Health Food Recipes

Health food recipes consist of health foods as the main ingredients. Health food is a term used to refer to certain foods that are believed to improve health. Some example of health foods include wheat germ, yogurt and alfalfa sprouts. Related to this category are organic foods and natural foods. Health foods are commonly available in most health foods stores or in the organic or health sections in supermarkets.

Health food also refers to foods that contain lower levels of sugar and fat, and hence help to prevent excessive weight gain and related problems. The accelerated pace of life today has made it difficult for people to consume well-balanced and healthy meals. The easy access to junk food and the stress of work life has also affected the nutritional levels of people. However, more and more individuals are becoming aware of the long-term effects of this lifestyle. The increasing incidence of obesity and heart problems has highlighted the importance of eating healthy meals. There is a vast amount of information available today on healthy foods recipes. Many books and websites carry detailed lists of healthy foods recipes which one can easily incorporate into the daily diet. Given here are examples of some easy healthy food recipes.

Quick Healthy Recipes

A great way to start the day is with a healthy smoothie. A fresh apricot smoothie is beneficial for the heart. The high carotene level in apricots helps to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. For this recipe, you will need one diced apricot, quarter cup of fresh pineapple, six strawberries, half a banana, one tablespoon of skim milk powder, one tablespoon of protein powder, 1 teaspoon of flaxseed oil and 1 cup of water. Process all the fruits in a blender and then add the remaining ingredients. Blend thoroughly and drink. Cabbage is another healthy food that is packed with fiber and vitamin C. It is also known to contain compounds called indoles which help to protect the body from various types of cancer. Cabbage constitutes a primary ingredient in many health food recipes. You can prepare healthy and delicious cabbage rolls using 500 grams of cabbage, 200 grams of cottage cheese, an onion, a cucumber, a capsicum, a tablespoon of sprouts, lemon juice, a teaspoon of butter, pepper and salt. Wash and steam the cabbage and then separate the large leaves. Mix the other ingredients and microwave for a couple of minutes. Once it cools, fill the cabbage leaves with the mixture and wrap into rolls. Lightly coat with butter and microwave for five minutes. There are several other health food recipes which you can experiment with depending on your tastes and preferences.

Healthy snack foods are as important as regular meals. Nutritional snacks supply fiber and other nutrients to the diet, without adding extra calories. Snacks also keep energy levels high between meals. The natural tendency is to reach out for bag of chips when hunger pangs strike. These high fat foods must be removed from sight to prevent temptation. This is especially true for those trying to shed excess weight. Incorporate healthy snack foods into your daily diet plan as planned snacking helps you to stick to your health regimen and prevents overeating. Some health food recipes for snacks include frozen grapes, air popped popcorn, protein bars, hummus, sunflower seeds and soy chips. The methods of cooking also influence the nutritional value of foods and hence it is advisable to use methods such as steaming, poaching, stir frying or baking. One can also use organic fruits and vegetables in recipes as these have a higher nutritional quality and are free from traces of chemicals.

Submitted on January 16, 2014