Healthy Snacks ~ easy food!

Of all of the healthy snacks you can choose from, dried plums are by far your best choice! I know some of you may turn your nose up to them but I absolutely love them.The package calls them dried plums but I have always called them prunes. To me they are a sweet treat that taste better than candy.

Finding healthy snacks that will satisfy you and not cause you to go off your eating program can be a challenge sometimes~on the Weight Watcher's plan, 7 dried plums count as 1 point.

Tonight I had some and as I was eating them I starting reading the container....they truly are an amazing food!

Dried Plums contain:
~ Soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble Fiber may reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and may lower blood cholesterol levels. Insoluble fiber is needed to help keep your digestive system healthy.

~Beta Carotene(good source of vitamin A): is essential for vision, reproduction, growth, and a healthy immune system. Beta Carotene is an antioxidant.

Researchers believe that antioxidants slow down the aging process and the US Department of Agriculture ranked prunes as an antioxidant “powerhouse”, outranking all other fruits and vegetables.

~Potassium: an important mineral that that helps control normal blood pressure. It also transmits nerve impulses and controls muscle contractions.

Dried Plums/prunes are also low in sodium and have no fat and cholesterol.

Dried Plums/prunes are a healthy snack for anytime you are craving something sweet. Grab a handful when you are on the go and they taste great on cereal too!

Did you know that California is the world's largest producer of dried plums, growing 99% of the U.S. supply and 70% of the world’s supply.

Do Yourself a Flavor Favor	released: 03/09/2010
Looking for a way to improve low-fat foods without adding too many calories? Choose something with a strong flavor, like an aged cheese, so you can use a small amount of it while still enjoying its flavor. For instance, adding something like parmesan cheese can help you enjoy those vegetables you don't exactly love just a little more ... which just may lead you to select them more often! More: Add Flavor, Not Fat Do Yourself a Flavor Favor originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 01:38:59. Permalink \| Comment \| Email this

Bean There, Done That?	released: 03/07/2010
If you're trying to choose a healthy food to begin eating more often, consider adding more beans to your diet. Not only are they full of vitamins, low in calories and packed with feel-full fiber, they contain resistant starch. This type of starch may trigger key appetite hormones that make you feel sated (full). More: Feel Fuller and Prevent Overeating Bean There, Done That? originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 22:30:14. Permalink \| Comment \| Email this

Saturday "Smart Swap!": Tuesday or Friday?	released: 03/06/2010
It may be a Saturday, but today's swap involves two other days of the week ... well, restaurants with other days of the week in their name. If you order a BBQ Chicken Wrap at T.G.I. Friday's you'll be taking in what many of us allow for an entire day! Over 1,500 ... or, 1,540 to be exact. Switch over to one of my favorite eateries, Ruby Tuesday, and order a grilled chicken wrap for less than a third of the calories ... 436 to be exact. That's a savings of 1,104 calories! Talk about saving room for dessert! More: Ruby Tuesday Quick Guide Saturday "Smart Swap!": Tuesday or Friday? originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 21:41:10. Permalink \| Comment \| Email this

Could Your Genes Tell You Which Diet is for You?	released: 03/06/2010
Tired of wondering which diet is the right one for you? Recent research says your genes may hold the answer! As Ron Winslow recently reported in The Wall Street Journal, women who were found to have a genetic predisposition toward a low-carb diet lost more than two times as much weight as those who did not have the predisposition, but followed the same diet. Study participants who were found to have a genetic makeup that favored a low-fat diet lost substantially more weight than women who did not have the same genetic makeup and followed the same low-fat plan. Could Your Genes Tell You Which Diet is for You? originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 19:23:01. Permalink \| Comment \| Email this