Daily Dish for Wednesday 6/14

[Denise85]

All in the Family

The following is an excerpt from the June issue of The South Beach Diet™ Newsletter — a publication printed monthly and packed with exclusive in-depth articles, diet tips, and brand-new, delicious recipes. Act now and get 2 issues risk-free!

Can picky kids and finicky spouses learn to eat and live better? Find out how to include your family in your healthy new lifestyle.

Start by being more conscientious about the foods you bring home from the market. Of course, this is easier said than done, since the grocery store can often be overwhelming and confusing. Luckily there are a few secrets to successful grocery shopping.

Leave the young at home, take the older with you. Nothing's harder to refuse than a screaming child begging for cookies in a crowded store. Make a shopping list at home and stick to it without any influence from your little junk-food junkies. If your kids are older, bring them with you so they can see how you choose healthy foods. "Kids have to learn how to make better choices," says Dr. Agatston, "and the grocery store is the place to start."

Stock your kitchen wisely. Lean meat, produce, fish, and low-fat dairy are all healthy choices. Many processed goods like cookies, chips, crackers, ice cream, white bread, and sugary soft drinks are harder to fit into a balanced diet and therefore best avoided. There are, of course, a number of exceptions to this rule, including products like natural, no-sugar-added peanut butter, and convenience foods with the "right" ingredients — whole grains, lean proteins, soy, etc. — for quick meals on the go.

Learn to read labels. What you should look for: items containing the good fats (like olive and canola oils), fiber, whole grains, vitamins, and minerals. What you should avoid: items high in saturated and trans fat, added sugar, and refined flour. If after reading the nutrition label you still have questions about the healthfulness of a product, go to The South Beach Diet™ Online and check the Foods to Enjoy and Avoid lists, or ask the nutritionists on the Message Boards for advice.

Compromise. It will probably take a little trial and error to find healthy foods your entire family enjoys. In the meantime, learn to compromise. For every favorite food there is a healthy alternative or modification. For example, instead of forcing your kids to give up cereal for breakfast, find one that's made with whole grains and less sugar.