Fruits & Veggies for Health
Over the years as I have been reading about the value of eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, I realized that with our eating habits at the time there was no way I or my family could use this easy way to maintain/improve our health. We made several changes. The one that included me was to start each week with both my romaine and spinach as well as an assortment of vegetables washed and placed in well sealed covered containers lined with a clean paper towel. Then as I went to prepare my lunch for work the next day, I could tear a cup of each romaine and spinach and cut a cup of any assortment of fresh vegetables and place in a covered container. I include two small containers, one with salad dressing and the other with either soy nuts or toasted walnuts. On top I place a thin slice of my current favorite cheese. Lunch is almost ready. I then wash and slice a piece of fruit. Place either whole wheat bread or Ak-mok crackers in a container and I am ready for a great lunch whenever I am ready to eat. I get frequent comments on what a good looking lunch I have for myself! I usually take a peeled orange and my favorite breakfast cereal (dry of course) to eat on the way in to work each morning. My husband & I typically eat the same lunch on the week-end. After eating this way for awhile, his cholesterol has come down into the normal range, good cholesterol has increased while the bad cholesterol has decreased. Way cheaper than taking a lipid lowering pill! To increase vegetable and fruit intake for our children and grandchildren, I make it a point to serve a veggie tray and fruit tray whenever they are over for a meal. I ask the grandchildren what they would like for me to put on the trays out of my available choices. I try to make the trays as attractive as possible. It does take time to wash, peel, and cut up but I think of it as a gift I give them. The little ones, two age six and one age three are very eager to eat what they helped select! The only other thing I do is when we take the little ones out for a meal; I typically take cut up veggies and fruit in baggies for them to snack on till our meal arrives and to have as dessert. I do so enjoy cooking healthy and would be absolutely thrilled for an opportunity to go to the Culinary Institute of America. Thank you so much.
