Author Archive
The gift of good health
December 20 2013
Are you having trouble finding that last minute Christmas gift? MealEasy’s got you covered.
It’s so hard to find the perfect gift. But what could be more perfect than the gift of good health?
And with New Year’s Resolutions on everyone’s mind, the timing couldn’t be better to buy someone you truly love the gift of good health. According to studies an amazing 45% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions – 38% of which are weight loss related. That’s a lot of people that want to eat healthier. And many of these people don’t know where to start.
That’s why we created MealEasy. It’s the best source of healthy meal plans and yummy nutritious food. With the new Weight Loss Plan now added to the list of meal plan options, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.
For a limited time, MealEasy is offering our yearly subscription at an incredible 50% off!!! Now’s the time to give the gift of good health…the gift that will last a lifetime.
Click here to purchase.
It’s time for a real solution!
December 17 2013
Most of us, at one time or another, have struggled with our weight. Often, this leads to depression and to overeating…which leads to more weight gain.
Many of us have tried so called “miracle cures” and celebrity endorsed fad diets only to be faced with unrealistic targets and drastically reduced food choices. These diets most often lead to failure, which leads to depression, which leads to…you get the idea.
That’s why at MealEasy we’ve worked really hard to develop a Weight Loss Plan that will work for you. You won’t get any celebrity endorsement or any miracle cures. What you’ll get is food you will want to eat, a plan that’s simple to follow, and the results you’ve been searching for.
It’s based on “mindful eating”. The premise is that sensible, controlled eating and regular exercise are vital to prolonged weight loss success. It’s really that easy. All you need is a commitment to wanting to improve your health and a plan that works. The MealEasy Weight Loss Plan is a plan that works.
And now is the time to act. Researchers at the University of Scranton (Journal of Clinical Psychology) confirmed that 45% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions – 38% of which are weight loss related. Why not make this year’s resolution stick?
A cup of coffee
December 11 2013
Many people think that choosing healthier food options is simply too expensive. But would it surprise you that for the equivalent of a cup of coffee, or about $1.56 per day, you can eat foods that are much better for you?
According to this Harvard study, spending about $1.50 a day or $550 a year is the difference between a healthy diet and an unhealthy diet. So next time you’re thinking you can’t afford to eat better, think about your daily cup of coffee.
Our Obesity Epidemic
December 06 2013
There’s no denying, North Americans are facing an obesity epidemic. And this epidemic is costing the U.S. $147 BILLION annually!!!
Part of the reason for the increase in obesity is because we simply eat too much. We eat too much because portions, over time, have become larger and larger. This is especially true for fast foods and processed foods.
Studies have shown that people will eat up to 30% more when offered a larger portion. With the advent of the “supersize” and the all you can eat buffet, most folks feel they are betting a “better deal” if they get a larger portion. Does that mean we were going hungry in the past? Of course not. It simply means we’ve grown accustomed to eating too much.
In order to combat this epidemic we have to start eating less. Portion control is an important tool in the fight against obesity. Eating fewer calories, especially calories from sugar and processed foods, will help us achieve a healthy weight. Cutting back and eating smaller portions is not easy but it is necessary if we want to stop this epidemic.
At MealEasy we’re all about portion control and we know how difficult it can be to go from a 10oz steak down to a 4oz steak. That’s why we developed our system with the option to choose your own calorie range. That way you can gradually reduce the amount you’re eating and still feel full. We know that this is the best way to achieve a healthy weight and maintain it.
New Research debunks “Healthy Obesity” myth
December 03 2013
New research from Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital shows that the idea that someone can be obese yet still healthy is a myth. The study found that obesity carries a higher risk of premature death compared to that of normal-weight people, regardless of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood-sugar readings.
In an analysis of data pooled from several previous studies, researchers found that people who were obese but metabolically healthy had a significantly increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke and of dying prematurely.
Lead author Dr. Catherine Kramer said that even in the absence of such markers as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, an obese person with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or greater had a 24 per cent higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke or of early death compared to a normal-weight person.
Maintaining a healthy weight, or BMI of between 18.5 and 24.5, is important in reducing the risks of heart attack and diabetes
The Holiday Season is here! That doesn’t mean you can’t eat sensibly
November 27 2013
Just because the Holiday Season has begun it should not mean that your healthy eating habits go out the window. By approaching the next month and a half with a can-do attitude, you can weather the calorie storm, enjoy the down time, and feel great. Here are a few simple tips for you.
1. Don’t arrive (too) hungry. During the holidays, you are often invited to many a tasty meal. A classic mistake is not to eat all day in order to make room for all the tasty treats awaiting you. However, this is a recipe for disaster because this leads to dramatically overeating. It’s the way our bodies have been wired by millions of years of evolution.
2. Drink lots of water. Start all meals and parties by making sure you are properly hydrated. This will help reduce your overall caloric intake (and it helps avoid hangovers too).
3. Don’t be afraid to be picky. You don’t have to try everything on the buffet or appetizer platter. Scope out what looks good and stick to a few of those…that way you won’t overfill your plate and eat WAY too much.
4. We call it the Holidays but in reality most of the time is technically not a holiday, just regular work days. Save you caloric celebrations for the few days that actually are a holiday – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. For the rest of the time, plan your meals and try to keep the calorie count on the low end.
5. Try to stick to your healthy routines – whether it is exercise or updating your food diary, keep at it. Don’t let Thanksgiving derail you for more than a day or two. Get back to your regular groove fast, especially since you should be having more free time, not less, during vacation. It’s okay to overindulge once in a while but make sure you pace yourself; the Holiday Season lasts about 6 weeks…that’s a lot of meals.
Fight colds and flu with food
November 25 2013
As the days get shorter and the temperature begins to cool it is apparent that cold and flu season is here. Research has shown that there are many ways to help prevent getting a cold or the flu by simply eating healthy and nutritious foods. Avoiding sugary foods and processed meats have also been documented as good ways to prevent illness. Here are some of the best cold and flu fighting foods according to studies:
· Whole Grains
They’re loaded with zinc, which is vital for maintaining a healthy immune system. Try whole-grain spaghetti with tomato sauce or brown rice with veggies.
· Bananas
They contain vitamin B6, which helps your body fight infection. Eat your bananas sliced over whole-grain cereal and double your germ-busting power.
· Cayenne Pepper
The active ingredient in cayenne pepper, capsaicin, helps fight congestion by thinning the mucus in your nasal passages so you can breathe freely again. Sprinkle some in soup or on a bean burrito.
· Sweet Potatoes
They’re one of the best sources of beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A), which your body needs to make enough white blood cells to fight off infection. Eat them mashed or baked.
· Garlic
Allicin, one of the active components in freshly crushed garlic, can zap viruses by blocking the enzymes that lead to infection. Use it in a Caesar salad, pesto sauce, or guacamole.
· Spinach
Spinach is loaded with vitamin C which has been shown to reduce the severity of cold and flu symptoms.
You can save up to 600%!!!
November 22 2013
That sounds incredible doesn’t it? Well, it’s true.
If you are like many folks and regularly buy your lunch instead of brown bagging it, then you are spending an amazing 600% more than if you made it at home. SIX TIMES THE COST OF MAKING IT YOURSELF!
Let’s do the math. For lunch today you went to the local Italian place and had lasagna with a side Caesar salad and a cup of coffee.
- Lasagna: $14
- Salad: $6
- Coffee: $2
- Total: $22!!!
http://www.olivegarden.com/Menu/Lunch/
And that does not include taxes or tip.
Let’s say that on Sunday evening for dinner you made lasagna and froze whatever leftovers. Then on Tuesday for lunch you bring yourself a portion of lasagna, a side salad and something to drink (how about water, it’s cheap!)
Let’s do the math on this one.
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef: $4.50
- Onions, garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper: about $3.00
- 1 can of diced tomatoes: $1.50
- 1 can tomato paste: $1.00
- 12 lasagna noodles (here you can buy whole wheat, which is never an option at a restaurant): $2.00
- Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Mozzarella cheese: about $8.00
- Total: $20…almost the same except you just made 8 portions!!!!
- So that works out to $2.50 per portion.
- Add your mixed greens salad and homemade dressing: about $1.50
- Grand total of $4.00!!!
Let’s compare: $22 before tip for a restaurant lunch or $4 (feel free to tip yourself) for homemade…that’s a 550% savings!!!!
Okay, maybe you don’t go out to a sit down restaurant that often, maybe only on special occasions. Instead you head to the local sandwich shop and get a chicken salad sandwich and a soda: $7.00.
What if you made that same sandwich using yesterday’s leftover chicken and brown bagged it? It would cost about $1.50. That’s a 460% savings!
Taking the time to plan your meals ahead and to make sure you have leftovers will not only save you LOTS of money but will save you time and may very well make you healthier.
It’s not only what you eat
November 21 2013
Contrary to popular belief, simply eating healthy food does not lead to weight loss. Why, you ask? It’s a matter of portion sizes. It is simple: more often than not, the larger the portion, the more calories in it. That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of not just WHAT we eat but HOW MUCH. Here are some suggestions that can help you better portion your food.
Tip #1: Use visual aids for common food serving sizes
Examples:
- Meat, fish, or poultry = 3 ounces = deck of cards / iPod (Yes, that’s a portion, not a steak the size of your head!)
- Pasta, rice, potatoes = one cup = baseball
- potato, yam = one unit = computer mouse
- Nuts = 1/4 cup = golf ball
- Salad dressing or olive oil = 2 Tbsp = shot glass
- Peanut butter = 2 Tbsp = shot glass
- Ice cream = half cup = half baseball
- Cheese = 2 ounces = 2 fingers
Tip #2: Read the serving size information on the Nutrition Facts Panel
All processed foods have a nutrition facts label and the first thing it shows is the serving size. All the calorie and nutrient information that follows is calculated per serving. But sometimes the serving size is tiny compared to what people really eat. For example, many cereals list the serving as half a cup (one ounce). Even 7 year olds eat more than that. So make sure you accurately account for the true portion size you consumed.
Tip #3: Understand how many servings are in a package
It’s important to know how many servings are in a package. A small bag of chips that you can finish off in 5 minutes or less may actually contain 2.5 servings! That means two and a half times the calories you were expecting. Beverage bottles are notorious portion expanders. Often, the small bottle of juice you just got from the vending machine or convenience store actually has TWO servings of liquid. A serving of juice (or soda, or water) is 1 cup (8 fluid ounces), but these bottles usually provide you with double that amount, 16 ounces. Share with a friend, or better yet, drink water!
Tip #4: When eating out, ask for the small or kids sized portions or share
Restaurant and fast food meals have ballooned in size in the last 30 years. A 280 calorie Caesar salad in 1985 is now over 700 calories! It’s an arms race between competing chains for dollar value, but your weight and health are the collateral damage. Ask for the junior portions or share a large portion with a friend.
Tip #5: Never eat out of the bag or box
If you bought a family size bag of pretzels, or a gallon tub of ice cream, the worst possible thing to do is eat straight out of the package. Especially in front of the TV. It will cause mindless eating and multiple serving syndrome…
Tip #6: Plate in the kitchen, eat in the dining room
The easiest way to overeat is having the serving dishes on the dining table within arm’s reach. Plate your food in the kitchen then serve it at the table. The only exception should be a large pitcher of water on the table.
Tip #7: Fresh fruits and veggies get a free pass
Fresh produce is usually high in nutrients and low in calories. So adding more into your diet or a meal is a good idea, even if you go over on your portion size. The fiber in produce will help you feel full and less hungry.
355 000 000
November 13 2013
That’s the number of results you get if you search for “weight loss” on your computer. That’s more than one result for every person in America! The “solutions” for weight loss run from eliminating wheat and proteins from your diet to eating nothing but wheat and protein.
So, which one is right for you?
It doesn’t have to be complicated. At MealEasy we believe in mindful eating. That means thinking about what you are eating and how much of it you should eat. It’s about portion control; it’s about homemade versus store bought; it’s about healthy food options and not diet supplements.
Eating a healthy balanced diet, getting regular exercise and staying away from junk foods are the keys to attaining and maintaining a healthy weight.