's motd Wed June 2, 2010

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"PLANT" FOOD

Wednesday, 02 June 2010

Long before pizzerias and taco stands, people ate...plants. There's something good in plants that our bodies really need. And that "something good" is fiber. Fiber is found only in plants. So nope, don't look for any fiber in a plate-full of Buffalo Wings and bleu cheese dressing!

Our bodies need lots of fiber. It helps cleanse the body, aids in digestion, reduces the risk of colon cancer and...it helps you drop weight, too. Bring it on!When you consume fiber, it gives you a full feeling. (And that's what a lot of us need before picking up our forks...again.) Now there're a lot of foods out there...mostly the prepackaged varieties that claim to be "high in fiber." Okay, there may be a little "fiber dust" sprinkled on them I guess, but those packaged foods are not your best sources of fiber. Let me give you the healthiest and wisest choices you can make to get your fiber.Salads are a great source of fiber. I mean, let's face it, salads are mostly a bowl full of healthy plants. I've told you before many times that I ate salads to help me lose weight. And those bowls of greens have helped me maintain my ideal weight for all of these years, too.I make myself a big salad several nights a week for dinner and I usually can't even finish one of them. But I don't have to feel guilty. That's because a lot of plant foods are free of calories and, at the same time, take up a lot of room in your stomach. That's why they make you feel full so quickly.

Another great source of fiber are legumes...beans. You can buy them in cans with no salt added or purchase them dry to prepare in your kitchen. I make all kinds of beans. Red beans, Peruvian pink beans, navy beans, butter beans and lentils are some of my favorites. And in fact, I usually keep a Tupperware bowl full of cooked beans in my fridge. That way, I always have some on hand to toss into one of my salads. And oh yeah, another great salad bean is the Garbanzo which I always keep a can or two of in my cupboards. When you make vegetable soups, you can add beans to them, too.

One of my favorite high-fiber foods is brown rice. I don't cook it in water. I cook my brown rice in chicken broth. It takes about 50 minutes to cook that way but oh...the taste is well worth the cooking time.

Are you eating more white rice? Well, I have to tell you, white rice doesn't have the little fiber coating. See, brown rice has a little tan coat that's 100% fiber. And just like salads, brown rice makes you feel full faster, too. You don't get a lot of brown rice per serving. That's why I like to mix mine with beans or vegetables. That way, you have yourself a "high-five" of a fiber dish that's really good for you. It's one of my favorite dinners because with every bite, I get a great taste along with the satisfaction of knowing that I'm eating a fabulous dish that's also loaded with the fiber my body needs.I also keep whole wheat bread and whole-grain crackers in my cupboards. They're two more sources of good-tasting, good-for-you fiber.Now remember, when you're eating plenty of fiber, it's very important to drink lots of water. That good-old H20 helps push all of those fiber-rich foods through your body.So check your kitchens today and make sure it's filled with those fabulous high-fiber foods! Love,