Healthier vegetable sides

Are you wondering what to serve as a side dish with dinner? Are you having issues getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet? Do you limit the types or colors of vegetables and fruits you eat? We can take control of these issues and we can expand our taste preferences. One of my favorite scenes in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love,” is where the main character makes a plate of asparagus, boiled eggs, and prosciutto before she sits down to enjoy relaxation and reading the paper.

Asparagus does have some amazing benefits, including detoxification of the liver. Asparagus is low in calories, but high in vitamins and minerals. Asparagus is high in folic acid, potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6 to name a few. As shown in the picture, we can also add some beautiful cherry tomatoes and hard boiled eggs. Lightly salted and with some olive oil, and we have quite a healthy side dish for our lunch or dinner. Another healthy practice is to reduce protein intake in the evening as proteins are more difficult to digest and, if you are beginning to enter menopause ladies, then animal protein at dinner can increase our issues with night sweats.

Also eating lighter in the evening can help us relax and to sleep better overall. One practice I’m adding to my routine right now is having two vegetables with my evening meal rather than a starchy potato or rice, a green vegetable and the main course of chicken or some other lean meat. If I do want to include carbs, I do so earlier in the day. I have also started eating sweets earlier in the day if I have a desire for something sweet. This helps me to eat things earlier in the day, when I’m still more active so that I can increase the opportunity to burn many of those calories.

Another change in my new routine is that I’m alternating cardio days with cardio and weight training. I’m adding back muscle tissue to help my body get more metabolically active. This helps me burn calories throughout the day rather than just during the time I’m working out. In keeping with my new program, I’m working hard to meet the daily water intake, I’m working out moderately at least 5 days a week, I’m watching my diet, and I’m working on sleeping better. I’m also adding back my oil pulling routine so that after I finish my shower, I have done the swishing of the oil for at least 20 minutes and I then follow up with my flossing and brushing my teeth.

All of these activities work together to keep me healthy, so why not make sure my diet is effective as well? Taking my vitamins and mineral supplements, working out at least 5 days a week, lifting weights 3 of those 5 days, along with the other practices will mean that I have greater mobility, that I am reducing the risk of injury or disease, and I’m truly working to increase well-being. I also found a wonderful mindful activity in pulling the seeds from a pomegranate. The beautiful red color, the time it takes to clear the seeds from the pulp and the ability to just focus on that activity is one small way to add mindful activities.

I hope that everyone is remaining healthy, I hope that you are taking greater care to increase health and well-being, and I hope that you are working out, drinking water, eating more healthful foods, and really working hard to change your health if you haven’t made a real effort before or if you kind of gave up after past attempts to get healthier. Remember, the cost of disease is much higher than the cost of health in many ways other than monetary cost. Stay focused, stay healthy, and stay hydrated. And remember, wear your make and respect yourself and others and protect yourself and others.