Healthy Light Recipes From Around the World

Dear Reader,

This Book is not a diet book, but is a cookbook full of delicious and nutritious recipes that our bodies require.  If you need a real diet because you have a serious weight problem, you should consult your physician.  This book is about how to stay fit and slim looking for the rest of your life.

Over the year, I have gathered over 80 appetizing and healthful recipes from different countries.  each country has its healthy and not so healthy habits for eating.  I have tried to select the best recipes for you and me so that we do not get bored with what we eat.  Enjoy your food, feel good, and look healthy.

Remember, it is not enough to just eat right; your body needs moderate exercise every day.  There are many different exercise programs on TV every morning that might fit into your busy schedule.  If you are not the type to get up early and do your morning exercise, then perhaps you could try to walk every day before breakfast and after dinner.

If you like music and dancing, try to dance.  If you have kids, dance with them.  They love it, and it is good for you and for them.  I dance every day with my daughter.  It feels great!  It is a fun exercise for both of us.  We also swim.  Swimming is another great exercise.  Do anything you like to do – just as long as you do something!!  That is what counts.

Why torture yourself?  There are many simple, painless, natural exercises that you can do to keep your muscles firm and your body in good condition.  Remember to try to breathe correctly when you are exercising.  You owe it to your lungs.  Keep in mind that every body is beautiful.  Every body is divinely inspired.  Every body can be vital, strong and flexible, moving through life with grace and assurance, totally healthy – not just some of the time but most of the time.  Every body can be improved, inside and outside, because the body's potential is hardly ever realized.

Always remember, that by the time the body reaches the age 25 it requires about one percent less food each year to maintain, the basic functions such as breathing, digesting, heart action, and generally getting through the day.  Unless you reduce the amount of food you take in at this time of your life or increase your physical activity, you are bound to gain weight.

Most of the time we think we are overweight because we eat too much.  In many cases, and perhaps in yours, that is not the problem at all.  The problem may be that we drink too much.  In fact, it is very likely that most people with a weight problem could completely overcome it and permanently control it, without reducing by one ounce the amount of real food they eat.

What I mean by drinks are liquor, wine, beer, and soft drinks.  So not only from the point of view of weight control, but because of some serious health concerns, it is important for all of us to take a very close look at our use of these recreational beverages.  Therefore, when you are very thirsty, pour a glass of water and think, "this water is going to wash away my fat."

So many times we stand before the refrigerator door trying to decide what we would like to eat.  What we really want and our body craves is not to be found in the refrigerator – it is simply water.  Try to fall madly in love with water.  I know eating is more fun than drinking water, but think of it this way, which one is good for your body?  Give into the real thing.  Water is an ideal snack between meals.

Have willpower and bring enjoyment to your life.  You will feel much better about yourself.  Self-discipline is all it takes.  Be a little patient with yourself.  You didn't put on your weight overnight, and you won't take it off overnight either.  Your stomach is only so big, and it can only handle so much. When you are able to consume greater and greater amounts of good.  As the stomach grows, so does the rest of the anatomy.  Overloading your stomach leads to overloading your body, and suddenly you become an overeater and fat.

Increased weight means increased work for the hips, knees, and feet.  Fat is really tough on the bones, the joints, and the frame.  Fat is really tough on lungs.  Naturally, it takes a lot more oxygen to keep a fat body going than a thin one.  Fat is bad for the heart.  As body gains weight and grows in size, the heart is forced to work overtime, it must nourish al the extra tissue being added daily.

So by eating too much you, harm your body and your looks.  You should think and care about yourself. After all, it is your own body and it needs your personal attention.

Remember what you look like is basically a decision that you have made all by yourself.  Always think thin, be thin, and do exercise.  Exercise improves the function of your heart, circulatory system and muscles and may help you lose weight or prevent weight gain.

Jogging burns off about 300 calories, per half hour; running burns off about 420 calories per half hour; walking burns off 16