Doused in Dressing

Photo Credit: www.hiddenvalley.com

A nice, delicious, healthy salad...topped with a half of a bottle of dressing.  Would you like some salad with your dressing? We all think that we're choosing the healthy option by preparing a salad instead of something fried for dinner, but what you put on top of your salad is really what could be the make or break item between harmful and healthy.  It's usually an easy decision because we all have our favorite dressings.  Is your favorite dressing a good choice for your salad?

There are a few main things included in most salad dressings that make it something that we should watch out for.  First of all, the fat content.  I'm really not sure why some salad dressings are made with such high amounts of fat, but these particular dressings can definitely have an effect on your body after consuming them regularly.  Look out for fat free dressings, which have slightly less flavor, but are way more practical to put into your body.

Salad dressings also contain ingredients that can have a physical effect on your body. Granted, it's only if you abuse the use of salad dressings to the max, but still be aware that there can be physical repercussions for overuse.  Vinegar is the main ingredient in most dressings.  This acidic substance can ruin your nice pearly whites. Vinegar is known to decay tooth enamel.  Don't drench your salad, and this issue is easily avoided.

There are healthy substitutions for these unhealthy salad dressings.  Read labels carefully and only use a small amount. Keep your salad healthy!!

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.

Frozen Meals--Not So Cool

Photo Credit: www.banquet.com 

We all stock up on a few different frozen meals to keep in the freezer. You know, "emergency meals". They're easy to put together and can even be taken on the go. Not enough time to make dinner? Frozen meal.  Too lazy to make lunch? Frozen dinner.  They are definitely handy, but they aren't too healthy.  

When companies make these frozen meals, they make them so that they will last for long periods of time.  They don't want your frozen meals expiring just a month after you purchase them.  Because of this, there are lots of preservatives added into frozen meals.  Something has to be done for them to still look appealing after sitting in the freezer for months on end.  Believe it or not, even the "diet" frozen meals have these same preservatives added. Weight Watchers doesn't calculate preservatives into their point system.  Just three points for Weight Watchers, but a body full of preservatives. Counteractive for sure.  

Frozen meals are also very, very high in sodium.  This goes for frozen food in general.  Salt stops bacteria growth and adds flavor to these meals.  Salt flavor doesn't ware off after a week or two, which is why it is used so often in frozen meals.  It wouldn't be a bad thing if each meal didn't have between 600-1000 mg of it. 

There are other options available for quick and easy meals! Stick to the outer edges of the grocery store, and keep your eyes open for simple options.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.  

Information Source: www.nutrition.about.com