Cover_Jan 05 (Page 2) - The Parklander Magazine

Resolve To Follow
A Healthier Lifestyle
By Eddie Grosman
This is the
time for New
Year’s resolutions,
of course, and
many fall by the
wayside two
weeks into
January. Some
resolutions are far-fetched and
frivolous. Your health is not.
Many people change their
lifestyles after a catastrophic event.
But why wait Making wiser choices
can prevent many health challenges.
It’s time to get serious and clean out
the kitchen cabinets. Don’t worry —
I’ll help. I’ll talk you through it. You
will feel better when you open the
cabinets and refrigerator and see
healthy choices that keep you on that
positive path.
First, get rid of processed grains
that have no nutritional value, such
as white flour, white sugars and white
rice. Replace them with stone ground
whole-wheat flour, brown rice, wild
rice, basmati rice, unbleached raw
sugar and sucanat (crystallized cane
juice). For people with wheat allergies
(and there are many), use spelt flour,
kamut flour, brown rice flour or buckwheat
flour. Spelt works well as a
wheat substitute. The health food
store offers sliced bread, pizza dough,
piecrusts, pita bread and tortillas
made with spelt flour.
Alternative sweeteners can also
be used instead of sugar — such as
stevia — in packets for coffee, tea or
baking. Agave nectar is sweeter than
honey, and friendly for folks with
diabetes and hypoglycemia.
There is some incredible rice on
the market today. Brown rice comes
in many forms. Short grain can be
used for California rolls instead of
the processed white rice. Long grain
is used for all dishes that call for
white rice. There is white rice that is
permissible — Basmati. It comes from
India and the hull of the kernel is not
removed, retaining all the important
nutrients. It’s easy to fool the diehard
with this substitute.
Brown rice comes in many forms
these days. Lundberg is a company
that produces many gourmet blends
that are interesting and tasty. Look for
it in your health food market. Wild
rice is not really rice; it’s actually the
grain of a tall grass native to North
America. If you haven’t tried it, don’t
wait. It’s nutty and delicious.
If you haven’t the time to prepare
fresh produce, buy frozen packages,
not canned. When foods are frozen
they retain beneficial vitamins and
minerals. Eat as much raw vegetables
and fruits as possible. Salad can be
bought pre-mixed in a vacuumed
sealed bag at the grocery store. For
folks whose time is limited, there are
even prepackaged salad fixings such
as shredded carrots, celery, sprouts,
peppers, onions, cucumbers, etc.
When selecting dairy foods choose
low-fat products. Almond milk, rice
milk and soy milk are available for
those who are sensitive to dairy or
lactose intolerant. Watch when a
product is labeled non-fat. Many times
there is hidden, processed sugar to
add taste. Get into the habit of reading
labels. Eliminate or reduce the use of
soda. I cannot stress the importance
of drinking purified water. Our bodies
are somewhere between 80-90 percent
water. When we eliminate and sweat
we lose essential levels of water,
which must be replaced with water —
not soda, coffee or tea. As water
cleanses the earth, it constantly
detoxifies our bodies.
It is important to munch often to
keep your metabolism up. You should
be eating at least 5-6 times per day.
This does not mean every meal has
to be huge. Eat a substantial breakfast,
have a snack between breakfast and
lunch, a good size lunch, a snack
between lunch and dinner, an adequate
dinner, and if dinner is not too late, a
snack before 8 p.m.
Don’t forget the munchies. Protein
bars — baked, not fried chips, yogurt,
protein shakes and nuts are some suggestions.
Dieting by starvation is not
the way to go. You must eat regularly
to stay healthy and in shape. Don’t
diet, just make healthier choices. A
positive lifestyle change certainly is
the best preventative medicine. Here’s
to a Healthy and Happy New Year. P ●
Eddie Grosman is a personal health
and fitness chef. E-mail him at
grosman@theparklander.com
the PARKLANDER
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