by Vicki Peel | May 11, 2022 | Food |
We’ve all heard the quote attributed to Hippocrates around 400 BC – “Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be food”. Although there is no hard evidence that Hippocrates actually said it, the significance of it cannot be ignored.
Chronic disease and disorders, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, and others are increasingly linked to the unhealthy lifestyles that so many of us are living. The COVID pandemic has only worsened the situation, as we increasingly became even more sedentary and tried to drown our fears in junk food.
Is this situation concerning to you? It concerns me, and I, like many others, have not been eating healthy foods or engaging in what I would define as a healthy lifestyle. I’ve spent far too much time sitting and working on my laptop, and too little time moving my body. I’ve eaten far too much junk food because I’ve been too “busy” or mentally apathetic to prepare the foods I should be eating.
What are we doing about it? At the very least, it becomes crucial that we recognize the preventive role that nutrition can and does play in improving our lifestyles and lengthening our lives.
As we are cautiously and hopefully coming through the worst of the pandemic, it is time to be more cognizant and proactive about improving our diets and ultimately our health.
I have created a free cheat sheet of some of the best foods to eat to help prevent and/or improve specific diseases or disorders. The recommended lists of foods are not by any means exhaustive. But even if a reference article listed the top 25 foods you should eat for healthier results, I only listed the first 5 or 6.
The recommended food lists are in a checklist format so you can check the ones you like and want to try. There is also a note box beside each list of foods to encourage you to think about how to incorporate each of your checked foods into your diet or how you can prepare them in ways that fit into your lifestyle.
At the end of the document, there is a list of references/resources if you are interested in finding out more about how food can help you with a specific disease or disorder. Click on the links to the resource articles to read more. The URLs are clickable even though they don’t look like it.
Please note:
The information provided in the “Food As Medicine Cheat Sheets” is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You are urged to seek help from a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
Below is a sample page from the free “Food as Medicine Cheat Sheets”.
There are 9 cheat sheet pages and 2 pages of resources/references in the document. You may download your free copy HERE!
Are you eating specific foods to help with any condition you may have? How can you use this freebie to make improvements that positively impact your health?
Don’t miss any of the posts, emails, and freebies of this March – June exploration of the world of food, which covers meal planning, meal prep, and making healthy food choices. Click on the Subscribe button on this page so you won’t miss any of the action.
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our March – June foods extravaganza!!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | May 5, 2022 | Food |
An Instant Pot is a wonderful appliance that can save you time and money. It is an electric pressure cooker, but is also a saute pot, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, yogurt maker and warmer! It’s versatility makes it an invaluable addition to anyone’s kitchen.
I remember pressure cookers from “the old days”! My grandmother had a large pressure cooker that was used to can string beans (green beans for non-Southerners), corn and tomatoes. She watched the pressure gauge carefully for safety reasons.
When I was first married, I had a small pressure cooker that I used for tenderizing meat and cooking it quickly. When the steam started rising from the lid, I covered the opening with a weight that helped to create the pressure. When it started “jiggling”, I would increase or lower the temperature of the range to keep the timing of the “jiggling” safe. I was always fearful that it would blow up all over the kitchen. I did not really like to cook with it.
But today’s Instant Pot is so far advanced beyond pressure cookers of my grandmother’s and my day!
For today, we’re going to use the Instant Pot as a pressure cooker to prepare Orange Chicken.
I call this video “The Blooper Version”! You’ll see what I mean when you view it!
Check out the video below!
See what I mean by “blooper version”!! A little feedback? Comment below!
Don’t miss any of the posts, emails, and freebies of this March – June exploration of the world of food, which covers meal planning, meal prep, and making healthy food choices. Click on the Subscribe button on this page so you won’t miss any of the action.
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our March – June foods extravaganza!!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Apr 21, 2022 | Food |
What?? Eating one hotdog can cut 48 minutes off your life?!
We all know that eating the wrong foods can affect your health, but to what extreme?
Have you ever said any of these things to yourself?
Well, I blew today – I just as well have that Dairy Queen blizzard.
I can’t look like I’m anti-social. I have to eat Grandma’s chocolate cake. It will hurt her feelings if I don’t.
I’ll eat better starting tomorrow.
I just can’t give up ice cream! (or buttered popcorn, or chocolate, or pizza – or HOTDOGS!)
But now the good news – improving your health may take less effort than you thought. You don’t have to give up everything you love to get healthier. Simple daily food swaps will reap benefits.
“Now scientists have estimated down to the minute the benefits of swapping out just 10% of your bad food choices for healthier items.” (Click underlined phrase for article.) The researchers of this study divided food into three groups: green, yellow and red food zones.
Simply substituting fruits or nuts or other foods in the “Green Zone” can get you back those 48 minutes of your life taken away by eating that hotdog!
Green zone: Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and some responsibly harvested seafood.
Yellow zone: Poultry, grains, and most dairy.
Red zone: Meat, especially red meat, and most especially processed red meat, plus sugared beverages and most processed foods.
As you become more aware of the foods you’re consuming, simply start swapping out foods in the red zone for the yellow zone and the green zone. Every time you think about and make a simple swap away from red-zone foods, you’re taking a step toward a healthier life.
And every step you take toward eating healthier has a cumulative effect. No one can eat “perfect” all the time. Cut yourself some slack. But don’t throw in the towel when you make a bad choice. Start with making more good choices (yellow and green zone foods) than bad ones (red zone foods).
Before you know it, you’re adding minutes and hours and days to your life!
Don’t miss any of the posts, emails, and freebies of this March – June exploration of the world of food, which covers meal planning, meal prep, and making healthy food choices. Click on the Subscribe button on this page so you won’t miss any of the action.
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our March – June foods extravaganza!!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Apr 12, 2022 | Food |
Remember the GEICO commercial that it was “so easy a caveman could do it”? How about “so easy a husband could do it”?
All kidding aside, my husband started learning to cook when I had my knee replacement surgeries. And I am still amazed at how far he’s come and how interested he is in trying new things!
In this video, he demonstrates how to cook chicken wings in the air fryer and roasted potatoes in the oven. I’m also impressed with his video presentation skills!
Take a look!
Do you have an air fryer? Do you use it often? If you don’t have an air fryer, but are interested in purchasing one, download this free Air Fryers Buying Guide. I did all the research for you and highlighted the top 5 air fryers recommended by 4 sources: Women’s Health, Food Network Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, and C-NET Home.
Go ahead and download the Air Fryers Buying Guide HERE!
And leave your comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our March – June foods extravaganza!!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
by Vicki Peel | Apr 5, 2022 | Food |
Air fryers – they appear to be the hottest kitchen appliance on the market!
They are basically convection ovens on steroids. The formula? High heat + circulating air = crispy food.
The variety of air fryers on the market is overwhelming. And the prices vary from about $40 to $300 or more. And do you even need one?
While air frying is certainly a healthier option than frying in oil, it cannot make frozen fried foods steeped in processing and chemicals a healthy choice. So, a little label reading will help determine which frozen foods are actually healthy choices. But air frying can make vegetables crisper and tastier for kids (and adults) who hate veggies.
If you have an air fryer, or intend to purchase one, here are some “to do’s and to-don’ts”.
DO:
- Preheat your air fryer unless the recipe specifically says not to.
- Grease/spray oil on the air fryer basket to keep food from sticking, but DON’T spray with aerosol spray cans (like Pam), which contain harsh ingredients that may mess up the coating on baskets.*
- Use oil on food to crisp it, unless it already has some fat on it like chicken.
- Shake or turn food during cooking.
- Spritz food with oil halfway during cooking for crispier foods.
DON’T:
- Use loose aluminum foil, will fly around the basket from the air circulation. If you do use foil, make sure the food is heavy enough to keep it in place.
- Use shredded cheese, which will also fly around the air fryer and get stuck on the bottom of the fryer and not on the food.
- Set it and forget it – stopping and flipping or tossing food makes it cook more evenly.
- Crowd food. Food needs room for air to circulate.
- Use loose seasoning. Dry rubs end up like shredded cheese – all over the basket instead of the food. However, food that has been covered with oil that allows it to adhere to food is fine.
Do you have an air fryer? Do you use it regularly? What do you like about air frying? What are your concerns? I know – I’m just full of questions today! Please comment in the Comments section below or reply to any email I send to share your thoughts. As always, I really want to know. It helps me determine what you want to know and how I can help.
* Here is a good option for spritzing oil on your food. I have one like this. And this option gives you two bottles for about the price of one in other options! Click HERE for purchasing information.
My emails (blog posts) sometimes contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, which is at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
I’m Vicki Peel, former home economics teacher and educational administrator. If you are not receiving my emails, coupons, and freebies, look for the Subscribe block (below right) and submit your contact information. I will not share your information with anyone, and all the content you will receive as part of our community is free. I may occasionally promote someone else’s paid content, offer a product for your consideration or share an item that I think might be of use to you. However, you are under no obligation to purchase anything – ever. So, sign up now so you won’t miss anything during our March – June foods extravaganza!!
https://HERLifeHacks.com
