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Delicious and Nutritious Fruit and Vegetable Snacks

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Let’s face it, we all know that you need to take in at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables but most of us simply cannot find the time. So you sooth your conscience by eating half a apple whenever you get the opportunity to do and promise yourself that from tomorrow you will start eating you 5 servings of fruit and vegetables only to find yourself with a single apple in your hand again.

Why is it so difficult to eat those 5 servings a day? It is because most of us are under the impression that we have to buy fresh fruit and
vegetables which take time to go to the market and pick out and people tend to believe that fresh fruit and vegetables are just too expensive. The good news is that fruit and vegetables are in actual fact quite cheap and if you simply cannot find the time to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, why not get the canned variety? By using your fruit and vegetables to make delicious and nutritious snacks you will get your 5 servings a day in no time.

Here Are a Couple of Snack Ideas:

* Cut your vegetables into strips or cubes and eat them with a low fat dip of your choice. This is lovely snack on those hot summer days.

* Using your juicer, make a fresh fruit juice. You can even freeze the juice in your ice trays as an alternative to ice cream.

* Make a fruit parfait by layering vanilla yogurt, granola and some berries.

* For a nutritious alternative to eating a candy bar rather eat strawberries covered in dark chocolate.

* You can freeze seedless grapes and eat them like you would a Popsicle.

* Make a fruit and yogurt smoothie.

* Cut up some fresh fruit and eat them with yogurt as a dip.

* Instead of fresh fruit why not make a mix of dried fruit and nuts as a snack alternative.

* Cut apples served with slices of cheese makes for a delicious snack.

* Instead of the normal dip, try eating celery with peanut butter as a dip.

* Make rice crackers with cream cheese, sliced tomato and avocado.

To make sure that you get your portions right for your fruit and vegetable snacks, follow the below guidelines on exactly how much is one portion of fruit and vegetables which will make getting you 5 portions a day:

One Portion of Fruit and Vegetables Equals:

* 1/2 a avocado or grapefruit

* 3 heaped tablespoons (about 65ml) of stewed fruit or fruit salad

* 2 Kiwis, plums or similar sized fruits

* 1 Banana, apple, orange or similar sized fruits

* 1 Large slice of pineapple or melon

* A cup (250ml) of berries, cherries or grapes

* 150ml Fruit juice with no sugar added

* 1 Heaped tablespoon (about 20ml) of sultanas or raisins

* 3 heaped tablespoons (about 65ml) of beans, vegetables or pulses

* 1 Dessert bowl with salad

MetropolitanMD – Chicago Cosmetic Surgery Practice

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Cosmetic surgery is used to enhance the appearance of different areas of the body. Those living in Illinois will find a Chicago cosmetic surgeon and Geneva cosmetic surgeon easily online, and these doctors can best advise you on the cosmetic surgery that is right for you. MetropolitanMD is Chicago’s premier Cosmetic Surgery Center, offering a diverse blend of today’s most sophisticated cosmetic surgery procedures and the latest in non-invasive treatments for the face and body as well as hair restoration procedures. Cosmetic surgery Chicago directed by board certified Cosmetic surgeons specializing in rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, dermatology, Smartlipo, and body cosmetic procedures in Chicago, IL.

Popular surgeries include mammoplasty, or breast surgery. This procedure can be used to augment, or enlarge the breasts, or to reduce the breasts. Reduction can have the added benefit of relieving back pain, and thus is sometimes used for this purpose. Breast lifts are also common, to give the breast a different shape, which can be useful to restore the breast after giving birth or if major weight loss has occurred.

A Chicago cosmetic surgeon or Geneva cosmetic surgeon can be called in for other types of cosmetic enhancements to the body, such as abdominoplasty. Known as a tummy tuck, the procedure is used to reshape the abdomen by removing fat and skin from the area, after which the underlying muscles are tightened. This method is used when an individual has lost a great deal of weight and has loose skin as a result, as well as after pregnancy. The abdominoplasty can be done in a full or partial manner, or it can be combined with other procedures such as liposuction, another surgical method of fat removal. Your Chicago or Geneva cosmetic surgeon will advise as to the correct procedure for your particular cosmetic needs. MetropolitanMD is on the cutting-edge in the cosmetic services industry and Dr. Edward Lack, Dr. John Rachel and Dr. Joseph Franco are committed to continually evolving their list of services and techniques to offer patients the very best in the realm of cosmetic surgery services.

About take care of chemical peels, these treatments can work miracles in terms of removing age spots and freckles, diminishing wrinkles, and getting rid of scars due to acne and pock marks. The peel improves the texture of the skin by causing the skin to blister and peel off, leaving sleeker skin in its place. A Chicago cosmetic surgeon can administer this procedure, and answer your questions.

Rhinoplasty is a procedure used to reshape the nose.Rhinoplasty might be done for aesthetic reasons, but it also is often performed to correct breathing problems such as snoring, or injuries to the nose.

Many people choose a rhytidectomy, or facelift. This is a means to surgically remove wrinkles by removing extra facial skin and repositioning the remaining skin. A facelift can also be done to remove wrinkles on the neck area as well. It is always best to consult with a cosmetic surgeon and to look at pictures of the results of the surgery you are considering, in order to make an informed decision about these procedures.