Well guys I am back
What a mess I have been living in has as many of us in OCeancounty New Jersey. The super storm Sand has been dumped on the unsuppecting people and we are down. Things are being rebuilt, but OH so slowly.
It is very sad state around here. I for one have lost the bottom of my house and seem to be moving very slowly in the repair department. Still I keep saying to myself every day, that I have a house. So many of us in this area have actually lost the whole house or damaged beyond repair.
AND the businessooso sad. Many are gone and not going to be able to rebuild. FEMA, government, town, no-one is helping. just to sad.  es

Calcium

Calcium  it's good for you
plays an important role in bones and teeth as we all know.  I found a very informative article on calcium and thought I would pass along. As I am aging, I have become very concerned with this--older adul;ts need about 1200 milligrams.
Diary ofcourse is still the best but might contain more calories, so be aware.
Green leafy veggies high in calcium low in calories
Since it seem that Americans do not consume enough, the article mentions way to add calcium
Add beans to chilli and pasta
grate low-fat cheese ove soups
enjoy a smoothie
use milk instead of water in some soups
try plain yogurt as a vegetable dip
add nuts to anything you can
leafy vegs in casseroles
fortified juices and cereals with calcium
treat yourself to puddings
Try milk instead of soda or tea
Don't forget the suppliment

Comfort food

We all want comfort food--We all need comfort food. Looking at the post about the kids food, I thought of children needed comfort food also. My grandson, is always saying he is hungry, even right after he eats. I know that it is just a ploy for attention, but so many times all in the family just give insto this. Not good.
Read an article that some comfort food just might be in alright area.
Yogurt especially with fruit..can help with the sweet tooth. Can almost be a icecream replacement.
Make a smoothie instead of a shake.
Chicken noodle soup
Angel food cake-can even add some fruit to this and some fat free whipped cream
Oatmeal all one needs for a hot breakfast
Vegetable juice..helps fill a person up and gives you little extra zip.
Crock pot creations..a real good go to for hot merals that can cook all day and be ready and healthy.
So try some comfort and make it easy on yourself..

healthy habits for kids

I am sorry to say that my kids are not teaching their children healthy eating habits. Today's parents just have so little time that they forget what they are doing to the children. By fixing separate meals, they teach them to eat to much frozen,fast fixed and fast paced meals without the goodness and freshness of home cook.
Western culture stresses regular health care for our children which a good thing but it does stress enough about nutrition. PARENTS please think about your children and the diet you are feeding them. Cut down on the starch, sweet snacks and try substituting fresh fruit and veggies. If you haven't already started the special eating DON"T. Stop the drive through.
Your example will teach them more than talking. Eat right yourself and do not give into the gimmes.
PARENTS are the people who can stop obesity in this nation.
Do you agree?

food attitude

Do you struggle with food cravings and try to eliminate some foods all together. You made already be sabotaging your diet with this type of thinking. I read an article about labeling "BAD food" is a bad idea. We need to BUILD a relationship with food that will build self-control.
Stop labeling. This actually wants you to eat the food more by making your body crave it. Be conscious about your eating and have just enough of the food that you might be wanting to cut out to satisfy. The article says that several studies have shown that suppressing the urges most likely will result in eating more of the food.

Dump the idea of Diet Foods
Often we we are trying to start a diet plan we think about banning certain foods. Not necessarily true.. We need to read the labels so we can choose wisely. Nothing is absolutely bad, we want refocus our minds to eating healthy and not worry so much about the "food". Try to enjoy the food that you choosing to eat.!
Moderation
Remember the "eat everything in Moderation" This is still true today for most of us. BUT let still remember that there might some food that are really triggers. We need to be aware of what these are to each of us, allowing a person not to over indulge in that food.
Rearrange your environment for success--thought that was a neat statement-. Choose snacks that you like but not just LOVE. Try having them when you eat out or at a party instead of having the trigger foods in your house ALL the time.
Keep cravings in check!!
Remember that cravings are not ALL bad. The problem seems to be us and the easy access to anything we want whenever we want.  This is why establishing what we really crave is so important to any plan we are establishing. Try to the food journal that has been mentioned before to get an idea of what you are really craving and when. In doing this a person can start to give themselves some alternatives at the bad eating time and continue the weight loss program that you might be on.
Let us all try to stay in tune with our bodies.
Megan Coatley behavior consultant

clean out

The worst food in fridge or freezer!!
Funny, this weekend I just did this and then I found the article from food network. Thought I would pass along.
Expired condiments: I did not know that the ever expired. DUH.. Check your dates...Mine aren't even in the fridge, so
I need to get busy on this, They can be a breeding place for mold and yeast,
Sugar-sweetened beverages.. UGH but they are so addictive. A study showed that Americans consume 21.4 teaspoons each day. WOW..I have been working on trying to eliminate these to at least just one a day.
Coffee creamer..oh no, you are saying not my beloved creamer, but yes folks..you are consuming palm oil, hydrogenated oils corn syrup and preservatives. LEt us go back to cream and sugar.
Frozen fried foods--not good. Try to find a recipe and make your own and freeze. Since my grand children eat so much of these, I am making this a goal to find some recipes.
BOTTLED salad dressing--preservatives and gobs of sugar. Make your own!
Rotten fruit..Where did this come from. Keep an eye out for these rotten fruit that seem to hide. Mushy, sticky, moldy--get rid off quick.
Frozen entrees..quick yes, Healthy no!! Fake tasting and salty as all get out. Make a head and freeze small portion.
Ready to bake dough..this I have not thought of??tubes of highly processed ingredients and unhealthy fats. I have to look into this. I tend to use this product a lot.
Processed meats: sodium, nitrates and fat. Be aware, they taste great but loaded--try for the low-sodium-low fat version.
Artificially-Sweetened yogurt? Check ingredients to watch for artifical sweeteners..
So be aware and take another look at your fridge and freezer. Just might help in the weight department and certainly in the health department.

mental flexibility

I do not seem to have to much of this lately, This article caught my fancy, so I wanted to share with you.  ENJOY, I did
From Spark people
Be flexible some time about the things that you can. "Lighten UP" as the saying goes. We older American humans need to LEARN to enjoy, relax, get back the laughter in life. IF you think you might have become a little rigid or strict in your daily plans, these hints might help:
Accept this about yourself. Your take charge attitude in the past has given you many rewards. You have much success in your efforts of planning, following through, which is great but we need some more freedom also.
Can you compromise: Watch the fine line line that you might be portraying between being assertive and being domineering. Listen to what others suggest, accept some help, let others take the lead. This will help you feel more relaxed and less rigid.
Flexible Actions: (don't you just love these titles)  Let someone else take over some the planning of day to day life. Leave the dirty dishes till the night, forget about the bed etc. It's like stretching in YOGA, each time to stretch, your body allows you to go a little further.
REWARD: yes, here is that word again. You get to reward yourself for being more flexible. Since you are letting others do some of the daily actions, you might feel a little crazy but bite your tongue, walk away. "LET IT BE" Get a massage, get your nails done, go for a walk. Whatever is soothing to you.
FAILURE IS Functional?? What.!!! Remember,  Becoming more flexible is a WELLNESS goal. We are getting good at setting goals, so let this be a new one for our mental health.  Remember that you do not have to carry all the weight. Flexible actions every day takes some of the stress away.
Be in control, some of the times is really OK. Don't get me wrong; but when it becomes to much for all around, let go. Stretch those mental muscles. You and all around you will be better for it.
My new living situation is testing me every day. So I am taking this to heart for my mental health.
take care all and BE HAPPY