The first meal of the day or breakfast is a great way to boost your morning and prepare for a power-packed day. An ideal meal provides all the vital nutrients that our bodies need to carry out our day-to-day activities. Moreover, as our grandmas have always said, not only does breakfast act as a great start to the day, but it also provides a host of health benefits. A healthy breakfast is a boon as it contributes to regulating our sugar levels and also aids in maintaining a healthy weight. Individuals may often miss out on breakfast due to their hectic schedule and the inability to whip up a quick meal after waking up. While an elaborate and healthy spread may be preferable, it does not seem like the most realistic idea. At such times, an energy bar can come to the rescue. It is a quick snack that one can have before walking through the door. However, it is time to stop consuming packaged breakfast bars regularly as they can cause more harm than good. Loaded with sugar and preservatives, these can leave you feeling dull or give you an intense sugar rush. Instead, one should turn to healthy breakfast bar recipes as anyone can create these great alternatives in their kitchen.

In today’s fast-paced life, finding time for yourself can be quite challenging. The sedentary lifestyle coupled with unhealthy eating habits can add a few extra pounds here and there. Being overweight can open the floodgates to a variety of illnesses that can be life-threatening in certain cases. Once people get a health scare, they try to mend their ways by eating right and exercising. Adhering to a diet for the three major meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — isn’t a herculean task. What tests one’s conviction to lose weight and eat healthy are the snack times where our minds involuntarily wander to the hot dog stall outside the office or to the fries and burgers that are just a click away. These food items have an incredible way of enticing our taste buds, which is why we often deter from consuming something as bland as a salad. Instead of giving in to your whims and wasting the hours you toiled hard in the gym, you can satisfy your palate and continue on your weight loss journey by trying these easy healthy snack ideas to keep you full in between meals. Hard-boiled eggs and avocado bowl Eggs are a powerhouse of all essential nutrients you need to lose weight and stay healthy at the same time.

Juices are one of the easiest ways to add healthy nutrients to one’s diet without having to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These juices taste delicious and provide all the necessary nutrients. Health experts recommend consuming six to eight servings of whole fruits and vegetables which can be difficult to achieve. If you are one of those people who struggle to consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables, then continue reading to find out about the top 10 healthy juices. These top 10 healthy juices mentioned below will help you cope with specific health issues. Energy-boosting juice A marvelous replacement for coffee is green juice. The green pigments in plants contain chlorophyll that helps in oxygenating the blood, increasing the brain function as well as physical energy. You need to use one large cucumber, a handful of kale, parsley, and spinach, eight stalks of celery, a small piece of ginger, and half a lemon to make this juice. Juice for healthy skin Vegetables and fruit juices, when combined appropriately, help in removing crud from the blood as well as the tissues. It helps in restoring alkalinity to the body and balancing the system. This juice also helps in making the skin look younger and provides energy too.

Often because of the morning rush, you might be tempted to empty a packet of processed cereals and pour some milk over it for breakfast before you rush to work or school. But the next time you do this, pause and think. Are these cereals healthy or do they contain artificial sweeteners? The truth is that many people like to have something sweet for breakfast and there is no harm in indulging these cravings occasionally. However, it is vital that these recipes are healthy and don’t contain any added sugar. Don’t know how to prepare healthy and sweet recipes for breakfast? Here are three easy dessert recipes that you can make for breakfast. Strawberry banana oatmeal muffins Can you think of a healthier breakfast recipe than one that contains eggs, fruits, and oats? To make this mouthwatering muffin, you will need strawberries, banana, oats, eggs, brown sugar, baking soda, butter, and cinnamon. Firstly, preheat the oven to 425° F degrees. Grease some muffin cups and keep them aside. To make the oatmeal streusel topping, which is nothing but the crumbly topping on the muffin, grab a small bowl and mix the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. To make the muffin batter, whip the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.

Making healthy food choices can be very difficult and mettle-testing, especially when you are trying to lose weight. The road to healthy weight loss is through discipline and not giving in to unhealthy food choices. Unfortunately, some food items that assist in weight loss might not taste appetizing. However, with some creative pairing, you can whip up some of the most mouth-watering recipes for weight loss from seemingly unappetizing food. Here are some easy snack recipes that require minimum ingredients to assist in healthy weight loss: Sweet potato fries – These are a healthy replacement to your regular potato fries deep fried in vegetable oil. Sweet potato fries contain a healthy dose of beta-carotene, which is good for general immunity and vision. Here’s how can make yourself a healthy treat out of sweet potatoes and a handful of other ingredients. Preparation – Slice two medium-sized (scrubbed and peeled) sweet potatoes into julienne strips. Preheat an oven to 450-degrees Fahrenheit. Combine half a tablespoon of red chili powder and black pepper in a bowl. Add one or two tablespoons (based on your preference) of extra-virgin olive oil and toss and coat all the sweet potato slices. Place these slices in a single layer on an aluminium foil or non-stick cooking sheet.

Kids can be extremely picky eaters, and dealing with their mid-day hunger pangs is always a tough task. However, snack time is a central part of a kid’s day. As soon as hunger pangs set in, they can feel irritated, get cranky, and experience intense mood swings. Keeping their little tummies full is the only way to get their cheerful selves back. While you may understand the importance of feeding healthy snacks to your kids, you might not be able to take out sufficient time in the day to prepare these snacks. Parents juggle between different tasks and often give in to packaged foods as an easy solution. However, we have some good news for you. You can create several easy and irresistible snacks in your kitchen. Not only do they taste delicious, but also keep up the energy levels of your little ones. Without further ado, here are some easy snack recipes that you can create quickly: Cherry tomato and yogurt dip:  The cherry tomato and yogurt dip is an easy and vibrant snack that is loved by most kids. The bright red color of the cherry tomatoes contrasts with the creamy yogurt, making this snack even more appealing.

While most Americans are fighting a common battle to lose weight, one part of the population is struggling to gain weight. Gaining and losing weight are equally difficult to achieve. People who want to gain weight in a healthy manner often join a gym to gain muscle mass and increase their appetite. Though these changes in lifestyle can be enough to gain muscle mass and weight, if one includes healthy snacks in their diet, they could accelerate this process. Healthy snacks have multiple health benefits, which is why people should add these to their diet. However, most people find it difficult to keep up with a healthy snacking habit as these snacks are not available in stores and preparing them can be quite time-consuming. At such times, you can look up several easy snack recipes on the internet that will help you gain weight. You can prepare these at home without using too many ingredients or spending too much time. Nuts and dried fruits You don’t need any pre-preparation to consume nuts. You can buy good quality raw nuts from several stores. You can choose nuts like cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apricots, and raisins for a quick and easy snack between your meals.

It can be difficult to eat healthy whilst working, especially, with the pressure of deadlines and other work-related stress. Atop that many office pantries offer a variety of tasty snacks filled with sugar and trans fats. Your willpower is constantly at a test and choosing the healthier option seems more and more difficult as the day passes. However, there are some tasty and easy snack options that are extremely healthy and yet filling. Below are some healthy and easy snacks that you can consume at work: Crackers When it comes to satisfying cravings or hunger in between your meals, crackers are your best go-to option. They are one of those easy snacks that are great replacements for anything fried, as they are way healthier than anything fried. Also, while selecting crackers, remember to always opt for the less-processed ones. Search for crackers that are made of whole grains and ensure that they don’t contain any saturated fats. Instant oatmeal packets When you are feeling extremely hungry in between your meals, instant oatmeal packs will help to keep you full. Oatmeal is not only a healthy breakfast option, but it is also a great snack to consume, especially, when hungry. It provides energy and the healthy carbs help your stomach to stay full for a long time.

The key to finding the right kind of foods for people suffering from ulcerative colitis is to look for foods that contain all the essential nutrients but would not aggravate the digestive tract. Given below a list of food items that are good to eat when you have ulcerative colitis or colitis flare-up: Soothe symptoms with salmon Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids in high amount. It is excellent for your colon and heart health. According to a study, essential fatty acids ease inflammation. It means that salmon helps to counterbalance the inflammation caused by a colitis flare. Other food items containing a rich source of omega-3 include flaxseed oil, albacore tuna, ground flaxseed, and walnuts, which should be added to diets for colitis. Add yogurt to your meals Yogurt or any other fermented foods like miso, kefir, sauerkraut, etc. contain probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria present in our guts and fermented foods. These bacteria are important to maintain a healthy immune system and digestion. If you eat foods that are filled with active and live cultures, they would keep optimal levels of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Always buy yogurt that lists active and live culture on their contents’ list.

Do you suffer from heartburn frequently? It could be a case of Acid Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, i.i., Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Normally, during the process of digestion, there is a sphincter at the mouth of the stomach, that closes once you’ve finished eating. Then, the contents move into the stomach, where it is digested with the help of digestive enzymes. During the digestion process, acids are released. If the sphincter does not seal itself completely or opens too often, the acid flows back into the esophageal tract and causes heartburn. If this condition persists, you are suffering from acid reflux. Causes A stomach abnormality known as hiatal hernia is a common cause of acid reflux. Lying on your back or bending over the waist, after eating a heavy meal. Being overweight and obese. Consuming certain foods can cause acid reflux. These include tomatoes, garlic, mint, onion, spicy and fatty foods. Smoking. Consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea and carbonated beverages. Snacking just before retiring for the night. Pregnancy. Blood pressure medication, certain muscle relaxers, common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen also cause acid reflux Symptoms The common symptoms are heartburn, where the burning sensation extends from the chest to the throat and regurgitation.