Healthy Holiday Training and Eating Tips to Keep You in Great Shape for the New Year

So here we are again gearing up for another fun packed Holiday Season, but how can we not fall off the wagon and stick to our healthy eating and training plans? So the presents are wrapped, nestled neatly under the tree and Santa getting ready for his busiest time of the year

I often get asked is there are way to be able to enjoy the holiday season with all the temptation it brings without completely neglect all our fitness and healthy eating goals? The answer of course is Yes We Can Hope you enjoy these festive tips to help keep you in tip-top shape whilst also allowing you to enjoy all the parties and family gatherings that await.

Holiday Season Healthy Training Tips

With all the comings and goings during the holidays it may be almost impossible to stick to your weekly training schedule. But this doesn’t mean it should be abandoned for a couple of weeks and taken up again in the New Year. I was guilty of this years ago but I always found it so difficult to get back into the swing of things when I returned to the gym. An easy solution to this would be work through a reduced routine. What I mean by that is, say you were doing a 4 day split all year (Mon – Chest/Back, Tues – Shoulders/Arms, Thurs -Legs, Fri – Chest/Back) for example. I would modify this during the holidays and do 2 full body routines so that you can hit each muscle group twice each week. This almost takes the form of an Active Recovery Week and coupled with healthy nutrition will actually allow your body to recover and get stronger over the holiday season

What’s great about this is that when you return to your normal routine in the New Year you won’t feel like your starting from scratch and will be super motivated that you didn’t completely abandon you workouts during the holidays. Another great tip would be to take a nice 30 min stroll 3-4 times a week, this will help keep your cadio fitness up. Always leave at least a 90 minute gap after a big meal before heading out for you walk – you’ll be amazed what this little step will make to you metabolic functions and hey isn’t it great to get out with family and friends and enjoy yourself at the same time? Hell yeah it is

Holiday Season Healthy Eating – Watch Your Portion Size

With all the beautiful dishes on the menu it is important to keep portion size in mind. Calories are very important and are what ultimately decides whether we put on body fat or not. Usually holiday foods are very rich and would be higher in calories than our normal diet would be, so in fact we should have smaller portions than normal. If trying to gain muscle then it’s worthwhile to remember to keep the protein intake up. With all the turkey on display over the holidays then that shouldn’t be a problem. Turkey is a great source of protein and will help you keep on top of your nutritional needs during the festive period.
Holiday Season Healthy Alcohol Consumption

You are probably going to be surrounded by temptations in the alcohol department with all the festive parties going on. It’s important to be conscious of the high amount of calories if alcohol and should be enjoyed sparingly. Over indulgence in such empty calories over the holidays will only leave to one thing – and that’s a beer belly for us guys and unwanted body fat for you girls
It’s the Holidays so Treat Yourself

That’s right, you read that correctly – have a treat and enjoy yourselves over the holiday season. It only comes around once a year so make the most of it. I hope by keeping in mind the above tips that you will be able to able to enjoy every minute of the holiday season and enjoy your little treats – whether it be a cheeky glass of wine by the fire or some lovely warm mince pies. Everything in moderation will do you no harm but don’t go overboard. Follow these simple little tips, take some exercise and have a very Happy Holiday

How to Develop a Strategy in Planning What Keywords to Target

You can build your online business only if you have enough traffic to your website. Now, you can get traffic from organic searches (the healthy way), from social media networks or from payed methods (PPC, payed links or payed banners). No matter how you do it you need traffic that is relevant and that also converts. This basically means that you need high volume traffic of readers that are actually interested in your products, services, expertise.

Any other type of traffic will only increase the bounce rate and will do you more damage then good.

Choose Wisely: target only keywords that offer decent search volume
How many times you’ve heard businesses brag about how they are number one in Google for some strange long tail term that has actually under 100 searches per month or almost none? SEO it’s not about ranking number one in Google: it’s about ranking well for keywords that have a decent search volume per month.

Now, the monthly search volume for a keyword that would interest you depends on your market and your business. You have to realize that the bigger the search volume it’s a big chance to meet bigger competition. If the search volume is great and the competition is low the something is wrong: basically means that even thou those keywords can generate traffic will probably have a low conversion rate and that is why to few target them.

When I start creating a strategy and I’m choosing what keywords to target I look at the search volume and the competition. Beginning with keywords that have up to 10,000 searches per month usually leads to a maximum 3 million pages competition. This is the number that I consider to be the first level that you have to pass. Ranking well on keywords that has 3 million competitors on Google represents a good foundation to build on.

Start with long tail keywords
Long tail keywords are phrases made up of 4, 5 or maybe more keywords. These kind of keywords offer less competition and usually it’s not so difficult to rank well for. The thing that you’ll have to pay attention to is what long tail keywords to target. Why? Unless these terms don’t generate a decent search volume it’s not worth the effort. Always target only keywords that generate traffic.

You may be wondering how to find long tail keywords that are being searched. I usually start with a very high search volume keyword (mostly made from 2 words) that also has huge competition. I take that phrase and starting to add qualifiers: it can be about the location (where is your business located or where do you deliver), or about pricing (affordable, cheap, low cost, luxury) or any other particular things that the business offers related to that search term(professional, services).

Knowing the business and it’s products helps a lot in developing search terms. Long tail keywords are great because it incorporates the high competitive term and also offer low competition and easy ranking. No matter if a search term is highly competitive you have to start using it: in titles, in description metatags in the text of your pages or in long tail keywords. All these actions will count in the big picture in time.

Another thing to take into consideration is on what pages to target long tail keywords. As a rule use those keywords on pages that can be reached from 3 clicks or more. Google weights different your pages depending on how many clicks it take to get to those pages. More clicks means less important and giving the fact that long tail keywords have low competition on Google it’s best to use it here.

What kind of keywords you should target on the main page
I’ve already mentioned above that Google assigns weight values to your pages. This means that some pages are more important for Google then others. The page that plays the main role in your website is your home page. This is the place where you should target the most important keywords for your business or for your website – if you have multiple keywords in mind choose the ones with the highest competition.

To get to a certain page of your website you obviously have to click some links. Try to develop an architecture of links where you don’t have to click more then 4 or maximum 5 links to get to a page. 5 it’s a lot. Why? Because Google will think that those pages are not that important to you and that is why are not that important to Google.

As a general rule(or tip or advice) is to target the long tail terms on pages that have lower weight. Target the keywords with the highest competition on the pages that have the highest weight on your website. This means pages that are one click away or maximum 2. You’ll have to decide how to group keywords depending also on how relevant are to your business – this kind of decisions can really make the difference in SEO.

Check who you are fighting against
Even if the competition is low on a keyword phrase you should check it out on Google. Why I’m advising you to do this: if the first page of Google search results is full with huge websites or with authority blogs in your market then you should reconsider targeting that keyword. At least for a while. Realizing who exactly is your competition is an act of intelligence. This way you can save time that you could invest in developing content to target other keywords.

So, what say you
I would like to hear your ideas on this matter. What are your experiences or advices? How do you target your keywords?

What healthy foods will make me stay awake at night?

I am a security officer and I work the graveyard 11pm-7am shift. I do whatever I can to stay up at night, but sitting down all night can shut down the body as well. I want to know what healthy foods, snacks, and drinks I can eat to help me stay up? I sleep during the day on my workdays but only sleep bout 5 hours sometimes less, so I am changing my dieting to eat healthy foods that will help me sleep better. And Off days I sleep at night.apples and coffee

Healthy, Delicious, Different, Blue: Wild Blueberries Liven up Spring Plates in New Recipes

Portland, ME (PRWEB) March 26, 2009

Wild Blueberries, the resource for the latest health and nutrition information from the Wild Blueberry Association of North America, has added to its diverse selection of handpicked recipes that take advantage of the many attributes of Wild Blueberries. Wild Blueberries are loved for the sweet, tangy flavor that adds flair to all types of dishes, and they are increasingly in demand because of their coveted “superfood” status. These exceptional qualities have contributed to making theWild Blueberries Recipes database a go-to resource for easy, healthy, unique cooking ideas.

The newly expanded database of recipes adds distinctive taste and a zing of color to tried-and-true pie, muffin, and bread recipes, but it also takes this versatile ingredient to wild heights in entres, salads – even cocktails. Latest additions include Wild Blueberry Biscotti, Wild Blueberry Daiquiri, Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions and Wild Blueberries, and Szechwan Crispy Duck with Chinese Wild Blueberry Sauce. Many recipes take advantage of frozen Wild Blueberries, which are just as healthy and delicious as fresh and easy to use right out of the package for most cooking – no thawing needed.

The vibrant color of blueberries not only makes dishes more exciting, but provides the rich nutrients vital to health and longevity that are the hallmark of dark-colored fruits. The antioxidant-rich Wild Blueberry has been in the spotlight recently as researchers begin to discover how its unique characteristics may affect disease prevention. Wild Blueberries continue to generate interest in leading areas of age-related health research, and their antioxidants and inflammatory compounds may helpprevent the diseases of aging, such as heart disease and cancer. They may also lower the risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and macular degeneration.

New recipes can also be found in Wild Blueberry Health News, an e-newsletter filled with the latest information for consumers and industry professionals about Wild Blueberries and their role in health and nutrition, including interviews with personalities whose passion includes Wild Blues. The Spring edition of the newsletter features famed specialty food producer Stonewall Kitchen, news about the new Nutrient Density scores, and more, including the latest picks for easy, healthy spring cooking. Wild Blueberries are always making news, and now they are making more favorite dishes irresistible. Delicious, so easy and so good – a perfect way to get a daily dose of blue

About Wild Blueberry Association of North America
The Wild Blueberry Association of North America is a trade association of growers and processors of Wild Blueberries from Maine and Canada, dedicated to bringing the Wild Blueberry health story and unique Wild Advantages to consumers and the trade worldwide. For the latest information on the health benefits of Wild Blueberries, where to purchase Wild Blueberries, or to find recipe ideas, visit http://www.wildblueberries.com.

Healthy Teeth Help Moms Get Pregnant, Fight Low Birth-weight Deliveries, Says San Antonio Cosmetic Dentist

From fertility – the ability to become pregnant – to protecting the baby from premature birth, low birth weight, and even neonatal death, recent research shows that gum disease is a vital concern from conception through breastfeeding, according to veteran San Antonio cosmetic dentist Dr. Edward Camacho, DDS.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) July 24, 2011

From getting pregnant to avoiding premature births and low birth weights, and even neonatal death, recent research shows that gum disease is a critical issue for would-be moms, according to veteran San Antonio cosmetic dentist Edward Camacho, DDS.

The links between gum disease and such serious, life-threatening conditions as heart disease, diabetes and other systemic diseases are well-established. It’s less well-known, however, that researchers in recent years have discovered strong links between pregnancy and oral health.

“While we are concerned about any ongoing infection and its impact on health, research is showing how important it is to have healthy teeth and gums throughout the pregnancy timeline,” Dr. Camacho said, noting that a visit to the dentist is an important part of the preparation for pregnancy and the prenatal period. “If a patient is pregnant or trying to get pregnant we do counsel them on the need for good oral hygiene including professional cleanings.”

Effects on fertility

Women with gum disease take an average of two months longer to become pregnant than those with healthy teeth and gums, according to a major new research study by Dr. Roger Hart, professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Western Australia. The study of about 3500 women was reported at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology at the beginning of July 2011.

Hart found that the women without gum disease took an average of 5 months to get pregnant, while those with gum disease took 7 months. When separated by race, non-Caucasian women with gum disease took over a year to get pregnant.

“All women should . . . be encouraged to see their dentist to have any gum disease treated before trying to conceive. It is easily treated, usually involving no more than four dental visits,” Hart said. He also said that studies show that the treatment of periodontal disease does not harm mothers or babies.

Premature births, low birth weights

Researchers have found that gum disease is a significant factor in premature births and low birth weights, which have risen about 20 percent over the past two decades. A University of North Carolina Hospital study publicized in early 2010 showed that women with gum disease are seven times more likely to have low-birth weight infants that those with healthy teeth.

Complicating dental care during pregnancy is that hormonal changes in the mother make it highly likely she will develop some level of gum disease. Scientists estimate that between half to three-quarters of all pregnant women develop “pregnancy gingivitis,” which in turn can affect the pregnancy itself. This makes it crucial that pregnant women continue with regular dental visits and cleanings, Camacho said.

An early delivery or a low birth weight – defined as less than 5 pounds 8 ounces – increases risks of a number of conditions harmful to the child, including respiratory distress, bleeding in the brain, heart and intestinal problems, and serious eye problems.

And there may be even more serious issues with gum disease and prenatal health. While scientists say there is no cause for immediate alarm, in a case in 2010, researchers for the first time have definitely linked a mother’s gum disease to the death of her unborn child. Officials said the bacteria from the diseased gums entered the blood system through broken skin, and was carried to the fetus. The exact strain from the mother’s gums was found in the dead baby’s lungs and stomach.

“Poor oral health is usually the last thing most women would suspect in having adverse affects on getting pregnant or having a baby with low birth weight,” Dr. Camacho said. “The mindset that the teeth don’t really have anything to do overall health is slowly going by the wayside. As a dentist it is part of my job to educate patients about oral health and it is my commitment as a health practitioner to provide patients with data on overall wellness.”

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Camacho’s practice, Cosmetic Dentistry of San Antonio, is a full-service cosmetic dental practice, specializing in Invisalign clear braces, top-quality dental veneers, dental implants, dental crowns and dental bridges, as well as a full line of restorative procedures and preventative care.

16535 Huebner (at Bitters) Suite 102

Valencia Village Shopping Center

San Antonio, Texas 78248

(210) 493-9944

# # #

June Camacho
Cosmetic Dentistry of San Antonio
(210) 493-9944
Email Information

Quick and Healthy Meal Prep for Pregnant and Postpartum Mothers

For most mothers I know, there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. So cooking can seem like just one more thing in an unending list of responsibilities and obligations.

A good method to assure that you are getting clean, nutrition dense food is to make a little extra for freezing and also to take some time every few days to cook some things that will keep in the fridge and allow you to put together easy, healthy meals.

Vegetables that are steamed and kept in the fridge in Tupperware can be eaten cold with or without a little salad dressing or added to salads. Cook vegetables so that they still have a slightly firm consistency and retain a deep rich color. Hard vegetables like carrots need a longer cook time, whereas soft vegetables like summer squash cook up quickly. Please use organic wherever possible, but especially with any roots or leafy greens.

Here are some suggestions as to what to keep in the fridge:

Steamed Broccoli: Cook up short stemmed florets in steamer basket for 5 to 7 minutes (don’t let it get soft.) Can be eaten cold with a little dressing or added to salad. Source of vitamin C, fiber, folic acid and calcium.

Baked Roots: Bake garnet yam, yellow fin or purple potato and keep in fridge. The combination of cold broccoli and yellow fins are one of my favorites The garnet yams contain beta carotene, a good source of vitamin A.

Shredded beets and carrots: Shred beets in a food processor and steam for 5 minutes. Add chopped basil and a little brown rice vinegar. Also good if you want to combine carrots with beets. Both beets and carrots are rich in antioxidants and fiber. Basil is a source of B6 which can help with that queasy feeling when you are pregnant.

Lettuce in a bag: Wash a colorful lettuce like Boston lettuce that has red tips and tear into bite size pieces and store in Tupperware container. This base for salad can come in handy when all you have to do is add some meat and pre-shredded veggies. Warning: lettuce stored like this only lasts for about three days at a time, so don’t plan on storing it a week

Shredded roots: Shred carrots, beets, dicon radish and keep in separate containers for quick salad makings. Good sources of vitamins A,C and K.

Roasted chicken breasts: bake a couple of boneless, skinless chicken breasts brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper and keep these in a container with a tight fitting lid. Makes for fast chicken sandwiches or salad topping and is a source of protein.

Here are some other must-haves:

Beans: cans of chickpeas, black eyed peas and kidney beans which provide B-vitamins and fiber and can be used in salads.

Broths: I like and recommend Imagine Foods because the sodium content is reasonable and they do not use MSG or sugar in their broths. Broth can be a tasty lunch to which you can add peas, noodles or chicken for a fast and complete meal. I like to use rice noodles and some sesame oil or soy sauce for an Asian inspired meal.

Frozen veggies: Those frozen vegetables are not my first choice, they are certainly better than no vegetables. There are quite a few companies who make organic, frozen vegetables that have no added chemicals. It’s easy to keep things like, frozen peas, asparagus, broccoli, carrots and corn in the freezer to add to broths or eggs or to just cook on their own for a fast and easy meal.

Simple seasonings: brown rice vinegar, tamari soy sauce, garlic, gomasio (sea salt and sesame seeds), raw seeds and nuts for toppings (sunflower seeds, pepitas, pine nuts), salt and of course pepper.

Bon appetite

New Book Release Presents a Guide to Total Health through Nutrition

North Kingstown, RI (PRWEB) July 14, 2011

Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health by Joy Feldman, N.C., J.D. is now available wherever fine books are sold. An innovative and indispensable combination cookbook and wellness guide to total health through nutrition, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health (ISBN: 978-0-615-43307-3, 256 pages, Paperback, Illustrated, $21.95) is also available in eBook format (ASIN: B00513LY1A, $9.99).

Nearly twenty years ago, Joy Feldman was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition that caused constant fatigue, weakness, and pain. Prescribed powerful medications to treat the symptoms of her condition, Feldman was plagued with horrible side effects that left her feeling even more debilitated. When told that she would just have to live with her illness, Feldman decided to take matters into her own hands and began her own search to improve her health.

When she became acquainted with a physician who had studied with Dr. Paul Eck, the founder of nutritional balancing, Feldman decided to give nutritional balancing a try. After Feldman submitted a sample of her hair for testing, her physician recommended a new diet, along with multiple modalities that would complement her healing. Within a few short months, Feldman was off medications and on the road to recovery. Several months later, her blood tests showed normal results, and within a year, Feldman was back to feeling like herself. According to Feldman, After the terrible onslaught of pain and exhaustion I had experienced for so long, I could never have dreamed that a recovery so quick, and so complete, was even possible. Every day, I was encouraged by feeling more energetic, experiencing less pain, and by seeing and feeling constant progress and improvement.

Feldmans recovery prompted her to consider health as a new career path, and she went back to school and began post-graduate training in Nutrition, pursued a Masters Degree in Holistic Nutrition, earned a certificate in Biochemical Nutritional Balancing Science and completed Advanced Training in Biochemical Nutritional Balancing Science. Having successfully launched her own pursuit of good health, Feldman says she felt inspired to help others and created Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health. Based on the science of nutritional balancing, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health operates on a simple premise: we are what we eat.

An incredible volume dedicated to the pursuit of good health through nutrition, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health is a comprehensive guide to total healing and restoring balance both to the body and the mind. Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health is essential reading for anyone who wants to improve health and vitality.

Resplendent with fascinating facts, and enlightening expert insights, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health includes over 100 healthy and delicious recipes, including: pesto cheese dip, Mexican scrambled eggs, Indian chicken and cauliflower, succulent roasted chicken, minty lamb with lemon, autumn vegetable soup, sinfully delicious lentils and tomatoes, and pumpkin pie. Moreover, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health includes kid-friendly recipes designed to tantalize even the pickiest palate, such as: herbed eggs in a blanket, tortilla cigars, cinnamon carrots, twisted blue tacos, divine spaghetti pie, and dozens more.

Much more than a cookbook, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health is a comprehensive wellness guide that contains: groundbreaking information on Nutritional Balancing Science; the best foods for improved health; eating tips for expectant mothers; healthy eating for children; living with a sensible, individualized nutrient-rich diet; safe, healthy, and natural weight loss; suggestions for healthy refrigerator, pantry, and spice rack staples; optimal cooking methods for a wide variety of foods, and more.

An extraordinary resource, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health is an essential reference guide for health and healing. Lovingly and carefully crafted with both the expertise and the authenticity of someone who experienced, first-hand, the incredible benefits of nutritional balancing, Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health provides a roadmap to living a life of vitality.

Joy Feldman, N.C., J.D., is a nutritional consultant, writer and sought-after lecturer. Feldman received her undergraduate and graduate training from the University of Pennsylvania and later pursued her law degree from the University of Miami. After years of furthering her education, Joy received her certificate in biochemical nutritional balancing science. She has a worldwide private practice and also instructs new practitioners on how this science helps to restore the body and mind. Joy Feldman lives in Rhode Island. Visit Joy Feldman online at: http://www.joyfeldman.com Members of the news media wishing to schedule an interview with Joy Feldman, request a review copy of Joyful Cooking: In the Pursuit of Good Health or more information are kindly asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone — (615) 297-9875

Kristin Volk Funk, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, To Speak on Quitting Smoking and Weight Loss at Healthy Life Expo

Saint Paul, MN (PRWEB) January 18, 2006

Kristin Volk Funk, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, with New Health Visions (http://www.newhealthvisions.com) will speak on How to Quit Smoking and Weight Loss using Hypnosis at the Healthy Life Expo 2006.

The 3rd Annual Healthy Life Expo will be held Friday and Saturday, February 3 and 4, 2006 at the Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Expo features the latest products, services and information for living life to the fullest.

According to Kristin Volk Funk, Hypnosis is not about giving up control, but about gaining control of your thoughts and actions. I will address this empowering treatment for addiction recovery for the two most common addictions of smoking and overeating.

Hypnosis is a powerful technique used to help people take control of smoking and overeating addictions without the use of prescription drugs or restrictive diets. Medically sound, this technique is easy, safe and enjoyable, and is a natural state of physical relaxation and mental attention. Individuals will learn to re-focus their minds to embrace life affirming activities, become tobacco-free, eat sensibly and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

Ms. Volk Funk boasts a 90 percent quit smoking rate with just one session.

Kristin Volk Funk of New Health Visions is a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with Masters and Bachelors degrees in psychology. For more than 20 years she has been teaching people how to take control of their thoughts, feelings and actions with hypnosis. Ms. Volk Funk is available for speaking engagements and large group hypnosis sessions. She has also produced a series of self-hypnosis recordings that are sold via Internet stores. For more information visit http://www.newhealthvisions.com or call 651-644-6454.

Food pyramid out, ‘My Plate’ in for healthy eating

WASHINGTON – There’s a new U.S. symbol for healthful eating: The Agriculture Department unveiled My Plate on Thursday, abandoning the food pyramid that had guided many Americans but merely confused others.

The new guide is divided into four slightly different-sized quadrants, with fruits and vegetables taking up half the space and grains and protein making up the other half. The vegetables and grains portions are the largest of the four.

Gone are the old pyramid’s references to sugars, fats or oils. What was once a category called meat and beans is now simply proteins, making way for seafood and vegetarian options like tofu. Next to the plate is a blue circle for dairy, which could be a glass of milk or a food such as cheese or yogurt.

Some critics, including congressional Republicans, have charged the Obama administration of reaching too far in trying to make Americans eat healthier, especially when it comes to new rules that tell schools what children can eat on campus.

The new plate is simply guidance for those looking to improve their diet, however. It’s supposed to be a suggestion, not a direction, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

We are not telling people what to eat, we are giving them a guide, he said. We’re not suggesting they should not have a cookie or dessert, that’s not what it’s about.

Vilsack said the new round chart shows that nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated. After almost 20 years of leaders preaching good eating through a food pyramid the department now says was overly complex, obesity rates have skyrocketed. He showed off the new plate with first lady Michelle Obama, who has made healthful diets for children a priority through her Let’s Move campaign.

Parents don’t have the time to measure out exactly three ounces of protein, Mrs. Obama said as she introduced the new graphic. We do have time to look at our kids’ plates.

The department is planning to use social media — posting advice every day on Twitter, for example. The address of the accompanying website, choosemyplate.gov, is written on the chart. That website will eventually feature interactive tools that help people manage their weight and track their exercise.

The new chart is designed to be more artistic and attractive and to serve as a visual cue for diners, said Robert Post of the Agriculture Department’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. He has spent two years developing the plate and the website.

Even though the plate is divided into four different-sized sections, the servings don’t have to be proportional, Post says. Every person has different nutritional needs, based on age, health and other factors.

The graphic is based on new department dietary guidelines released in January. Those guidelines, which are revised every five years, tell people to drastically reduce salt and continue limiting saturated fats. They say diners can enjoy food but should balance calories by eating less. The guidelines also suggest making half of your plate fruits and vegetables — a message easily translated on the dinner plate.

We know Americans want to be healthy, but making those healthy choices is not easy, it’s hard, said Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, who joined Mrs. Obama and Vilsack to unveil the plate. We’re trying to make it easier.

The guidelines and the icon were subject of lobbying by food industries who want to see their products promoted and not discouraged. Fruit and vegetable growers were celebrating their victory over half of the plate Thursday, while dairy producers said they were also pleased with the cup beside it. The president of the beef industry group National Cattleman’s Beef Associaton, Bill Donald, said he is not concerned about the elimination of the word meat because beef is so associated with the word protein.

The first food pyramid was introduced in 1992, with detailed descriptions of recommended foods and their portion sizes. The tip of the pyramid represented fats, oils and sweets, cautioning diners to use sparingly.

After research showed the pyramid wasn’t working, the department worked with a public relations firm and came up with an all-new pyramid in 2005 that was characterized by vertical lines of color and a stick figure walking up a staircase to symbolize exercise. At the time, officials said they wanted something motivational and recognizable. But the Obama administration eventually ditched that model, opting for something fresher.

Many nutritionists and nutrition groups praised the newest effort, crossing their fingers that people will listen.

Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, said there are already a lot of symbols out there telling people what to eat. She said the new model isn’t perfect, it’s a good step forward.

This brings it all together, she said. ___

Online:

USDA website: http://www.usda.gov

Search GoodFoodNearYou, Find Healthy Restaurant Food Choices Fast

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 16, 2009

GoodFoodNearYou is now available to use for free on the web, Apple iPhone and iPod touch and RIM BlackBerry mobile devices. GoodFoodNearYou is an easy to use location based search to find the healthiest food at the restaurants near you. The GoodFoodNearYou free mobile applications for BlackBerry mobile devices are available to download on GoodFoodNearYou.com. The GoodFoodNearYou free mobile app for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch is available to download at the Apple App Store.

The average American eats around five meals at restaurants each week. GoodFoodNearYou makes eating healthy restaurant food convenient. GoodFoodNearYou displays localized search results of the healthiest food at the restaurants closest in distance. The GoodFoodNearYou search empowers people to make smart, fast and healthy dining decisions. GoodFoodNearYou also displays the menus for every restaurant listed in the search results and the typical nutritional values for each menu item including fat, calories and carbohydrates.

Nancy Clark, MS, RD, CSSD, a sports nutritionist and nutrition author says, If you are looking for food help when you are on the go, GoodFoodNearYou.com is a handy tool. Calorie and health conscious eaters can find menu options in local chain restaurants that will support their nutritional diet goals.

GoodFoodNearYou has the food and nutrition information for 33,000 food items at approximately 220,000 U.S. restaurant locations including popular casual dining restaurants, fast food restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. A search on GoodFoodNearYou results in twenty of the healthiest food options at the restaurant locations closest in distance. To fulfill specific diet requirements, search results can be sorted by lowest fat, calories or carbohydrates.

GoodFoodNearYou came about because of a need we had in the office when trying to order healthy food for lunch, explains Nick Desai, CEO of Global Fitness Media, the company that developed GoodFoodNearYou. Desai is the Founder, Chairman and former CEO of Juice Wireless and inventor of JuiceCaster, an award winning mobile social networking service offered by AT&T, T-Mobile, Nokia and others.

Desai continues, Diets often fail because they do not fit into your lifestyle. You end up doing what is convenient, rather than what is healthy. We took the convenience of the web and made healthy restaurant food options accessible. We are excited to launch GoodFoodNearYou as there is a great demand for simple lifestyle solutions and location based help with dieting and weight loss.

Lifestyle and technology trends indicate that local search and web and mobile browsing are used more commonly for seeking out information. GoodFoodNearYou improves public access to useful local restaurant food and nutrition information.

GoodFoodNearYou is a product that reflects the variety of ways people use technology to find information. Global Fitness Media developed mobile application versions of GoodFoodNearYou for GPS enabled devices like the Apple iPhone and the BlackBerry Curve because mobile browsers on cell phones are often used to access location based information on the web, explains Desai.

Dina Aronson, MS, RD, an internationally recognized nutritionist specializing in web technology in the health industry says, With GoodFoodNearYou, it is not about good or bad choices, it is about making informed choices.

About GoodFoodNearYou
GoodFoodNearYou version 1.0 is available on the world wide web and includes free mobile applications for Apple and BlackBerry mobile devices including the Apple iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G and iPod touch, and the BlackBerry Pearl, Pearl Flip, Curve, World Edition, Bold and Storm. GoodFoodNearYou was developed by Global Fitness Media. Find out more information on GoodFoodNearYou.com.

About Global Fitness Media:
Global Fitness Media, LLC is a privately funded start up company based in Los Angeles, California. The company is founded by fitness pioneer Jake Steinfeld, Chairman and CEO of Body by Jake Global, Founder of Fit TV, Don't Quit Music and ExerciseTV, the first online and Video on Demand 24 hour fitness network.

GoodFoodNearYou is the first product developed by Global Fitness Media. Fitplanet – Global Fitness Media's flagship product – breaks new ground in the application of lifestyle solutions technology to fitness and healthy living. Fitplanet will launch in late Spring 2009.

Media Contact:
Talia Roselli
Global Fitness Media
Los Angeles, CA
p. 424-652-9654

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