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Dieting -- The Basic of Meal Planning


BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNING

As a basis for meals and menu planning, refer to the pyramid information mentioned earlier to make sure you have the basic food requirements met for all family members. Then cross check and plan by looking over basic food categories to target healthy foods to fit the lifestyles and health of everyone. For example, if someone has depression, add some foods mentioned above to his or her dietary plans that aid in the healing and prevention of depression.

Meal planning also depends upon several factors like the number of people eating, meal times, special dietary concerns, budget, available foods, and recipes on hand and likes and dislikes of everyone who will be eating. Begin by choosing foods and recipes that you like and know how to prepare well and that fit into everyone's dietary plans. If one or more people have special needs, like diabetics, plan ahead for substitutions either in the food preparation or food substitution for that individual or for those individuals.

Add variety to your meal planning. Have other family members jump in and prepare meals some nights and on weekends. Kids enjoy making macaroni and cheese, so host mac-n-cheese night on Wednesdays, for example. Then alternate different vegetable combinations, colors and textures to vary the menu on a weekly basis (no need to let boredom take over on Wednesdays with the same routine!)

Also note seasonal food selections for savings. Create menus and meals based upon what's on special that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible and storage room and the budget allow. But don't over do it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, "Haste makes waste" might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and have to toss them out.

One fun way to save is by trading coupons and working out food deals with friends, family, neighbors, your church group and anyone else who'd like to join in. Food cooperatives and farm markets available in your area may offer special pricing to groups or large purchases. So team up for better purchasing power and split everything up between group members. If you're not into that much organization, go one-on-one with a neighbor, other friend or relative. Buy a huge bag of potatoes, onions, oats, and / or other foods, then share.

COOKING TIPS

Here are some cooking tips to help with your perfect dietary planning:

Low-Fat Supplies - -Keep these on hand. Butter-flavored low-fat vegetable cooking sprays are out there. So is apple sauce in place of some oil in recipes. Also keep the following handy: lemons, limes, your favorite fresh herbs and spices, evaporated skim milk, cornstarch, plain non-fat yogurt, flavored vinegar, and onions.

Substitute - Check recipes and ingredients and where applicable, cut fat and calories by using:

? Fat-free or reduced-calorie versions

? Skim milk, 1 percent or 2 percent milk for whole milk

Cooking Skills - - Hone in on or learn how to:

? Saut, as with vegetables in water or broths.

? Use coking sprays or nonstick cookware.

? Cook in foil or parchment paper to seal in juicy flavors

? Trim fat from meats

? Stir-fry, bake, roast, poach, microwave, steam and broil

? Experiment with seasonings (herbs, spices)

Written by Shelley Hitz, Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified NASM Personal Trainer.
Sign up for her free Exercise Advice journal at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.html or read more of her articles at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com. Get your free unbelievable abs ball workout here!


MORE RESOURCES:

Moneycontrol.com

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Chicago Tribune

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Globe and Mail

Should shoppers trust Walmart's 'Great for You' nutrition labels?
Globe and Mail
Walmart, the multi-national retail giant, launched a new health-labelling program for its grocery products this week that will affix green “Great for You” labels on foods that meet the company's nutritional criteria. The program is expected to take ...
Walmart to Label Healthy FoodsNew York Times
How Good Is Walmart's 'Great For You' Nutrition Labeling?TIME
Walmart 'Great for You' Healthy Labels: Nutrition Experts Say 'Devil in the ...ABC News
Boston Herald -MarketWatch (press release) -Medical News Today
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On Nutrition: Pregnancy advice from mom
SunHerald.com
And now that I'm pregnant, I have your nutrition advice on speed dial." (Whatever that means.) Poor thing. Her first 3 months of pregnancy were rough. Nothing stayed down and it wasn't so pleasant when it came back up. Lots of friends offered their ...

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Work nutritious snacks into diet to help weight goals
Shawnee News Star
Finally, plan ahead and keep a variety of tasty, nutritious and ready-to-eat snacks available at all times. Small containers and baggies will definitely make this task easier when you have to be away from home. Snacks keep you going when you are ...

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4 Stock Strategies From Wall Street
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Wall Street analysts explain which nutrition retailers make for good stocks and why investors should be careful picking homebuilding stocks this month: Demand for vitamins may boost the stocks of nutrition retailers. JP Morgan analysts say the vitamin ...

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Tucson Citizen

Arizona schools may bypass new nutrition standards
Tucson Citizen
The US Department of Agriculture unveiled new nutrition standards in January that would require schools to add more fruits and vegetables to lunch while reducing the amount of sodium and trans fat. The rules also set calorie limits for the millions of ...

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SmartBrief Partners with School Nutrition Association to Deliver Vital News to ...
MarketWatch (press release)
WASHINGTON, Feb 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SmartBrief, Inc. launched a daily digital media news service on Monday, January 30, 2012, in partnership with the School Nutrition Association (SNA). SNA is a national, nonprofit professional organization ...

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USANA® Probiotic Receives ConsumerLab.com Certification
MarketWatch (press release)
10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- USANA Health Sciences, Inc. /quotes/zigman/3471921/quotes/nls/usna USNA +1.92% , a global nutritional supplements company, today announced that its USANA® Probiotic supplement has been tested and approved by ...

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West Milford agenda items include ADA, jobs, nutrition, and using state aid
NorthJersey.com
BY ANN GENADER The West Milford Board of Education (BOE) is addressing the long-time concerns of the Township of West Milford Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Committee (ADA). Non-compliance with laws setting standards in public buildings in ...

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