be individuals that will add value to this world.  I hope that you will find the time and joy to develop a happy, secure lifestyle with your children.  I wish you success in dealing with obesity in children.

Judy Conway

Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

Enhanced by Zemanta
Category: Children, diet, family, health, home, Wii  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
What Modern Science Says About Reversing the Aging Process
Author:
•

 

Practical Life Extension What Modern Science Says About Reversing the Aging Process

There’s an old proverb that rings with wit and reason: “Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die.” So why do we want to live forever? According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, author of “Chasing Life” and CNN’s Senior Medical Corespondent, we do not.

The real quest isn’t eternal life on earth according to Gupta, but rather an exceptional life.

While interviewing the foremost authorities on anti-aging and life extension, Dr. Gupta discovered three “universals” — three principles that each researcher deemed critical to extending our lives naturally and empowering us to live exceptionally. They are:

1. Weight training

2. Good nutrition

3. Positive thinking and having purpose

Jon Benson, author of “Fit Over 40″, explores each of these in great detail, as well as asking 52 men and women how they have managed to slow the hands of time down to a crawl. Benson does not waste time with hype and hypothesis. He focuses on real-world examples and applications we can all use to slow down the aging process and help prevent and reverse the conditions that can lead to disease.

Discover more today at Fit Over 40.

You too can live a longer, more exceptional life by simply adopting a smart, realistic and enjoyable lifestyle fitness plan. And if science just happens to catch up with Father Time, you’ll be many steps ahead of the curve.

Judy Conway

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Category: diet, family, health, Uncategorized  | Tags: , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Sufficient Carbs is Everything in Step Two of Metabolism Miracle
Author:
•
I'm on diet #1
Image by floodkoff via Flickr

Who would think that the reason you are not losing weight might be because you are not eating sufficient carbohydrates? (Good ones, of course!)  If you have Metabolism B and are following the Metabolism Miracle eating program it is important that you remember to eat 11 – 20 g net carbs every 5 hours in Step Two.

I hit a plateau on my Metabolism Miracle eating program and was becoming quite frustrated by not losing more weight.  I went over everything I was doing and hit upon the fact that once you have come through Step One on this eating program and you begin introducing carbs back into your diet in Step Two it is imperative to consume six or more carb servings per day. These servings must be 11 – 20 net low-impact carbs .

In Step Two you are allowed to reintroduce specified cereals and grains consisting of cooked oatmeal, cooked barley, brown or wild rice, whole-grain pasta, bulgur and dry cereal with 2 grams of fiber or more.

A greater variety of vegetables and legumes are allowed in Step Two such as corn, beets, peas, sweet potatoes or yams, carrots, kidney beans, lima beans, chickpeas, black and white beans.

Various fruits are reintroduced into your diet in Step Two. I really like fruit so this was a yummy addition to my diet!  On the acceptable list is apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, natural applesauce, grapefruit, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, oranges, pineapple cubes, dried apricot halves and bananas.

For those of us who enjoy milk, Step Two has a great addition of fat-free, nonfat, 1%, 2% and skim milk.  You can also enjoy plain yogurt containing 11-20 g net carbs. Fruit-flavored yogurt sweetened with Splenda or sucralose – 11 – 20 g net carbs can be used.   If you like buttermilk you can include that in your diet (11 – 20 g net carbs).  If you are looking for desserts other than jello and flavored ricotta, you can now once again enjoy sugar-free/fat-free pudding (11 – 20 g net carb) and no-sugar-added ice cream products sweetened with Splenda (11 – 20 g net carbs).  I believe Bryers has an ice cream that will fit into this category.

Timing is very critical in Step Two.  It is important that you never go more than five hours without an 11 -20 gram net carbs serving.  You want to keep your metabolism stoked.  If you forget to do this, your liver will over compensate with glycogen.  This will cause stress on your pancreas and cause weight gain.

Step Two is a safe, nutritionally balanced diet that you can stay on as long as you like and continue to lose weight.  Once you have reached your weight goal Step Three details how you can keep weight off for the rest of your life and be healthy in the process.

As the book, The Metabolism Miracle goes into great detail and explanations on the changes taking place in your body, I would greatly suggest purchasing this book.  Mine is never very far away.  It is helpful in making up my menus and shopping lists.  It is a very small investment to make for a healthy body and eliminating the medications I am currently on.

I found that Amazon had a reasonable price for this book.  If you can find other things to put with your order adding up to $25.00 shipping will be free.  Check out the link below.

As always, I wish you great success in your journey to a healthier body.

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

http://fullservicemarketingtools.com

http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

Skype ID:  judy.conway

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Category: diet, health, Helpful Hints, Metabolism B, Uncategorized  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
You CAN Lose Weight in 2010! Even if You Have Metabolism B
Author:
•

 

Okay, we have launched another year.  As with past years, my on-going resolution is that I am going to get fit and lose weight this year.  I am sure I am not alone in this mindset.

For those of you who have been following my blog since I stated the Metabolism Miracle program on November 9th, 2009 here is an update.

December is a month of celebration for me.  My two daughters and four of my five grandchildren have birthdays in December.  Not to mention Christmas dinner parties, New Year’s Eve and all the epicurean delights along the way.

I usually come out of the holidays gaining at least 10 pounds.  However, this year I tried to stay on my Metabolism Miracle eating program as closely as possible, and today weighed in only gaining 3 pounds.  I was relieved to say the least.  So even with the stress, and bad food choices, I am still 12 pounds less than I was on November 9th.

As a result of diverting from the program more than once or twice, I have chosen to start from day one, thus repeating Step One.  I am excited about the continued progress and look forward to reaching my goal weight.

I can honestly say that while on the Metabolism Miracle program I do not feel deprived or hungry in the least.  I do have the following suggestions for anyone starting this or any other weight loss program:

  • Check with your doctor first.  Get your lab work done so you will have a starting point for all of your criteria. It is truly an encouragement to see the improvement from one time to another.
  • Make sure your kitchen and food pantry are totally ready for your success.  If you cannot resist opening a package of cookies or other foods not allowed on your program….get rid of them.  Don’t set yourself up to fail before you even begin.
  • On a similar note, make a list of foods that you can have.  Stock your cupboards and refrigerator with these items.  That way you will not be tempted to eat things that will defeat your purpose.
  • The Metabolism Miracle has some great recipes.  One is for delectable muffins.  I look forward at the end of the day to sitting down with a cup of coffee and a chocolate brownie muffin.  Hard to believe this is an allowed food.
  • Plan ahead.  If you have not planned out your day’s menus you could possibly find yourself resorting to eating more than you are allowed, or something that you should not be eating at all.
  • Remember eating healthy is not any more difficult than eating poorly and look at all you have to gain (really lose!) from making the right choices.
  • It helps to have a “buddy” you can check in with and share your progress.  I have a friend who has just started the same program I am doing and we will continue to encourage each other along the way. It definitely helps to be accountable to someone else.

Be sure to fit exercising into your day.  I know how you feel.  I used to think, “And just when am I supposed to do that?”  I am using the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds program and it takes thirty minutes to walk two miles and do the stretchy bands for toning.  This includes your stretching, beginning and ending.  Just think about it.  Isn’t your health worth 30 minutes?  You will feel so much better.

If you have a day, or two, that you stray from the  weight loss program you are on, the most important thing to remember is …. DO NOT GIVE UP!!  Start right back on the program.  The longer you wait to do this the harder it will be to get back to basics.

My “Aha” moment was in thinking that I needed to lose weight and get healthy.  I want to be around to enjoy my grandchildren, watch them grow and have families of their own, and most definitely enjoy my daughters and their spouses.  I do not want to be a burden in my “golden” years.  It all boils down to my making the right choices.

Remember … nothing tastes as good as thin!!

Blessings and success with your weight loss program,

Judy Conway

Email:  judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

Skype ID: judy.conway

http://jconway.gogvo.com

 

Category: Children, diet, health, Helpful Hints, Inspirational  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  | 4 Comments
The Metabolism Miracle Diet Update
Author:
•

I am so happy to share the latest results from my pursuing the Metabolism Miracle Diet by Diane Kress.  As I have promised I want to keep you up to date on how this program is working for me.  After my visit to my doctor’s office this past Monday, I will definitely be continuing with this plan.

I had gone last week to have my blood work done so I was able to go over the numbers with my doctor when I saw him on Monday. The changes I am about to list are in comparison to lab work I had done on January 20th, 2009.  I started The Metabolism Miracle Diet on November 9th, so I have not even quite finished the First Step (consisting of weeks).  I am going to list the changes below:

Triglycerides on January 20th they were 281, on December 10th they were 140

HDL Cholesterol on January 20th – 29, on December 10th – 36

Total Cholesterol on January 20th – 225, on December 19th – 219

Other numbers had also dropped, but I list these as these are most important.  Granted other than the triglycerides, the numbers were not earth shattering, but they are headed I n the right direction.

Another great result to report is that I have lost 15 pounds.  To me this is extremely exciting as I have been trying all sorts of programs with no results, and often times and increase in my weight.

By no means do I want to imply that everyone should go out and purchase The Metabolism Miracle Book, but I want to make the issue of Metabolism B known to people who are battling to loose weight like I have been and not seeing results.  The first thing you need to do is have lab work done.  Below is a guideline of numbers which might suggest you have Metabolism B.

Normal Fasting blood glucose -  65 – 99, Metabolism B  -  90 or above

Normal Total cholesterol – Less than 200, Metabolism B – 200 or above

Normal LDL Cholesterol  – Less than 100, Metabolism B -  100 or above

Normal HDL Cholesterol -  greater than 45, Metabolism B – less than 45

Normal Cholesterol/HDL ratio – less than 5, Metabolism B – greater than 4

Normal Triglycerudes – less than 150, Metabolism B – 100 or above

Normal Hemoglobin AIC  – less than 6.0, Metabolism B – greater than 6.0

Normal Blood Pressure -     less than 130/80, Metabolism  B – greater than 130/80

I have to share one really big encouragement that I recently received.  My daughter knows the problem I have with losing weight.  I know there have been times she has “questioned” her mom’s dieting routine.  “What crazy program are you following now, mom?”, she has often said to me.  I know that she has been frustrated for me.  Just the other day she said to me, “Mom whatever you are doing, keep doing it.”  She commented that she can actually see a difference in my face and tummy!  That gave me an awesome feeling of accomplishment.

So onward I will go.  If after having lab work done and seeing your doctor you decide to follow this plan I would really like to hear about your progress.

In shopping prices for the book, I did find that Amazon was the best prices at the time.  Click on this link and you will be able to read various parts of the book Amazon. 

I hope you have found this information helpful.

Blessings,

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

http://beadazzledjewelrycreations.com

http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline/

http://joinjudyconway.com/digitalcameradeals/

Category: diet, health, Helpful Hints, Inspirational, Uncategorized  | Leave a Comment