Store It Foods

“Ah, there’s nothing like home made, freshly squeezed juice!”

Have you ever heard that before?  Probably you have, although many of us will have to take the speaker’s word for it.  After all, if you haven’t anything around with which you can squeeze that juice, then you’re a lot less likely to have tried it. Admittedly, it might sound tempting, but not everyone has a couple of hundred dollars sitting around with which you can invest in a juicer that would allow you to do that trying. And why spend all that much when you’re not sure just how much you’ll like it.

Hold on though!  Two or three hundred dollars might be what it takes to get a top end, high quality juicer, but you don’t necessarily need to start out with a top end, high quality juicer.  For a much more modest investment, you can obtain a functioning, manual juicer that will allow you to wade into the world of home made, freshly squeezed juices.

Considering the nutritional value and the delicious taste of such juices, this just may be the kind of step that would be very worthwhile to take.  Reconsider that more expensive juicer once the experimentation has taken place and you’re better aware of your own home’s juicing needs and wants.

Some researchers are surprised to find that Recessionary times do not necessarily lead to unhealthier lifestyles.  The common assumption is that as fitness club memberships drop off due to financial restraints, and as dining out switches to fast food outlets from fine dining establishments for similar reasons, that health suffers. 

The picture is of an overweight population that is growing rapidly in numbers due to loss of active lifestyles, and a switch to diets increasingly devoted to fatty, greasy, salt laden foods.  With obesity, of course, come health concerns. 

However, obesity need not necessarily be the result of financially induced lifestyle changes.  Walking, jogging and playing sports with friends do not require a health club or a personal trainer.   Saving money by cutting back on expensive restauants does not mean you have to increase your patronage of “burger joints.”  You might instead eat more at home.  And if you choose to eat more at home you do not necessarily have to choose fatty, greasy, salt laden foods. 

The choice, of course, is yours.  If you can’t afford to go out as much as you once did, you could choose to “veg out” in front of the TV.  On the other hand, you might also choose to take longer walks with the dog, tackle some of that oft procrastianted yard work, take up gardening, or do more with the kids.  Instead of pasta for all major meals, you might want to experiment with more fruits and vegetables.  Dig out that old pressure cooker and try out that recipe for fish chowder.  Start canning your own garden produce.

There are lots of choices, and one of those choices is the choosing of a healthier lifestyle.  That is what is surprising those aforementioned researchers.  Many people are doing just that.   For those of us who are striving to cope with Recessionary times, that is a choice that we can make as well.  If you are sitting, watching another of those reruns on TV while digging into your 5th bag of potato chips, you might want to give that some very serious consideration.

If you want to make a lifestyle change in order to live “greener” and healthier, it might help to do a little prelimnary research.

For instance, is that bottled water you want to use to replace the chlorine laden tap water you’ve been drinking up to this point going to have more in it than bottled tap water? Unfortunately, it is a distinct possibility that you might not be getting what you think you are getting.  The picture on the label may depict a mountain glacier, but the water in the bottle itself may not have come from anyplace anywhere near a mountain glacier.

Or how about your pressure canner?  It may be great to do some home canning, and a pressure canner is one of the safest and quickest ways of doing so.  But wouldn’t it be wise to find out before the purchase that this particular pressure canner is too big for the burners on, and not recommended for use on your ceramic top range?

If you’ve decided to try gardening for the first time, have you purchased the right seeds, bought the right tools, or determined whether or not you really do have the time and dedication to do all of the weeding, watering and processing that might be needed?

In other words, as the old saying goes, “look before you leap,” whether it’s a big leap or just a small one.

Do you hate to see the kids running for another bag of salt laden, fat rich,  high calorie potato chips or similar “treat” every time they are looking for a snack of some sort?  Perhaps you hate to see yourself doing it as well. 

Yet, what are the options?  Cookies and cake?  Well, there are nutritional drawbacks there too.  A nice, healthy vegetable platter might provide an answer, but there are difficulties in keeping on hand a selection of fresh, crisp vegetables that are cut, cleaned and ready-to-eat.

You may, however, want to consider garden fresh peas.  They are simply prepared and both tasty and nutritious.  Anyone who has eaten green peas right from the pod can attest to how delicious they are.  Nutritionists have proven their value as far as the pea’s vitamin rich content is concerned.

Here, according to the USDA is the nutritional content of 100 g (3.5 oz) of raw, green peas, (with percentages referring to recommended daily totals):

Looks good doesn’t it?  It’s likely, though, that you have already thought of a drawback. Garden fresh peas are not always all that easy to come by, especially if you do not have a garden.

Fortunately, there is a solution.

Consider frozen peas.  Normally, they are flash frozen two or three hours after picking so little of their nutritional value is lost.  In fact, nutritional levels may be higher than those of fresh peas that may have taken two or three weeks to get from the farmer’s field to the supermarket shelf.  They will also have already been shelled, eliminating that time consuming task.

Some people actually snack on frozen peas themselves.  If that idea, however, does not appeal to you, you can simply take a handful or two of the frozen product, place it in a sieve or strainer of some kind, and run cold water over it for just a few seconds.  You’ll soon have thawed peas that taste amazingly similar to those peas that really do come straight from the garden.  Unlike some vegetables, thawing peas in this fashion does not leave you with a mushy mass of soggy veggies, so even the texture is similar to the fresh product.

Try it.  You may very well like it, and your kids may very well like it as well.

Using a vacuum sealer is a great way of freezing your own peas in season, or you could depend upon those packages of frozen peas that are readily available in just about any grocery store.  If choosing the latter option, the recommendation is to select grade A small peas for the best results.  You might want to try three or four different brands before settling on one that you really like.

Don’t be surprised if this becomes a family favorite.  If it does, you will have found a simple, tasty, nutritious, and inexpensive alternative to those many salted snacks.

A report at the American Dietetic Association’s annual conference held in October of 2008 highlights the fact that a good way of obtaining the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vegetables is through the use of vegetable juice.  In other words, you can drink your vegetables.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California-Davis who recruited 90 volunteers and split them into three groups.  Using V8 Brand Vegetable Juice, one group was asked to consume two 8 oz. glasses of the juice per day, the second was asked to drink one such glass and the third was provided with dietary counseling.  Similar counseling was given the first two groups.

At the conclusion of the study it was found that everyone in the first group had met their RDA of vegetables, more than half of the second group had done so, and approximately one quarter of the third and final group managed to reach the “5 daily servings of vegetables” that represented the recommended daily allowance.

So why the difference when vegetables are so abundant and easy to obtain?  Well, perhaps many people do not find them “abundant and easy to obtain.” 

The study author, Carl Keen, has been quoted as saying, “drinking vegetable juice seemed to address some of the key barriers to vegetable consumption such as convenience, portability and taste, so individuals were more likely to meet their daily recommendations.” Participants actually enjoyed making the vegetable juice a part of their daily routine, and found it easy to do so.

In the study, of course, commercially prepared vegetable juice was used, and that use was restricted to one particular brand, V8 Juice.  No doubt other brands could have been used with similar results having been obtained. What is apparent is that the drinking of vegetable juice is an excellent way to get us closer to that 5 serving RDA goal, a goal that many are now missing. 

This should also be of encouragement to those who juice at home.  Fresh, home made juices right from your kitchen juicer will also have an added bonus. They will be free from the salt and other preservatives that are found in the bottles and cans of juices found on store shelves, making them an exceptionally healthy choice.

Many of the juices that are sold in supermarkets today are made of artificial ingredients. They also have too much sugar and are unhealthy for kids. The best option is to make your own juices yourself. It is not that hard to do. You could simply invest in gadget, such as an omega juicer, and voila! Healthy drinks around the house. The juices of fruits and veggies such as oranges, carrots, apples and mangoes are just a few that your kids would love to drink.

Another way for them to enjoy their juice is to make it into popsicles. You could simply use your juicer to extract the juices, add a little sugar, and pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. After a few hours in the freezer, you have a healthy snack to serve on a hot summer day.

A smoothie, especially on a hot day, can refresh your body. Smoothies are also nutritious and healthy because they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and protein. They provide liquid nutrition that is easily absorbed by the body.

Smoothies are also high in carbohydrates and fiber. Having a smoothie maker at home is convenient because smoothies are fast to prepare. This is perfect especially for kids who are picky eaters. Kids will never say no to smoothies.

Use of your steam juicer doesn’t need to be a “once a year” type thing.  Though they are great for making juices for jams, jellies, or concentrates, jobs at which they excel, these handy devices can also be used as cookers. 

In other words, you can use them to steam cook vegetables for an appetizing side dish, or even prepare an entire main course. Steam rice, fish, poultry, clams, cakes, puddings, and more. It’s a healthy way to cook and it’s a simple way to cook.

To transform your steam juicer into a steam cooker, simply remove the juice kettle portion of the unit.  That’s it.  You’re done.  You’re ready to go.  You will have left behind the water pan and the steamer basket, and those are what you require for steam cooking.

Would you like even more versatility?  Use the steamer basket as a colander for draining hot spaghetti or other pastas.  You’ll find it similarily useful for washing greens and other fruits and vegetables prior to meal preparation.  The water pan can easily be used to cook up soups and stews, or as an extra large pot for boiling potatoes or other vegetables for those special, family dinners.

Don’t limit your thinking.  Get your money’s worth.  That steam juicer really can become a kitchen utensil that is useful year round, rather than just seasonally.

Many people just can’t get through the day without that first cup of coffee in the morning. But for others it’s that cool glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice that gets their day started off right. Buying fresh-squeezed juice can take its toll on a person’s wallet. Making your juice at home may take a little more time, but the money saved and the fresh quality of the juice will make up for that.

A citrus juicer and fresh fruit are the only supplies you’ll need to make your mugs of morning magic. Fresh-squeezed OJ tastes great and is good for your body. These health facts may prompt you to get your own citrus juicer sooner than later.

• Orange juice is high in antioxidants. It may help prevent many forms of cancer.
• A large dose of vitamin C is contained in each glass of orange juice you drink. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and lessens your chances of catching the flu or a cold.
• Research has shown consuming orange juice reduces the risks of heart disease and improves circulation.

As people become increasingly conscious of health issues, items such as wheat grass are filling the shelves among various health food stores. It is also showing up more and more in healthy homes through the use of personal wheat grass juicers. But why drink wheat grass juice?

The benefits are many. Wheat grass is mostly fiber and chlorophyll, which are natural aids for digestion and regularity. Some people even claim the powerful juice can serve as a natural solution against a sore throat.

Beware of excessive praising of wheat grass, however. Some people tout it as a cure all for illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, even insanity. These exact claims were actually made by Anne Wigmore, and it resulted in a lawsuit. Falling back on her first amendment right, however, she ended up winning the case against the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Still, as a consumer, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Wheat grass is certainly healthy, but it won’t alleviate all your serious health problems. If you’d like, add it to your diet, just be realistic about what it can do for you.