Summer is nearing an end and I know many of us have worked hard to get that bathing suit worthy body. However, I am sure most of us do not want to lose that body simply because the summer is over. We don’t have the luxury of winter hibernation in sunny California. In order to express the importance of having a quality California Health Insurance policy to individuals and small business’s, we at Professional Choice Insurance feel that as a company and individuals we should practice what we preach. Americans, including myself, are always looking for a quick food alternative. With this in mind we are definitely overlooking the importance of greens in our diet.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal titled, The Salad Is in the Bag, it states that, “despite decades of nagging to eat more leafy greens and colorful vegetables, the average American eats a salad at mealtime only about 36 times a year. That’s 20% less often than in 1985. Fewer than half of Americans-49%-ate at least one ‘leaf salad’ at home in two weeks.” Harry Balzer, Vice President at NPD says, “The single biggest problem with salad is making it.” A lot of people get bored and only know how to make salad one way. Plus salad tends to be only a side, why spend all that time making it, unless it could actually be a meal?
Most people do not have the time, or the desire to put a lot of energy into making a salad. Fresh Express, Earthbound, and Dole have made it a priority to provide bagged salads with pre-washed and cut salads. They either offer the add-ins with the bagged salad, or they offer add-in ideas. I personally like to add substantial foods to my salads, such as quinoa, polenta, meat, eggs, avocado, seeds, beans, etc, so my salad can be a meal. These salad-in-a-bag ideas are fabulous, allowing individuals to have quick healthy options at their disposal, rather than easy junk food. So, why are salad and veggies so crucial to our diet?
As stated by an article on the World’s Healthiest Foods , “Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of vitamin A, folate, vitamin C, manganese and chromium. In addition, romaine lettuce is a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and the minerals potassium, molybdenum, iron, and phosphorus.” Salads are full of Beta-Carotenes. Through reading, the Nourishing gourmet blog, I found, “Beta Carotene, the most active of several carotene compounds has been shown to boost the immune system and to fight against cancer.”
I don’t believe that salad and exercise alone will bring about world peace ;). Yet, I do believe that healthy eating and exercise can definitely bring about some inner peace. If you have any healthy food ideas, or salad recipes, please post them on our facebook page, or you can tweet us, or catch us on LinkedIn. Professional Choice Insurance is your California Insurance agency and we would love to provide you with your FREE California insurance quote today.
