500 Calories and Applesauce

500 Calories= Two small Macdonald's hamburgers = 1.3 lbs Broccoli + 1.26lbs Baby Carrots + .32 lbs Grapes

If the this article is to believed. US Farmers produce 500 more calories a day person per person then they did in 1973. Thats almost one third of some peoples daily intake.

Or in other words

500 Calories = Macdonald's hamburger + small French fry or 1.3 lbs Broccoli + 1.26lbs Baby Carrots + .32 lbs Grapes

You could nibble almost one and a quarter pounds of carrots throughout the day and still have only consumed 200 calories.

I keep a fruit bowl filled with apples and bannanas on the counter for free grazing and a bag of carrots in the fridge for the same purpose. Often times we wont go through the apples before they start to look a little wrinkly. When that happens I'll use the apples for applesauce and get another few days out of them.

Apple Sauce
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes


6 apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
1 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1. In a sealable microwave-safe container, combine apples with all other ingredients. Cover the container leaving a crack in the lid to allow steam to escape.
2. Microwave on high for 10 minutes.
   
3. Using a blender or masher, blend to desired consistency.
   
4. Serve hot or chilled.
5. Enjoy.
   

Diets dont work. But changes can.

I'm a diabetic. I was diagnosed four months after my wife had our son. I firmly believe that the reason I have this disease is because of my choices. At the time I was 340lbs and not getting any exercise. Breakfast meant stopping at McDonald's on the way to work. Well, I lost close to 100 lbs and continue to fight my weight and eating habits.

My success and failures are mine but here is how I lost the weight and I try to maintain. Portion Control. It's that easy just eat what the recommended portion for a meal is and eat the recommended daily amount. I lost weight and got my diabetes under control by using portion control. It takes time to figure out what a serving really is and then being satisfied with it but it can be done. Some of the stategies that helped me are: eat a portion and if I'm still hungry wait 15 minutes if I'm still hungry after waiting I'll eat half a portion and stop, trusting I've eaten enough. Drink water and tea (hot or iced) and remove soda completely. When ordering out move food around your plate. What I mean is figure our what your going to eat and seperate it from the heard so to speak. When done have the server bring a box for leftovers or ask them to remove the plate. I know it sounds like a waste but restaurants are about giving you value for your money not healthy choices. My belief is the value I'm buying is the experience and the service the food only a part the whole.

100 Mile Diet

We've not completely embraced organic foods. I try to serve organic foods that are better than conventionally grown or raised. Just because something is labeled organic I need to know why it's better than a conventionally grown product, it's the Scotsman in me. Consumer Reports put out a guide for what type of foods are best to buy organically and which you could by conventionally. My personal belief is that if you want to buy 100% organic and you can afford too you're making a smart choice. But realistically most of us want the most of our money.

With the recent scares with our food supply. I'm thinking of trying the 100 Mile Diet. Does it sound extreme? I'm not going to lie; you'll have to pull the artichokes from my cold fingers to get me to stop eating them. But with everything that can go wrong with food do I really want to have to worry if my meat was fed lead base paint in a trough that is made from depleated uranium?

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

How much should I feed the Family

Here is a guide I found at the usda.gov web site. While I've read criticisms about the food pyramid most health professionals seem to agree that it is a good guide for eating healthy. I look at the guide as a reference. I try to eat only whole grains and very lean or non-meat protean. It is a good starting point to start eating more healthy and can help with your weekly menu planning. Of note the list of vegetable types that should be eaten per week has helped me in preparing menus.

Food Intake Guide