-  Always order salad dressings or sauces on the side,  as this way you have control over how much you add to your meal.

-  When you order grilled fish or vegetables, you should ask that the food be grilled without butter or oil, or prepared with very little or either or.

-  Anytime you order pasta dishes, be on the lookout for tomato based sauces instead of the cream based sauces.  Tomato based sauces are much lower in fat and calories, and tomato sauce can even be counted as a vegetable!

-  You should always try to drink water, diet soda, or tea instead of soda or beverages that contain  alcohol.

-  If you order dessert, share with a friend. Half  of the dessert will equal half of the calories.

-  When you choose a soup, remember that cream based soups are higher in fat and calories than other soups.  A soup can be a great appetizer, as most are low in calories and you fill you up pretty fast.

-  When ordering a baked potato, ask for salsa instead of sour cream, butter, cheese, or even bacon.  Salsa is very low in calories and provides a healthy alternative with plenty of flavor and spice.

-  When you are full, stop eating.  Listen to your body and what it tells you.

-  If you get full, take half of your meal home.  The second portion of your meal can serve as a second meal later.  This way, you get two meals for the price of one.

-  If you’re looking to eat less, order two appetizers or an appetizer and a salad as your meal.

-  If you get a choice of side dishes, get a baked potato or steamed vegetables instead of french  fries.

-  Always look for food on the menu that’s baked, grilled, broiled, poached, or steamed.  These types of cooking use less fat in the cooking process and are usually much lower in calories.

-  Plain bread or rolls are low in both fat and calories.  When you add the butter and oil, you increase the fat and calorie intake.

-  As key ingredients to your meal, choose dishes with fruits and vegetables.  Both fruits and  vegetables are great sources of dietary fiber as well as many vitamins and minerals.

-  Choose foods made with whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and dishes made with brown rice.

-  If you crave dessert, look for something with low fat, such as berries or fruit.

-  Always remember not to deprive yourself of the foods you truly love.  All types of foods can fit into a well balanced diet.

The truth about cholesterol

Although cholesterol is mainly the culprit in the increase in high blood pressure in the body, not all cholesterol that we take in is essentially bad. In fact, small amounts of cholesterol is being used by the body in the production of bile salts and in the transformation of Vitamin D. Cholesterol also plays a role in the balancing of hormones especially in women.

There are two kinds of cholesterol, the good and the bad as the lay people will like to clal them. The bad cholesterol or the LDL is the kind that is often found in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. These are taken into the body through foods that are pre-packed and prepared such as potato chips, canned goods, etc.
LDL cholesterol adheres to the walls of the arteries. High levels of LDL can form plaques in the arterial walls that may eventually cause clogging in the passageway of the blood. This slows down the blood flow, which in turn makes it hard for the heart to pump. This scenario describes the initial stages of hypertension and coronary heart problems.

What to eat

The good cholesterol HDL on the other hand lower the levels of LDL in the body by helping transport the LDL to the liver where it is excreted. HDL cholesterol can be found in fishes as well as in nuts.

Other foods that can lower the cholesterol levels are fruits and vegetables. These foods do not contain that much cholesterol so whatever you have, you will not be adding to its levels.

Another great thing about veggies and fruits is the fact that they are great sources of fibers that the body also need to combat the increase in LDL cholesterol. Berries, fruits that are citrus and carrots are just some of the fruits that you can count on.

Another food that can dramatically reduce the levels of cholesterol in the body is the soya. Fiber-rich food, soya as well as almonds and plant sterols figure in a landmark study conducted by University of Toronto that reduced the cholesterol levels of the participants by as much as 20 percent. Eating oats, olive oil and barley are also great ways to lower LDL.

Another great source of cholesterol are foods that are really oily. To lower one’s LDL, one must consciously avoid foods that are deep-fried. If you have to eat fried foods, make sure that the oil that you use is made out of vegetable.

Never use butter as this is rich in saturated fats. Instead, use margarine as a substitute. Try to also steam, braise, boil or bake your food. You will find that they are tastier and healthier.

Not just the food

There are many factors that contribute to the rise of cholesterol levels in the body. In addition to one’s eating lifestyle, there is the age, the gender, the family history and of course the amount of physical activity that the person does.

Exercise is fairly important in keeping LDL cholesterol at bay. What is more, it strengthens the body’s resistance as well as improves blood circulation.

Breakfast is often times a victim of the morning time crunch.  Even though you may be tempted to skip breakfast, you can simplify your morning routine by following these 8 tips:

1.  Finish homework and pack school bags at night.
2.  Decide on what your children will wear to school before you go to bed and locate lost shoes for the following day.
3.  In the morning, get up 15 minutes earlier.
4.  Give up computer games and morning television.
5.  Have healthy foods on hand.  You should also shop for breakfast foods with your kids and take into account their personal preferences.
6.  Set the cereal out the night before. For younger children, fill a zippered plastic bag with her portion, then add the milk in the morning.
7.  Allow your children to use the microwave often, as most breakfast foods can be prepared in under 5 minutes.
8.  Allow your kids to eat in the car or on the way to school.

There are several foods that you can eat for breakfast, even leftovers from supper if they are sufficient.  You can eat bagels, pizza with fruit juice, pretzels, or the normal bacon and eggs that breakfast is known for.  Most foods are a snap to prepare, and won’t take you but a few minutes.

The next time you are in a hurry in the morning,  remember that you are probably about to skip the most important meal of the day. If you follow the tips above, you’ll find that you have plenty of  time for breakfast.