We know that summer is just around the corner and now is the time to get in gear for some serious health habits.  Keeping some type of exercise in our daily routine will benefit your body tremendously.  Exercise will also give you a healthy appetite making you look forward to each meal.  Keep your meals light and healthy with daily balance nutrition.  Remember, eating healthy also makes you feel energetic and full of life.

Spring vegetables are bursting everywhere to be enjoyed with all types of meats, fish and poultry.  Colorful and delicious vegetables to be enjoyed simply by themselves, added to pasta dish, into omelets, salads, combined or joined with any meat, fish or poultry.

Don’t wait until summer, uncover the barbeque and let’s start grilling all your favorite foods.  With so many choices, starting from pork, spare ribs, tenderloins, pork chops, veal chops, lamb chops, skirt steaks, halibut, salmon, tuna steaks.  There is such a wide variety; you will have no excuse to get bored.  Food can be so exciting with a little thought and preparation.  Grilling vegetables and then submerging them into quickly cooked marinara sauce with garlic and fresh herbs.  Grilling what you crave and then quickly topping with a quick pizzaiola sauce or green olive pesto sauce, Sun dried tomato pesto, artichoke hearts vinaigrette and sweet vinegar peppers all can be heavenly.  The menu can be endless with exciting new ideas of how to enjoy the simplest of foods.  Make a simple pork chop into a dish fit for a king.  Marinate pork chops, veal chops or lamb chops with an Italian vinaigrette style ala mint with basic ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, wine vinegar, oregano, salt/ pepper and lots of fresh mint for that refreshing summer time flavor.  (See recipe) 

How about stuffing some tenderloins with exciting ideas like broccoli robe and red pepper flakes, spinach with Gorgonzola, grilled mushrooms and fresh herbs?  Or Sorrentino style with eggplant prostitute and mozzarella?!

Drink plenty of water during the day and make sure you exercise at least 3 times a week.

It’s also important to eat your last meal before 6pm every night.  Since your metabolism slows down, it would be wise to consume less food after 6:00 in the evening.  You will find that eating early will be advantageous to your health.  If you find that it is impossible for you to eat early because either your spouse or family member(s) get home too late – 

Here’s what I would suggest:

• Begin a schedule with a friend, relative or neighbor to eat together at least 4 times a week with quickly prepared healthy meals. 

• Support each other by taking turns in cooking the foods as well as shopping for the goods.   

Having a partner might encourage you to keep with your healthy eating schedule.  You will soon see results in your weight as well as feeling you’re very best.    

Variety is the spice of life with good nutrition and an active lifestyle.   It’s also what boosts a meal’s nutritional value.  An assortment of healthy ingredients tantalizes your taste buds and delivers a powerful nutritional punch to your life.  Let’s get ready and embrace summer by building a new and healthier you!

Visit Eleanora's web site and read more about her Healthy Eating ideas.

Submitted by Eleanora Scarpetta Copyright © 2002