By eating fruits and vegetables in a wide variety of colours, you will be able to stay thin because they are lower in calories, have tons of antioxidants, and will help to keep you healthy and youthful.

Red: Red foods are filled with lycopene, which reduces the risk of several kinds of cancers. Foods that are associated with this group include: beets, red apples, grapefruits, red peppers, pomegranates, red cabbage, radishes, watermelon, red grapes, cranberries, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries.

Orange & Yellow: Orange and yellow coloured foods are rich in carotenoid which helps to reduce the risk of hearth disease and cancer. They also help to improve the immune system. Those that eat these types of foods are also less likely to have eye disorders and blindness associated with age. Foods in this group: apricots, butternut squash, carrots, cantaloupe, grapefruit, lemons, mangoes, oranges, nectarines, papayas, peaches, pineapple, pumpkins, and corn.

Green: Green fruits and vegetables contain chlorophyll and lutein which contributes to eye health. Green foods: peas, cucumbers, celery, artichokes, asparagus, avocado, beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, lettuce, kiwi, spinach, and zucchini

Blue & Purple: Blue and purple vegetables and fruits contain anthocyanins which protect cells from damage. This category includes: blueberries, blackberries, eggplants, figs, plums, prunes, and grapes.

White: These foods help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. They also reduce the risk of stomach cancer and heart disease. Foods included in this group are: potatoes, bananas, cauliflower, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, and turnips.

Tag(s): Nutribar

carrots, fruit, health tips, healthy eating habits, nutrition facts, vegetables

Our bodies attempt to convert all the things that we eat into fuel and some foods deliver better energy than others. Our metabolism is what burns the fat that we eat. Different foods burn fat differently, some are better at burning fat than others. These power foods will boost your metabolism, increase your energy levels, and help to burn fat.

-Hot peppers: Capsaicin is a chemical found in jalapenos and cayenne peppers, this chemical increases heart rates and improves metabolism.

-Good fats: Avocados and olive oil are excellent sources of healthy monounsaturated fats.

- Low-fat dairy products: Calcium triggers metabolism. Yogurt and skim milk are full of complex carbohydrates, which boosts metabolism, this in turn keeps insulin levels low after a meal. High insulin levels indicate the body to keep holding onto the fat in your body.

-Berries: Blueberries have the most antioxidants. Berries are also a great source of fiber.

-Green vegetables: Green vegetables are great because they are low in calories and high fiber. Asparagus is one of the best vegetables to eat because it flushes out the body’s system and reduces water retention.

-Grapefruit: They are full of pectin which helps to break down body fat.

-Tea: Tea helps to burn calories. Green tea is the best tea to drink because it has EGCG which is a chemical that causes the brain and nervous system to run more quickly which helps to burn more calories. Black teas and white teas are also healthy for you but be sure to avoid processed bottled teas.

-Whole grains: They are a great source of fiber as well as complex carbohydrates.

-Nuts: Nuts contain fiber, protein, and healthy fats that help keep you full. Peanut butter is also good for you because it’s filled with Niacin which helps to prevent bloating.

-Coffee: Coffee with caffeine increases heart rates and assists in burning more calories. Although good for you, the coffee you drink should have low fat milk and have very little sweeteners.

Tag(s): Nutribar

fruit, healthy eating habits, nutrition, nutritional information, vegetables, whole grain, yogurt

Canadians are crazy for produce! Or so claims StatsCan, indicating in their latest study that that on average, we consumed a record amount of fresh fruits and vegetables last year. Canadians also ate a lot less meat, with research saying that our consumption declined to 23.4 kilograms per person in 2009 – compared to a high of nearly 32 kilograms in 1981.

Read the full story – what do you think? Have you ditched the beef and eat more fruits and vegetables?

beef, fruit, meat, produce, vegetables

It’s common. You go to the gym, go crazy with activity, and then are starving afterwards. You don’t want to put all your hard work to waste by scarfing down something good… but it’s hard to ignore a growly tummy. Obviously, you can’t skip over to the nearest fast food place, but you’re hungry. What’s a healthy lifestyle lover to do?

It’s simple: stock up on what you can eat. We found this post on askmen.com, and it includes a great amount of delicious snacks for your pre and post gym workout. You can read the full article on the askmen.com site, but here’s the short version here:

10. Chocolate
9. Carbohydrate energy gels
8. Bananas and other fruits
7. Trail mix
6. Yogurt
5. Energy bars
4. Oatmeal
3. Almonds
2. Pasta
1. Lentils

almonds, bananas, carbohydrate energy gels, carbohydrates, chocolate, energy bars, fruit, gym workout tips, lentils, oatmeal, pasta, the gym, trail mix, yogurt

Hi all! We came across this site, and thought it might be useful. While most food products are required under Canadian law to provide nutritional information, some food items obviously can’t include them. The Calorie Counter has the nutritional information on anything you can imagine, from fruit to beer and covering every food group in between. Check it out, and please give us some feedback in the comment section.

beer, calorie counting, food group, food products, fruit, nutritional information