Category Archives: Health

Diets Vs Individual Foods: Does It Really Matter Which?

Typically, we see diets as structured approaches to living a healthier lifestyle. We have set parameters which we cannot go beyond but everything else inside is fair game. In case our diet demands no use of butter for recipes, we have to use olive oil, if we can’t eat chocolate we eat honey to satisfy our sugar cravings, if we can’t eat meat we eat other proteins like nuts and cheese. Diets are really just balancing acts that become a part of our lifestyle. But should we really be forced to lock out certain foods from our diet? Maybe we demonize foods which are completely fine on their own but don’t fit the desired ‘group’ of foods we can’t eat. A diet versus food battle then ensues.

Fats are unhealthy?

If you are on a low fat diet, you’ll be wary of many things. Fried foods are out of the question, so is fatty meat, cheese and milk also take a tumble down the hill. These are the main fats that we have in our normal day of eating, but since your diet doesn’t allow you to have fats they have to be cut out. However, not all fats are the same. There are various fats that your body does need. A low fat diet just means you can’t have as much fat as you normally would. So fats from pecan nuts, Greek yogurt and soft cheese are foods that can be consumed. Pecans and Greek yogurt have fats that are easily broken down by the body, meaning they’re not as complex. Unlike hard cheese, soft cheese is again easily broken down and made into ready-to-use energy by the body. Not all fats should be demonized, even while on a low fat diet.

Body versus diet

Diets are just structures, they aren’t set in stone. Regardless of what the diet you’re following demands, you have to listen to what your body is saying first. There could be certain foods that you cannot eat, that don’t sit well with you and maybe even cause you harm. Look at food sensitivity testing, and this everlywell.com review. It’s a kit which you can use to see what foods are making you ill, sapping your energy or possibly not having much effect on your diet. If a vegan diet demands you eat more plants, but your body is sapped of the vital vitamin B12, then you have to stop the diet. You need foods that have a high level of B12 in them to regain strength, such as beef.

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Type of food

If you’re on a low carb diet such as the ketogenic diet, then you need to limit the amount of wheat, grains and high fiber foods you eat. However, some carbs are better than others. For example, bread is going to have a higher density mass of carbs. But those carbs are not as complex as rice or pasta. So foods like bread and potatoes are the better choice for your carb intake as they have less of an impact on your body and health.

Sometimes we get too bogged down in what a dietary book tells us. We have to think for ourselves as well, so don’t lock out certain food which can be useful to your goal.

How to Keep Your Family Happy and Healthy During the Summer Holidays

Now that school is nearly over, your kids are probably really excited about their soon to be freedom! It’s a bit of a change to how things normally are, it can be really tempting to just order a takeaway and put a film on to keep your kids entertained, but it’s really important to make sure that they get out and about during the summer.

Your kids are probably really excited that they’ll have a break from homework, deadlines and rushing to catch the bus. This break means that your kids (and you) now have time to relax. Obviously, you need to take a break from time to time, however, you should make sure that it doesn’t affect your kids negatively. Having a routine is good for them, so you don’t want to change it up too much.

Get them Moving

Taking too long a break can actually cause a lot more problems, as it can cause unhealthy changes. In fact, some studies suggest that summer may be the most fattening time of the year for kids. So, as a parent, you should be thoughtful about how much exercise your kid is actually doing during the summer holidays.

It’s important to make sure that they don’t spend all day in bed. Whilst you can give them the occasional one, you should still make sure that they get up and active most of the time. Otherwise when they go back to school at the end of the summer holidays, they’ll probably struggle to readjust to getting up early for school.

Create healthy habits

Junk food can have a pleasing taste due to the high levels of artificial sugars. However, they might create mayhem to your family’s moods and health. Nowadays, many kids are either obese or overweight. Therefore, creating a healthy lifestyle can play a significant role in maintaining weight.  On many occasions, children that are overweight are very prone to heartburn, which can be caused by eating certain types of foods. Medications can be useful for treating heartburn in kids. However, consult your doctor before buying any heartburn medication, because there is a popular heartburn relief drug that has been recalled by the manufacturers.

Keep to your Normal Routine

This goes hand in hand with getting up early. Sure, you can have an extra half hour in bed if needs be, but don’t let yourself or your kids get into the habit of staying up late and getting up late. It’s a really hard habit to break. Why not make the most of the day and get up and out of bed as soon as possible? The weather’s great outside so you should definitely make sure to soak up some sunshine.

It might also help you to create a list of activities that you can do together. Make sure that you allocate a specific time for this. This way they’ll have something to do (just like they would if they had to get to school). So, this will help stop them just rolling out of bed and sitting on the couch all day.

Remember to Keep Cool and Have Fun!

While it’s important to make sure that your kids have a routine, you don’t want to overdo it. It’s vital that they have some downtime. This is particularly important as sometimes in summer it can get very hot and this can lead to dizziness, tiredness or even feeling faint. This is something that you want to avoid. So, one way that you can do this, is to have fun in a cool room inside your house. In order to do this, you might find it beneficial if you have an air conditioning unit installed in your house. If you don’t have one then you can always check out a website like airecontrol.com. Having an air conditioning unit installed can really help you stay cool and not get too hot during the summer.

It’s important to keep hydrated whilst the sun is shining. If you or your kids get too hot, then you might become ill and this is a sure way to ruin your holiday. You should make the most of those cool rooms that have nice air conditioning. However, if you do want to go outside, then make sure that you drink water regularly. Don’t forget to put plenty of sunscreen on your kids if they are spending all day outside. You can find about more about the right sunscreen to put on your kids here.

Breakfast Ideas: How To Get A Jump On The Most Important Meal Of The Day For The Whole Family

There is no denying that breakfast can be one of the most important meals of the day for a family, and because of that, as a parent, you want to ensure that everyone gets as much out of it as possible. But the issue you might find is that you the mornings are rushed. With school runs to do, commutes to work to be getting underway, and perhaps not leaving yourself enough time to indulge on breakfast can all be hurdles that you face. Sometimes you need a little inspiration, so here are some of the breakfast ideas that the whole family could get on board with.

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Smoothies can be great for kids

A smoothie is a great way to get extra veg and fruit into your diet and it can be so easy to make. Put all of the ingredients into your smoothie machine and whizz it all up and there you have it. A smoothie includes things like milk or yogurt as an added element, and this is where is can be great for kids. Using strawberries or other strong flavored fruit will help them to enjoy the taste of it as well as knowing yourself that you and your children are getting a great source of nutrients and vitamins. This can also be the perfect breakfast on the go option if you don’t have much time. 

Juicing to get all of your vitamins

Juicing is another way to ensure that you get all of the vitamins that you need, especially if you decide to use citrus fruits. This can give you a healthy dose of vitamin C without any added preservatives that will be included in shop bought juice. Websites like Juicer Cruiser have a great selection of reviews online to help you find the right juicer for you. There are also a great selection of juices and combinations that you can use to help you get all of the good stuff out of the juice you create. Again this is another great way to get children involved. 

Breakfast on the go for the adults on a commute to work

Not all of us have a lot of time when it comes to the mornings, and with school runs to think about and the general morning rush, it can often mean you focus more on ensuring that your children get a healthy breakfast and less about what you have. So it may be time to look into some breakfast on the go ideas for your commute to work. You could look at breakfast bars that you create, filled with oats and fruit. You can take a smoothie out with you or even look at breakfast bars that you can buy in store. All of which can be a great way to eat on the go and ensure you get something in your stomach before your working day begins. 

Indulging in pancakes on the weekend

Who doesn’t love a pancake, and having them as a weekend treat can be the ultimate indulgence in breakfast that the whole family can embrace. Making them from scratch, going for American style ones, and having them serviced up with fruit or bacon and syrup could be the ideal breakfast the whole family will enjoy. There are some great suggestions online if you are looking for pancake inspiration.

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The slow cooker trend

There has been a recent trend on the internet that involves your slow cooker or crock pot and making breakfast overnight. The slow cooker breakfast could be the idea way to wake up to a full English breakfast without the hassle of all of the pans and cooking first thing. Load up your slow cook with things like sausages wrapped in bacon, a tub of beans, mushrooms and whatever else you like to use. There are some great suggestions online that you can try. This could be perfect for the weekend when you don’t want the hassle but know you and the family will enjoy a full on breakfast. 

Breakfast bakes

We have already mentioned that breakfast bakes can be an excellent breakfast on the go, but there are so many to consider that we thought it was worth dedicating a bit of time to the suggestions that we found. Breakfast muffins filled with fruit, egg cups with bacon which can be like mini omelettes or quiches. You can also use tray bakes and fill them with oats and dried fruits. You can also buy these in the shop, but they can be quite easy to make from scratch if you like to be in the kitchen. 

School breakfast club for kids 

If you are always short on time, but are conscious that your children don’t get a nutritious breakfast then it may be worth looking into your school and seeing if they offer a breakfast club. For a small charge, you can get your children to school a little earlier, which could take pressure off you for your commute to work, and then they can enjoy cereals, toast and juice with their friends. It can be a great way to encourage them to eat more in the morning. 

Take requests and suggestions from the family

There is no point trying to be a mind reader, so if you find breakfast is a battle in the morning then it may be the time to start taking requests. Ask your family what cereals they want, fruit or the style of breakfast they would like in the morning. This could enable you to buy in the things they want to eat and subsequently have less arguments about it first thing. 

Picnic style breakfast or going continental 

Finally, a picnic style breakfast or a continental approach could be the answer to breakfast drama in your house. A selection of pastries, fruit that has been prepped and duty up, and allowing your kids to choose with an accompaniment of yogurt, for example, helps you to cover all bases with breakfast and ensure that the family are eating as much as they can. 

Let’s hope this has given you some breakfast ideas that the whole family will enjoy.