Fortunately for my family, I’ve always been passionate about healthy eating because my mother made good food a priority when I was growing up.  Although looking back, I realize that we ate way too much meat (everyone did back then). Mom also made sure that we ate lots of fresh vegetables and she went to the farmers market at least twice a week.

But today, too many of us don’t bother to uphold that standard because we are too busy and rely on a convenient, fast-food way of life. In today’s world, baking  from-scratch bread is the exception rather than the rule,  along with the notion that frozen vegetables are a heck of a lot faster to prepare than fresh ones. GOD forbid that we should try and grow our own.

But this health-care crisis and the obesity epidemic didn’t just happen overnight, and the fears of long-term ramifications because of it are very real.

Putting  the  health benefits of natural eating at the top of her agenda signals that Michelle really does get it when it comes to the health crisis that America finds herself in.

And I especially appreciate the fact that much of her career was spent as a hospital CEO, so she has experienced a bird’s-eye-view of health. The nation’s fat epidemic burdens society in every aspect, and we really do have to get kids to prefer healthy eating from the ground. It’s not as impossible as it may seem if we engage our children in the conversation and get them involved with growing and preparing food.

Most children love carrots, which are easy to grow and are delicious either raw or cooked in a variety of ways. 

Personally, I love carrots any way they are served. They’re  fantastic, either dipped in salsa, Hummus or dressing or as a delectable side dish – braised and then tossed with honey butter, cinnamon and molasses.

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Simple dietary and lifestyle changes can improve all of them.

Most of us don’t want to spend a lot of time counting  calories or even reading labels, but both are a must for people who are concerned about consuming too much fat, sugar or salt.

Often when eating at restaurants we think we’re making healthy choices but we really aren’t.  Today Show did a segment  on healthy menu swaps at popular eateries.

The column  Eat This Not That on  the  Men’s  Health website  provides a list of calorie-cutting alternative foods.

Here are some simple and basic ideas to improve your health:

• Eat more salads, fruits and fresh vegetables, and whole grains
• Cut down on meat and dairy, which contribute to “  female problems,” and use rice or almond milk instead
• Get rid of the chips and pretzels, and eat healthy snacks like carrot sticks,  nuts and raisins  or seasoned popcorn
• Use portion control and if you lack discipline,  use smaller plates.
• Drink at least  8  eight-ounce glasses of spring water daily
• Get enough rest (6-8 hours of sleep per night)  and take time to meditate
• Exercise regularly. It doesn’t take any money to stretch, walk and run.

Many eateries have heart healthy  menus.  The next time you order that fancy-dan chicken sandwich,  ask the waitstaff to ask  the chef to leave off the mayonnaise, bread crumbs and high-fat cheese. Instead add salad or fresh spinach.  Resist  fat-saturated foods like  mac and cheese and instead  order pasta (preferably whole grain) tossed in olive  oil with fresh garlic and broiled  instead of fried meats that are usually floating in oil.  Instead of the creamy salad dressings,  get lo-cal  or use the olive oil and vinegar that sits on the tables at many restaurants. Eating out can still be a pleasure,  if we pay close attention to the menu and resist those hidden calories.

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