Iceberg lettuce
Despite its reputation as offering little more than a watery crunch, iceberg delivers nearly 20% of your daily dose of vitamin K a nutrient that can help protect your bones. It also has vision-protecting vitamin AEat it: Grilled! It’s sturdy enough to stand up to flames. For a healthy, low-cal, Asian twist, halve and grill long enough to get those telltale marks. Then chop and toss with a little sesame oil, grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, and rice wine vinegar.
Carrots
Somehow, someone got the idea that carrots were so loaded with
sugar that eating them was akin to spooning the sweet stuff into your mouth
straight from the bowl. Okay, a slight exaggeration, but 1 cup of carrots
contains only 52 calories and 12 g of carbs, and only half of those carbs are
from natural sugar (the rest are from heart-healthy fiber and complex carbs). That’s
less than you’d get from a piece of fruit. They are a terrific source of
beta-carotene, which can help regulate blood sugar, and provide other
nutrients that protect your eyes and promote colon health.
Eat them: Shredded. If you’re not a carrot-crunching type—I personally
prefer them mixed in dishes rather than in stick form—try shredding and adding
to marinara sauce or tuna salad for sweetness and depth.
Celery
In medieval times, celery was used to treat all sorts of
ailments; in 2008, it’s a great source of vitamins, minerals, and
disease-fighting phytochemicals. In fact, celery contains apigenin, a nutrient
that may protect
against cancer by inhibiting gene mutations. It’s also a dieter’s best
friend at 10 calories (and one gram of fiber) per rib.
Eat it: Straight up, or try chopping it, along with carrots and onions,
into a blend foodies call mirepoix. Sauté the mixture in a little olive oil as a base for soups and stews.
What foods are on your “avoid” list? How do you sneak in healthy eating? Tell me so I can post more ideas in a future blog!
Other Tips for Healthy Living
Start Planning Healthy Meals Tonight
100 Ways to Look Younger
Be Gorgeous at Any Age
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Want more from Liz? Check out Flat Belly Diet to slim your tummy.
[photo credit: Getty Images]
