Food Facts!

Here are some random food facts that I found helpful.

To get a good start on cleaning your system out try to eat whole foods, natural foods without any added sugars or preservatives. Stick with whole grains, legumes, and brown rice. Try to limit breads, and if you do eat bread pick the kind high in fiber. Eat lean meats and limit your dairy. Plus drink water. Not sure how much water to drink? Click here.

How to buy produce. This can be so hard. Especially if you’re under pressure, meaning you have a toddler in your grocery cart who is trying to climb out and you are attempting to make a world record in grocery shopping speed. They should make horns and hand brakes for grocery carts. Anyway...here are some produce pick tips for some common earth candy:

Cantaloupe a.k.a. musk melon: look for light gold color between the webbing. Also choose ones that are heavy for their size. Take a sniff too. Cut up melon will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.

Pineapple: for whole pineapple look for bright green leaves on top. The pineapple should smell good and it shouldn’t be rock hard.

Watermelon: if you buy them whole you want it heavy for their size. Look for a yellow spot on the melon. That is where the melon rested on the ground and it indicated that the melon was ripe when it was picked. If you buy melon that is already cut do not buy ones where the seeds are pulled away from the ‘meat’.

Corn on the Cob: try saying that with your lips tucked under your gums so only your teeth show. Now that is funny. O.k. down to business: look for plump kernels do this my peeking under the husks or by feel. Eat it the day it is purchased.

For a full list of fruits and veggies click here. The list is from "Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, 3rd edition" by Roberta Larson Duyff.

Keep in mind to wash your produce with water before consuming! You never know where the produce has been or what has tinkled on it. YUCK.

In case you missed the Woman's Day article on “52 Superfoods” back in January 2009 here it is.

Here are a couple more articles I have found that might interest you as well:

Lactose PDF

Oil PDF

Nuts PDF

Substitute oil for butter guide

How to read Nutritional Info on labels