Sage is one of the great spices we use around the holidays but then it is gone until next year. We should think about using it more since it has some healthy value to it. Sage has some acids and minerals in it that help to relieve joint pain. Supposedly sage can add years to your life. Sage can be used in many recipes like soups, meats, and even a cup of tea made from sage can give you some essential nutrients that your body needs. Next time you cook up your favorite recipe try adding a little sage to it for the taste and your health.

When thinking about a meal for your family think about cooking at home. For some this may be inconvenient but it is much healthier. When you go out and eat you never know how much fats are being used to prepare the meal. It is a bad habit to go to a buffet and eat much. The reason for this is that everyone tends to over eat, one reason for this is that they have so many foods on the buffet. And you want to try all of them.

Stress is one main factor for overeating when a person is stressed they eat more snack foods. If this is you try eating healthy snacks. Like whole grain chips, rice cakes, etc. There are lots of healthy snacks available today we just have to search for them. Cook breakfast instead of grabbing that doughnut, cake, or even the sausage and biscuit from the store. Oatmeal, or whole grain cereal are a great choice for breakfast.

I know that it is hard to change your eating habits but it is healthy to change them. Exercise is a great habit to start doing to. You don’t have to join a gym to get exercise walking, running, jogging, or even a tread mill in your own house are all great ways to get the exercise that you need to stay healthy.  

We all enjoy the holidays but then we are glad they are over so we can get the house back to normal. But with that comes the fact that maybe we put on an extra pound or two with all the festivities. So now what do we do go on a diet but do we stick with it? Most of us don’t not for long anyway. The main thing is to just cook healthy for your family without giving up the great taste. Spices of your choice make a great tasting meal without all the fat and calories.

Try baking, broiling, grilling or even boiling your meats to cut on the fats and make them be a healthier meal. When cooking with oils try using vegetable oils, olive oil, etc. Leave off some of the butter as it has lots of trans fats and other fats that are not good for the heart. It helps to get a routine about how you prepare your meals. Try to eat at the same time everyday and not snack all day. I know this is sometimes hard to do especially if you are a working mom, or dad.

It has been said for years that a dog is man’s best friend.  I guess that is a true saying when you think about it you can make a dog mad at you after scolding it and in just a few minutes the dog is right back begging for more petting. It requires good nutrition to have a healthy pet but is worth the trouble in the end. They can be mischief at times and funny at times. There are times when you can spend an hour at the time watching them run and play and really enjoy life.

Every cook has a recipe that is their favorite some like a meat and potato recipe with all the extras. And then there are others that enjoy salads and all the fixings along with their meal. Most any cook will tell you that a recipe with tomatoes in it is a favorite. Are even just slices of a good ripe red tomato on the plate to eat with their meal? No one recipe is everybody’s favorite. Vegetables are always a great idea in any favorite dish. All casseroles include some type of vegetable even if it is just onions, celery, potatoes, etc.

Cooks all across the country enjoy telling people about their favorite recipe then asking for a comment about it after it has been tried. Some cooks want to cook light and healthy for their family and still get the taste of a great meal. This can be done now with all the seasonings and flavors to add. You can add flavor without all the fat that was used in recipes in the past years. Baked dishes are just as good recipes as fried ones if you get the taste with it. 

When giving someone your favorite recipe are getting their favorite recipe remember that not every one enjoys the same foods. Each cook takes their favorite recipe to heart even if it isn’t a favorite of another. It doesn’t matter what your favorite recipe is as long as you and your family enjoy it. If it is meat, vegetables, fruit, salad, just cook eat and enjoy.