Cartoons Teach You About Junk Food

Childhood obesity is a growing problem, but how do you get across that eating right is the right thing to do to a child who may not understand?  Something that is fun and enjoyable?  The Berenstain Bears to the rescue!  My son loved to watch this growing up and even now as an 8-year old he still likes watching this show.  There was an episode of The Berenstain Bears called Too Much Junk Food which is great for young (and old).  Have a watch!

 

Part 1 of 2 – The Berenstain Bears in Too Much Junk Food

Part 2 of 2 – The Berenstain Bears in Too Much Junk Food

Even cartoons can help steer kids in the right direction, you just don’t want to plant your kids in front of the TV/computer/iPad or whatever device for too long after all that would certainly not help your kids (or yourself) become more physically active.

Watch the show – you will enjoy it; then come back and tell us what you think!

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Who Does Not Love Corn?

Corn Offers More Than A Summer Vegetable Staple

No other vegetable brings up the memory of summer and warm weather fun like corn. An ear of corn buttered and seasoned to your liking is just the right thing to get you in the mood for a picnic. But, there is more to corn than that summer favorite. Let’s take a closer look at some of corn’s better qualities and characteristics.

What is it?

Corn is the well-recognized product of stalks growing tall in vast fields that reach the horizon.  The layers of broad leaves are the germinating environment for the ears themselves, and as the corn grows inside this cocoon, male and female flowers mature and release pollen as the entire plant matures.

In the United States, corn is the leading field crop by a two-to-one margin.  We know what corn on the cob looks like. But, this summer picnic staple has a bigger audience than that. Corn is used to produce everything from fuel alcohol for a cleaner burning gasoline, to butters, cereals, soft drinks, and snack foods. It is also grown as feed for livestock.

History

Corn or “maize” has been grown since prehistoric times by some of the earliest civilizations in our world’s history. Mayan and Olmec cultures were among the first to cultivate corn in the southern part of Mexico, and the crop began to spread through the Americas by the year 1700 B.C. 

When Europeans began to travel to and settle in the Americas, they traded corn with their mother country, and corn began to be a well-known staple of diets around the world. Today, corn is produced on every continent in the world except Antarctica.

Health Benefits

Corn’s most significant contributions for our health is as a source of vitamins B1, B5, and C, as well as folate, manganese, phosphorus, and dietary fiber. Folate helps reduce the risk of birth defects, heart attack and colon cancer. The B vitamins support memory function which can reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

A diet rich in whole grains, such as the grain processed from dried corn, (cornmeal and cereals, for instance) is also generally assumed to have phytonutrients to ward off disease to our organs and vital tissues. Research has also shown that eating sweet corn can support the growth of friendly bacteria in the large intestine which can help lower the risk of colon cancer.  Eating corn has been long believed to add much needed fiber to our diet.  That fiber can come from eating sweet corn or cornmeal.

Fun Facts

You can get creative with corn.  Of course, dried cornstalks are often bundled and used to decorate homes and businesses during the fall.  Also, a corncob can be treated and hollowed out to make pipes for smoking. Some farmers plant varieties of corn that grow very tall in order to create mazes for the sake of entertainment.

Scientifically speaking, the name for corn is “zea mays” which leads us to the word “maize,” the traditional name by which the Native Americans called this crop.  However, many cultures throughout the world have cultivated corn and called it by a variation of the word.  The colors of corn may surprise you. We normally see sweet corn on the table in shades of yellow, but corn is grown in a variety of colors which include red, purple, blue, and even pink.  Some of this corn is strictly ornamental, but some is edible, too.

How to Eat

Choosing a fresh ear of corn means choosing ears that have green husks that are not dried out. You can check the freshness of individual kernels by pressing on them with a fingernail. The freshest corn will emit a milky, white fluid that indicates the corn is at its peak of sweetness and flavor. The husks protect the corn, so they should only be removed when you’re ready to eat the ears you’ve purchased.  I know many stores husk the corn, trim it, and wrap it in plastic.  If that’s your only option, that’s fine, but look for corn that is still in the husk for optimum freshness and sweetness.

The most common variety of corn is either the yellow sweet corn or the white and yellow combination colored sweet corn.  You may find a variety of colors in your region, including black, blue, and violet. These darker varieties generally contain more antioxidants and protein levels and less starch than lighter color specimens.  If you can’t find fresh ears of dark colored corn, check out the blue corn chips. These are increasingly popular and make a beautiful, and nutritious, snack.

Frozen whole kernel sweet corn is your next best choice after corn on the cob.  The corn is picked ripe, then quickly removed from the cob, blanched and flash frozen.  The quality may often surpass fresh corn toward the end of the season.  

There are a number of delicious cold salads you can make with corn. You’ll also find corn adds a wonderful filling taste and texture to many soups, chili, and casseroles. And don’t forget the corn products, like cornmeal, cornflour, cereals, and other dried corn ingredients we can cook with.

If you are a grilling fanatic, be sure to add corn to your menu.  Just remove the silk, keep the husks wrapped tightly and soak in cold water.  Remove and place on low grill on indirect heat until you can smell the sweet corn aroma.  Remove and baste with seasoned butter for even more savory goodness.

It’s no wonder corn is such a mainstay in our diet. With so much versatility, nutrition, and deliciousness, corn is going to be around for a long time.

Resources

Videos

1. http://www.imcooked.com/view_video.php?viewkey=bb2a95e79248486a5f6d
2. http://www.imcooked.com/view_video.php?viewkey=22145b3701b0184109ca

Recipe

Garden Corn Souffle

• 2 cups corn, fresh cut from cob
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 cups milk, scalded
• 1 small red or green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 Tbsp grated sweet onion
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.  Set a larger baking dish out (that the casserole will fit in).  You will be baking the casserole in a water bath in the larger dish.

With a sharp knife, cut corn kernels from cob (stand corn cob on its tip, holding by large stem end, and run knife blade from top to bottom, removing kernels.)
In a cold mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy, then whisk in milk and melted butter until blended.

Put corn, bell pepper, onion, salt, and black pepper in bowl with egg mixture and stir to combine.

Pour the mixture into the casserole and set it in the larger baking dish and set in oven, then fill a pitcher with hot water from faucet and pour carefully into larger baking dish so casserole is sitting in a water bath inside the oven.  Slide all the way into the preheated oven and bake at 325 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes.

Test to see if done by inserting a thin knife blade into center; it should come out clean if the eggs are set.

Remove and let stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

This will serve about 4 to 6 people as a side dish.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies – Cantalopue

Cantaloupe Offers More Than Sweet Juicy Refreshment

Some say cantaloupe and some say muskmelon.  Whatever you call this pungent, juicy fruit, the fact is this is one healthy food!  Cantaloupe is the perfect snack for adults and kids, and adding this fruit to your diet has definite benefits, besides just being tasty.

What is it?

Cantaloupe is part of the melon family which includes squash, cucumber, gourds, and pumpkin. In America, we know cantaloupe by its rib-textured outer skin. When you slice a cantaloupe in half, you’ll find a pocket of seeds and soft threads.  Scoop this out and you’ll be ready to enjoy the sweet, juicy orange color flesh with its distinctive flavor and aroma.

Grown on vines, this fruit is ripe when the stem begins to separate easily from the cantaloupe itself.  Because the aroma of the cantaloupe is so distinctive, many people say it is quite simple to tell if the fruit is ripe.  If it smells ripe, it is ripe.

History

Christopher Columbus is credited with introducing cantaloupes to America during his second voyage to the continent in the late 15th Century. This North American cantaloupe with its familiar orange flesh is the variety we are most familiar with in America. This differs from the European cantaloupe, which has an outer rind of a gray-green color and is smooth instead of ribbed.

Long before North America was introduced to cantaloupe, Africans, Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks grew the fruit in their native lands. The varieties differed just as much as the regions, but it was all cantaloupe.

Health Benefits

Like many healthy fruits, cantaloupes are rich in vitamin C and contain antioxidants that help promote good cardiovascular health and better immunity. Cantaloupe also contains beta-carotene, a rich source of vitamin A which reduces the risk of cataracts and promotes eye health.

These vitamins also help limit the damage caused by free-radicals. We can’t forget about the cantaloupe’s healthy dose of B-complex vitamins which are known to help regulate blood sugar levels by processing carbs slowly, over a longer period of time.

Fun Facts

The name “cantaloupe” is derived from an Italian village called Cantalup, which was among the first places where the fruit was cultivated around the year 1700.  However, this is known by a few other names in different parts of the world.
 
Persians and Armenians know this fruit as part of a group of muskmelons that include honeydew, casaba, and crenshaw varieties.  South Africans refer to them as spanspeks.  Australians call cantaloupe  rockmelons.

How to Eat

Most people enjoy fresh cantaloupe raw, on its own, savoring the juicy, rich texture and flavor as a snack or dessert. However, because cantaloupe is so flavorful and appealing, many find it a fun food to experiment with in order to serve in new ways. One interesting serving suggestion is to wrap cantaloupe chunks in thinly cut prosciutto slices for a tasty and eye-pleasing appetizer.

Cantaloupe also goes well with yogurt and mixed with other fruits in sweet salads. You can even make a cold soup by blending other fruits like apples, peaches, and strawberries with cantaloupe together in a cold puree. Cantaloupe also makes a great sweet bread with just the right spices, nuts, and spices like ginger and cinnamon. Slushies and smoothies are another popular way to serve this tantalizing fruit.

Something to keep in mind is that cantaloupes have a short lifespan.  Since the surface of the outer rind is so rough, it can harbor bacteria, particularly Salmonella.  For this reason, it is important to wash cantaloupes well before cutting them open.  Try to eat your cantaloupe within three days of purchase to reduce this bacterial risk.

The unmistakably sweet taste of ripe cantaloupe make this one fruit that is easy to enjoy.  For those of us with a sense of culinary adventure, there’s a world of interesting recipes waiting for you to explore with this popular seasonal fruit.

NOTE – Cantaloupe has been in the news recently with the CDC raising alarms of a listeria outbreak, visit TIME (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2095653,00.html) for more details.

Also:

• http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/28/listeria-laced-cantaloupe-6-things-you-need-to-know/#ixzz1ZHhOnpOi

 

See Better When You Lose Weight

I was speaking to a friend of mine who lost some weight, and we started talking about how much better you can see when you lose weight.  Now you may be thinking – what do your eyes have to do with losing weight?  As we sat down and talked, I thought this has to be captured and shared. 

Here are a few things that you’ll see better as you lose weight (and perhaps somethings you will not see).

1. Won’t see that b-u-l-g-i-n-g stomach!
2. Won’t see that fat ass.
3. Won’t see man breasts.
4. Won’t see flabby arms, and thighs.
5. You just might be able to wear corduroy without that swish-swish sound of your legs rubbing together!
6. Will see your feet, probably for the first time in ages without the use of any fancy contraption!
7. Guys – your penis may look a whole lot bigger!
8. Guys – forget about it looking bigger, you just may notice it for the first time in ages!
9. Glasses may fit better since they won’t be resting on your chubby cheeks.
10. Lower BMI.
11. Lower blood pressure.
12. Better control over your blood sugars (if you are Type 2 diabetic).
13. Lowers your risk of heart disease.
14. Lowers your cholesterol.
15. Potentially improve sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
16. Energy (and flexibility) to try out those wicked kama sutra moves that looked all but impossible before.

Got one to share?  Simply comment!

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New Years Resolutions – Lose Weight

OK, ok, ok – so it is the start of summer, and I’m talking about New Years Resolutions – but this is actually the right time to talk about them.

So let me ask you.  Have you kept your New Years Resolution to lose weight?  What?  I can’t hear you… I see a lot of smiles and hear a few giggles.  You didn’t, did you?  Not to worry, neither did the millions of Americans or Canadians that kept a New Years Resolution to lose weight.

But can I tell you a secret?  I kept a resolution to lose weight.  You know what else?  I was successful.

Those that have been following my other weight loss site (http://www.lose-weight-n-feel-great.com) know that my family and I moved out to BC several years ago.  At the time, I was a 48-waist and around 280lbs.  I spent some time at home, but over the years the weight crept up and in 6-years time I ended up gaining 30lbs.

Just before 2011 I promised myself that I will lose weight.  But I didn’t make any New Years Resolution, I resolved to myself that I must lose weight.  I didn’t make any promises to anyone — not even my wife or 7-year old (an only child, who loves soccer and expects that I will play with him).

I did it for me.  The side effect was that I had more energy to play with my son and do more around the house.  It was a win-win situation.

Today I am 284.5 lbs – not quite 280, but I can no longer wear my size 54 pants.  In fact even my size 50′s are too loose and I have to get them ALL taken in!  I love it!

When you are wanting to lose weight, you cannot wait (or is that weight) for New Years Resolutions, promises to your wife, son/daughter, significant other or anyone.  You need to lose weight because YOU want to.  Yes you may be doing it for other reasons — and that’s not bad, but you should be doing it primarily for you.

Will you keep making resolutions to lose weight?  Or will you do it for you?

Technorati Tags: dieting, lose weight fast, new years resolutions, Weight Loss

Spring Clean Your Fridge

OK so spring has sprung in most places in the US and Canada. We’re getting out of our shells, and braving the bright sun, warm days and WEIGHT GAIN. Aaaaack. What happened?

Food. That’s what happened. It’s time to spring clean your fridge, pantry and wherever else you may be “hiding” goodies.

Seriously.  When you talk about spring cleaning, make sure FOOD is on the list of things to get rid of.

Listen, it’s easy to pile on the pounds but it takes a lot of guts (snicker – and we’ve ALL got that) to brave up, and toss out the cookies, candies and whatever else you may have brought into the house under the veil of darkness.

Toss out the brownies, and Twinkies.  Toss out the potato chips and chocolate chip cookies.  Toss out the double-churned Maple Walnut ice cream.

With the warm weather, it’s time to get outside and enjoy, play and have fun.  Time to work on getting your lifestyle changes back on track.

Forget about quick fixes and trying to lose 10 pounds in 3 days or some other nonsense – it ain’t happening unless you’re willing to starve yourself to lose weight!  And honestly, do you really need an overweight calculator to tell you you are overweight?

Come on – are you with me?  It’s easy.  If I can do it, so can you.

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Liposuction: Solution or Problem?

The following is a guest post from the fine folks over at Liposuction Cost – visit them at http://www.liposuctioncost.com for more information on tumescent liposuction.

Liposuction: Solution or Problem?

Throughout the 1900′s people tried all sorts of gimmicks and gadgets to lose (or at least hide) unwanted pounds. Some questionable and potentially hazardous approaches to slimming quickly and easily included: obesity soaps, subliminal message tapes, corsets or other restrictive garments, and even tape worms. While diverse in technique, the common bond between all of these tactics was their promise of a slimmer consumer with little or no effort.

In 1974, an Italian Gynecologist, Giorgio Fischer, introduced liposuction. By the late 1970′s, two French physicians, Yves Illouz and Pierre Fournier further developed the procedure but in its earliest form, liposuction had negative responses due to excessive bleeding and rippling of the skin. This changed in 1984, when Jeffrey A. Klein, a Dermatologist in California, revolutionized the weight-loss industry by perfecting modern liposuction. Dr. Klein had invented the “Tumescent Technique” offering lower instances of these effects. Today, with the use of liposuction tumescent procedure, serious side effects are rare. Still, it is extremely important to be educated about the risks of liposuction and make an informed decision.

Infection is one of the most common risks associated with any surgical procedure, but infection risks are greatly decreased by proper sterilization of instruments and care of incision sites. Some other possible risks of liposuction include: cardiac arrest or arrhythmia, blood clots, brain damage, seizures, allergic reactions to anesthesia or medications, excessive fluid loss, friction burns, damage to skin and nerves or vital organs, and bruising or scarring.

With the remarkable changes that took place on the different liposuction procedures like liposuction breast, thigh, arm, tummy and even chin lipo procedure it’s popularity continues to grow.  Today, there’s a lot of men specially women who appreciate the idea as they have been so much benefited of its improvements. As many would say about liposuction, “result is an instant”.

During liposuction recovery, it is vital to have a caregiver or spouse assist patients. Simple tasks, such as walking to the bathroom or going to get something to drink, can prove extraordinarily difficult for the first 24 hours. Additionally, a caregiver can help administer medications and monitor the patient for adverse reactions or other urgent concerns.

Pain and tenderness are unfortunate realities of liposuction post op, though the discomfort generally decreases steadily within a few days of the procedure. Patients will be prescribed medication to minimize swelling and discomfort during the days following the procedure.

While a viable option for people unable to tone and tighten on their own or those for whom excessive skin poses other serious issues, liposuction is not a magic wand that can solve deeper problems. Before deciding if it’s a good choice, potential patients should determine if their dissatisfaction with themselves is purely based on aesthetics. If there are any doubts, other options should be explored.

Technorati Tags: chin lipo, infection, tumescent liposuction

After Ingrown Toenail Surgery

After having dealt with ingrown toenails for year, and years I finally decided to get surgery done to correct the problem.

Now if you’ve done some searches for ingrown toenails on Google, and looked at some of the images – there are some horrific images out there!

I’ve actually had a couple of procedures done on my toes, one was to basically remove the problem part of the nail – but the doctor warned me, if I don’t take care of my feet I’d get ingrown toenails again.  So half the battle is taking care of your feet.

What did the doctor do?  Simple, first he started by numbing my toe by injecting it with an anesthetic.  Next he cut the toenail along the edge that is growing into the skin – in my case on both toenails and both sides of the toenail.

Now I had two long, narrow toenails.  He had then placed anti-bacterial ointment on the sides and bandaged them up.  I was wearing thong-style sandals for a few weeks until my toes healed and then I should have followed the doctors orders, but of course I did not and today — I still suffer from ingrown toenails.

So what should I have done?  Simple…

What should I do to care for my toe after surgery?

• Soak your foot daily in warm water – did this!
• Apply antibiotic ointment to the site at least twice a day – did this!
• Keep a bandage over the site until it heals – did this!
• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain – did this!
• Keep the wound clean and dry, it’s okay to shower the day after surgery – did this!
• Wear loosely fitting shoes or sneakers for the first 2 weeks – did this, in fact I had no choice as my feet would not fit into shoes, so wore thong-style sandals.
• Avoid running or strenuous activity for the first 2 weeks – oh yah, feet are pretty painful for the first few weeks.
• Call your doctor if you have problems with the area, such as increasing pain, swelling, redness or drainage – never had an issue, but you need to check your feet regularly.
• Avoid high heels and tight-fitting shoes now and in the future – this is where I fell down, I should have worn a dress shoe that is an extra wide width, but I did not.
• Trim nails straight across. Don’t pick at your nails or tear them at the corners – again, something else that I did not do which caused my ingrown toenails to redevelop.

Ingrown toenails are painful, and if they get infected you need to see a doctor.  But with a little care, after getting surgery you could be ingrown toenail free for a long, long time.

Technorati Tags: home remedies for ingrown toenails, home remedy for ingrown toenails, home remedy ingrown toenails, ingrown nail, ingrown toe nail, ingrown toenail surgery, ingrown toenail surgery recovery, ingrown toenail treatment, ingrown toenails, perfect toenails, toenails

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