Tag Archives: Fruit

Friday Inspiration

Posted on by
Reply

veganmofo

About a month ago I noticed that few fruits and veggies were finding their way onto my plate. A change in my eating habits was in order,

Fresh vegetables are common in a healthy diet.
Image via Wikipedia

which I know from experience is a very difficult thing to do. To get the support and inspiration I needed, I decided to publicly announce my commitment to include more fruits and veggies in my diet. I challenged myself – and you! – to eat NINE fruits and veggies every day for one week. The feedback I got was terrific – apparently I’m not the only one who could stand to add more “dirt candy” to her diet. And so we became a community of fruit-n-veggie eatin’ fools!

I did pretty well for that week –eating anywhere from 6-9 veggies each day, which was a huge improvement for me. And yet the romance of striving to eat nine fruits and veggies a day eventually subsided and (just speaking for myself of course) eventually my eating habits went back to the way that they were. And so here we are a month later and again I’m looking at my diet and again seeing lots of room for improvement.

I am a work in progress. :)

I’ve decided that for each week through the end of the year, I will challenge myself to foster healthy eating and living habits. Each week I will have a new focus. This is just my way of keeping myself engaged and inspired in the process. I hope you’ll join me! The more the merrier, I say, and so I’ve set up a separate page where YOU can share how you are meeting your healthy living goals. Why not support and inspire each other?

An Apple a Day

For the next week, Friday to Friday, I intend to eat at LEAST one apple each day. Now this will not be too difficult given that I absolutely adore Honeycrisp apples and I’ve been stockpiling them over the last month or so. But can I be sure to eat at least one apple every day? Can you?

Who’s in? How will you make sure to eat at least one apple a day? Leave your comments on the new Friday Inspiration page.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Extra Life Produce Preserver – Two Thumbs Up

Posted on by
2

Back in July I decided to try the Extra Life Produce Preserver.ExtraLife

The “preserver” is a little green disk that you place in your refrigerator’s produce drawer.
Inside the disk is a little breathable pouch filled with natural zeolite pellets that have been coated with a 6% solution of potassium permanganate.
That does sound a little scary to me but Extra Life’s website assures us that it’s all natural and safe and has been used in the produce industry for over 50 years.

Anyway, as fruits and vegetables age they release ethylene, which causes them to ripen.
When fruits and veggies are outside in their natural state, the ethylene allows them to ripen naturally.
But when they are in a closed container, like your produce drawer, the trapped ethylene causes them to ripen at an accelerated pace.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had fruits and veggies go bad on me!

So the ethylene released by the f&v’s is attracted to the potassium permanganate in the Extra Life Produce Preserver. The preserver then converts the “pp” to water vapor and carbon dioxide (both harmless), thus preventing your produce from ripening so quickly and spoiling.

I can say that these really seem to work! I’ve noticed that produce is lasting longer in my refrigerator. I just threw out my original Extra Life Produce Preserver and just ordered a new pack. At $13.99 for a set of three, I think they are a real bargain.

And no I’m not being paid to say this. ;)

signature

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

The 9-A-Day Challenge: Are You In?

Posted on by
7
Légumes
Image via Wikipedia

Ok so lately my diet hasn’t been so hot. Have you noticed I haven’t been posting much about what I’ve been eating?

So I’ve decided that it’s time.
It’s time to shape up.
Shape up or ship out, isn’t that what they say? :)

So…I’m officially challenging myself to eat at least 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day for one week.

I know, the “recommendation” is less than 9.
But I like to be an overachiever.
So I’m challenging myself to eat 9 servings of fruits and veggies every day.

But I’m not doing this alone.
Oh no – I’m taking you with me!!

Do you think we can do it?
I do :)

So what does 9 servings of fruits and vegetables  look like?
Well, each of these would be considered “a serving:”

  • 1 cup of salad / raw greens
  • 1/2 cup of cooked greens
  • 1/2 cup of cooked or raw veggies other than greens
  • 1 medium apple, pear, orange, banana
  • 1/2 cup fruit
  • 1/4 cup dried fruit

I talked with Kate of Bountiful Living Wellness. We agreed that juice shouldn’t be part of this. Just cuz we like the fiber you get from whole fruits and veggies!

So here’s how this will work.
Every day we’ll make an effort to eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables using the guidelines for “what is a serving?” above.
At the end of the day – or the next morning – write a comment on this blog about how you met your 9 servings and list what you ate.
What’s cool is that by sharing how me met our 9 a day F&Vs, we’ll give each other ideas on how to do this!

I have a head start – since I thought of this early this morning I already began tallying up the F&Vs:

  • 1 banana + 1/2 serving raw spinach  in my morning smoothie  (total 1.5 servings)
  • “2 fresh figs (I think that’s two servings) smooshed into peanut butter” sandwich + 2 cups of salad for lunch (4 servings)
  • 1 apple snack (1 serving)

So I need just 2 1/2 more servings at dinner – stir fry here we come!
I think I’ll have at least one cup of stir fried veggies + a frozen banana “soft serve” for dessert. That’s 3 more servings – I’ll actually EXCEED my 9 today!
See it’s not that difficult when you really put your mind to it.

So are you with me? I definitely need your support!

signature

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]