Golden tips for eating out pt 2

From the corner of my eye I saw my energetic Grandma doing body stretching in the lawn...1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, left, right, left, right....wow. She has been doing that for the last 1 hour or so. A less determined much younger person will be put to shame by her. She is so full of vitality. Then I remember that I still have an uncompleted task to do...i.e to reveal the rests of the golden tips of eating out.....

7. Just say no to chips.
8. If the menu does not fit your diet at all, order a normal portion of meal with extra steamed vegetables.
9. If you can't resist a dessert, share one.
10. Instead of dessert, you could have a low-fat mocha or latte.
11. Don't be afraid to ask how meal is prepared.
12. Beware of alcohol. Don't start drinking until your meal arrives, as alcohol can increase your appetite.
......Happy Eating.......

Golden Rules for eating out.

It's my bubbly grandma again. She just came back from her 30 minutes jogging in the park a habit which she has been doing since her youth. This must be one of her secrets for healthy living. She was still in her track suit. She must have overheard our talking about going out to eat that evening. Whereupon she called her "council of elders" meeting. This reminded me of the popular TV series Survival which was shot in an island in Sabah also known as ' The land below the wind'. This island is now a popular tourist destination. Once seated comfortably in her favourite chair, she began by exhorting the good virtues of home cooked food. She said, ' if you really need to eat outside follow my tips for the sake of your health.'

1. Read the menu before deciding what to order.
2.Choose higher protein options like prawns,salmon,calamari and tofu.
3.Choose salads or soups instead of cream soups.
4.Order dishes described as grilled, steamed, poached or stir-fried.
5. Avoid dishes described as deep-fried, pan-fried, battered or crumbed.
6. Avoid sauces with cheese,butter or cream. Dressings with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar are fine.
......To be continued.....

you are fat

Obesity is a malady and can cause mental stress. I was in a plane one day and happened to be seated next to an over weight person. He could almost cannot get himself into the seat. ..thanks to the help of the ever obliging air stewardess. He had to be virtually shoved into the seat... body and all. Once seated, he was stuck there for the rest of the journey. I thought I felt the plane tilt to our side! My journey was a nightmare for every movement he made was a nuisance for me. Half of his body was in my territory...the culprit....the food we take.
In a country like Malaysia whose multi racial population practices different cultures and religions, festive seasons are almost celebrated through out the year. And in these ocassions, sumptuous food is the order of the day. Relatives, friends and acquantances will be inviting each other to thier homes for dinners. Grandma's advice keeps ringing in my head - ' watch out what you eat....do not go for food that are rich in fat, sugar and salt.' If greed would become the better of you, then implement an exercise programme immediately after. ...otherwise you will have to buy two seats for yourself the next time you want to be in a plane.

home cooked food the best

For most people dinner is always taking food outside or takeaways. Sometimes this is unavoidable. Modern people simply have no time to cook. They are so busy in thier daily affairs that they have to resort to a quick fix. For what ever reason it is, home cooked food is still the best and the healthiest.
My grandma always hold steadfastly to her principle of having dinner at home . She always pride in showing her special culinary skill. On her birthday she refused to be given a treat even at the 5 star restaurant in town. Protesting strongly she said 'over my dead body.'....And she continues to lead a healthy life.

Grilled chicken and meat may cause cancer

It was reported that grilled chicken or meat which has high level of carcinogenic chemical is linked to cancer. Carcinogen is a substance that encourages the growth of cancer cells in human body. The source said even a grilled chicken salad increases the risk of breast cancer, prostrate cancer and other cancerous ailments.
For those people who frequent the popular fast food chain better be warned of the danger.
You may say that this is a ploy by anti-meat advocates or animal lover organisations to discourage consumers in eating meat but reliable medical reports have ample evidences to prove the claim.
As consumers what choice have we got? It is high time we go back to basics and return to the fresh foods which our bodies are used to thrive on.
Processed food may be tastier to the taste buds and convenient but before you put them into your mouth remember the damage they will inflict on your system.

ginger a cure for lethargy,migraine and diarrhoea

Ginger is a type of rhizome growing mainly in tropical or subtropical areas where the temperature is around 25 deg celcius and where the rainfall and humidity are high.
Ginger has a particular hot flavour varying from sweet to dry and has a very rich aroma. Because of these properties, ginger is often called a "herbal delicacy" and is well sought after as a spice when cooking meat or chicken.
However, Ginger is more well known for its medicinal benefits. It has been found out that ginger when prepared in a certain way can help alleviate lethargy and migraine. It can also stop your diarrhoea or at least allows you time to see the doctor.
It is very usefull as a supplement for mothers who have just given birth. The elders use to stew chicken preferably kampong chicken(free ranch chicken) with a lot of ginger for 2 to 3 hours. Only the soup is to be taken. And this usually goes on for about a month after the birth of the baby. This helps the mother to regain strength and prevent "wind" entering her weakened body.
Ginger can also be obtained in a powder form and turned into healthy invigorating drinks.

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) - The miracle Oil

Great interest has been shown by nutrition and health buffs on this subject lately. The food products that are derived from coconut are known to contain no cholesterol and have many health benefits. It claims to be able to to prevent heart disease, disolve kidney stones, balance blood sugar and control diabetes. It enhances the immune system, protect against cancer, boost energy and increase metabolism. It also helps to reduce excess body fat and kill disease-causing bacteria, etc.
A simple method to produce the VCO and which is still being used by village folks in Sabah (The Land below the wind) is to extract the coconut milk and ferment it for 24 to 48 hours at room temperature. Then seperate the cream from the water. Scoop the cream and keep it in a freeze overnight. Heat the solidified cream on slow fire, not exceeding 60 degrees celsius for 5 to 6 hours.
Apart from the above, coconut milk is also commonly used as important ingredient in cake making and in preparation for asian food e.g mouth watering curry.
My late mother used VCO as a hair cream. Until to her last day, her hair remained bright black, no strand of grey hairs that the modern day people even as young as thirties are afflicted with.
Sabah which is in the Tropical region, has plenty of coconut trees. These palms or trees grow naturally in this country especially in the coastal areas. If you happen to be passing in this region drop by and touch it.

take a break

If you have a problem and you think you cannot resolve it by yourself do not be shy to ask assistance from your friends. You will be surprised the solution is not very far away. You need other people to see your problem from a different angle. It also helps if you detached yourself from your problem just a little while and come back to it with a fresh mind. Go get a shower, watch your favuorite tv programme, etc and then come back to your problem. You will find it will make the difference.

My little great experience

Days and months I have been hitting at my poor pc and nothing came out. But today a little by litttle the wonders of Blogging and whatever it stands for seem to open before my very eyes. It is great.. a very great experience indeed to know that you are actually learning and overcoming what seems to be unsurmountable. If only I can compose a poem on this great feeling..it will be the greatest poem ever written..maybe some one out there can help me capture this great moment of my life...