Why die before your time? That statement became glaringly plain to me when I read a statement from a wellness consultant that said we dig our graves with our fork. Those words exploded in my mind. I am a nutritionist and have always been health conscious but for the masses that is a heavy thought. Statistically we are eating ourselves to death. We do it because foods tastes good when they are loaded with salt, sugar and fat.
Those ingredients in excess open doors for degenerative diseases. Medical journals are filled with information on the detriments of overloading on those type of ingredients. They are linked to everything from arthritis to strokes. Put your fork down for a minute and ask yourself are you like the average American that consumes 125 pounds of sugar a year, or drinks soda’s day in and day out at a rate of 12 teaspoons of sugar per can, or can’t get enough of hamburgers at 50% fat? It’s crazy. Foods done in moderation are not bad. But when you find that your body is changing to the point when you can’t fit your clothes, you don’t feel comfortable looking in the mirror or when you simply overeat because you’ve lost hope of ever losing weight, it’s time to stop and make a change.
While your fork is down, ask yourself what is my major downfall? Once you have that answer, find a healthier alternative to that food item. You are bound to find a healthier substitute. Begin making substitutes a little at a time. One day when you look back you will find that you now have a healthier diet with the foods that you love. Instead of restricting yourself saying I’m going to stop eating this or that, you’ve made substitutions. That is such a positive way to manage your weight.
If you’ve never substituted anything before try this recipe. When my kids were growing up I needed a substitute for pizza. This one was a show stopper for them and still is today:
1 pre-made pizza crust
Garlic Oil Sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 c olive oil
Toppings
1 can of black beans drained and rinsed
1 package of vegetarian chicken patties chopped
1 cup of rice cheese or soy cheese
Want some kick? Add a few jalapenos.
Prepare the pizza crust as directed on the package. Brush on the garlic oil sauce. Layer with remaining ingredients. Bake until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. Bake at 350 degree for 10-15 minutes. Time varies based on oven temperature.
Hope you enjoy this recipe. Feel free to enjoy more of them in any of my cookbooks on Amazon.
