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Healthy You Archives |
Eating Healthy
Taking Time to EatThe ‘Slow Food’ movement has health lessons for us all A Healthy Family OptionWhen Kathy Emeigh of Bethlehem (above, at left) was a stay-at-home mom, she had plenty of time to prepare meals. That all changed when she went back to work a year ago. Seeking a convenient way to keep home-cooked food on the table, she discovered Plate Escapes in Emmaus. In less than two hours, customers can make 12 meals. “The staff prepares the ingredients, and you just put them together and freeze them,” she says. Her family can pull out the courses (as Kathy and two of her children are doing, above) and voila!—a relaxed, sit-down dinner for Scott, Kathy, Jana, Paul and Mark. For a Plate Escapes coupon, call 610-402-CARE. Is yogurt in a tube, heat-and-sip soup or a drive-through burger your idea of a meal? Do you pride yourself on being able to consume lunch in five minutes or less? Have you forgotten what your dining room looks like? If so, you could be jeopardizing your health.“Slow down! You’ll make better food choices, and that helps prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes,” says internist Howard DeHoff, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. You’ll also be more aware of your body and what it’s trying to tell you—including “I’m full now.” Slowing down isn’t as easy as it sounds. “We know we should eat well, but it’s a challenge to make that a priority in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. We’ve trained ourselves to eat-on-the-go,” says Mary Kaland, Ph.D., psychologist with The Guidance Program at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. So how do you take extra time to eat when your schedule’s already packed? More than 80,000 people around the world are tackling that challenge through the Slow Food movement. The movement began in Italy as a protest to a McDonald’s restaurant opening in the heart of Rome. Members make a conscious choice to eat wholesome food while savoring every bite. To better appreciate where food comes from and how it’s prepared, they grow their own fruits and vegetables, support local producers and cook their own meals. About 1,000 members of a regional chapter here in the Lehigh Valley have adopted Slow Food beliefs. “But you don’t have to join a movement to learn how to eat more slowly and enjoy the benefits,” says registered dietitian Donna Smith of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Her do-it-yourself suggestions:
Want to Know More about the Slow Food movement? Click here for a list of national and regional sources. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
ARTICLE TOOLS:
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 September October 2005 Eating Healthy
Staying Fit
Caring for Mind and Body
Just for Women
Just for Men
Raising a Family
Heart of Healthy You
Protecting Your Health
Coping with Illness
Aging Well
Keeping Up to Date
Weight Control
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