John Aaron Wellness

So you may already know that a healthy diet contains 30 percent fat or less, but how can you apply this guideline when grocery shopping? Well, the choices you make at the grocery store are an integral part of your lifestyle.    And, like I mentioned previously, reading labels is the most helpful tool for determining the fat con¬tent of foods you see on the store shelves. However, food labeling practices have been inconsistent, leaving many consumers confused and frustrated. The components of food labels are required to include the following: Serving sizes that realistically reflect the amount an average person actually eats. Previously, a manufacturer could reduce the portion size to make a food qualify as low-calorie.   The number of calories per gram of fat (including a breakdown specifically for saturated fat), carbohydrate and protein should be listed as well as the number of grams of fiber.   The "% Daily Value" shows the consumer how thi...

Last time I wrote about the importance of using a grocery list to help you avoid the temptation for less than nutritious foods while grocery shopping. Today, I want to mention the importance of using a simple tool like foods labels to help you make informed decisions on what your product actually contains. Free: Generally means that the food contains no (or negligible amounts of) fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugar or calories Lean and extra lean: This is a term used to describe an item that has limits on the fat content of certain meats, poultry, seafood and game meats Light: Marketing that uses the term "light" or "lite" mean that the products' calories have been reduced by at least a third or the fat by at least half from original product Percent fat free: This is easily the most confusing term of the lot. Describes the percentage of a food's weight that is fat free; now this term may ONLY be used on foods that ar...

My daughter likes to grocery shop with me. Actually, I think she just like the opportunity to be wheeled around a store that has an unbelievable amount of food all within arms-reach of her. In fact, if I am not careful, she has been known to toss a few “extras” into the cart without my noticing it.   So, it’s a good thing I always compare what’s in my cart with what’s on my list. Not only can I be certain that I will have the supplies I need for my week, but I generally save money by not purchasing items I haven’t specifically planned for. It wasn’t until I noticed what was in the shopping carts of other fellow shoppers that made me feel good about this decision. The next time you go grocery shopping find someone shopping with a list and compare carts with someone who doesn’t have a list. You may be surprised to see foods that are higher in fats, salts, sugars and processed preservatives in the one without a list. Why? Well, it’s because the store knows these products...

Sabotage: doesn’t it always seem to happen when you are trying to “be good” with your nutrition? “Just have one more bite,” they say. Well, when friends or family members are trying to tempt, tease or taunt you into doing things that you know are not in your best interest, awareness and assertiveness are your best coping tools. Suppose whenever you visit your mother, she continually urges you to have seconds... First, take a moment to evaluate what is going on between the two of you and how you feel about that. Next, decide for yourself whether you're actually still hungry enough to continue eating. If you're still hungry, then by all means, have more. However, if you're not hungry, you can still hold your ground in a polite and respectful way. Instead of saying “yes” just to please your mother, let her know that you thought the meal tasted great, and you're too full to eat any more – “Perhaps I can take some home, instead?” As always – Live Your ...