Newsletter "Wisdom From the Kitchen" | Veg4Health - Healthy Eating

Happy start of the New Year! Every year goes by faster and faster and 2008 was no exception for me - and perhaps for you. Oftentimes, with the start of a new year, people are more motivated than ever to

implement healthier choices in their lifestyle. I hope and pray that this newsletter will encourage and instruct all of you on the path to more vibrant living through healthy eating. January is the month that we begin to start seeing the emergence of Floridastrawberries and the hope of more fresh fruit to come. It's also the time we start really concentrating on fresh greens and the weather is cool enough for roasting vegetables in my oven without having a complete meltdown. Somehow, turning my oven on to 450 degrees on warm days doesn't seem too appealing, but during the winter it seems down right cozy. My favorite vegetable dishes for roasting are Rosemary Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Balsamic Vinegar Glazed Squash and Roasted Asparagus (or green beans or sugar snap peas). My kids can't get enough of the Blistered Potatoes. Couple any of these dishes with a healthy side dish of Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts or Brilliant Kale with Red Peppers and some fresh fruit and you have a deliciously simple meal which is packed with nutrients to help jump start all of your new year's resolutions.

Jack LaLanne is quoted as saying that "Exercise is King, diet is queen; put them together and you have an empire." I am not sure which one is really king and which one is queen, but there is no doubt that to enjoy optimal health you must have both diet and exercise in your repertoire. Although I love to eat as much as anyone and I often find myself in the kitchen whenever I have a free moment, I also make sure to get a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day. But the thing we have really enjoyed lately - and seen tremendous results from - is a simple stroll after every meal. After having read The 30 Day Diabetes Miracle, and having a long family history of diabetes, and having a couple of inches of belly fat that I wanted to get rid of - we made a family commitment to "take a stroll" after every meal. Most times, we literally stroll around our block, while our two kids ride their scooters. (BTW, I call it a stroll, but my husband accuses me of power-walking because he breaks a sweat every time.) Sometimes, we use our new Wii and play boxing or tennis for between 10 and 15 minutes and sometimes we all get our bikes and cruise through the neighborhood. Whatever we do, we move our bodies to help our cells be ready to take in the energy we have just consumed. It may not always be convenient to do this, but we have seen tremendous results in just under a month of consistently moving after our meals. I have lost over an inch around my waist and a little over a pound, without any other changes to our diet and exercise routine. It might seem a little strange, but I challenge you to try it. We have come to love the togetherness and time spent strolling and talking - and I love my new waistline too.