10 Tips to Make It Fresh

Here are 10 great tips from  Cooking Light to help you make your meals delicious and fresh.

1. A sprinkling of chopped herbs or a squeeze of citrus enlivens just about any dish.
2. Many farmers' markets open in the spring, so take advantage of their local offerings.
3. Ask your fishmonger what seafood is in season, arrived recently and hasn't been frozen.
4. Create your own low-sodium convenience products; cook and freeze dried beans or roast bell peppers when you have extra time.
5. Minimally processed chicken, beef and pork have pure taste and minimal salt.
6. Combine fresh vegetables with starches for intriguing side dishes--cubed zucchini stirred into rice, for example.
7. Start a container garden of herbs or tomatoes on your patio or windowsill.
8. Most spring produce fares best when it is cooked only a few minutes, leaving its crisp snap intact.
9. Shop once or twice a week for fresh meats or fish to keep quality high.
10. Eating a variety of colorful produce leads to a healthful diet, so fill your plate with more fruits and veggies.

Are You a 'One Serving' Package Eater?

The best cartoon I have ever seen was of a man standing at the complaint desk at the Grocery store with an empty Potato Chip bag. He stated to the clerk, "It says there are 16 servings, and there was only ONE!"

I love that, but for some of us, an open bag IS an empty bag. It can happen so quickly. Especially if you are reading, or driving, or bored, watching TV, or whatever other way you mindlessly eat like me!

The best idea I have heard is to portion a new bag of chips, crackers, or whatevers (that you really should not even have in your house!) into one-serving size baggies. Even if you end up eating two of them, at least you are aware you ate TWO!