Eating Healthy is Easier than You Think

Thursday, February 26, 2004

ROCHESTER, Minn. — It isn't necessary to turn your life upside down to eat healthy. A few simple changes can make a big difference in the nutritional value of your daily meals. The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook (ISBN 0-8487-2758-4, $34.95) offers these simple tips to start eating healthier:

* Cook with olive, canola or other vegetable oils instead of butter or margarine whenever possible.

* Lighten your milk by moving down one step in fat content — from whole to 2 percent or 1 percent to fat free.

* Have fish as a main course at least twice a week.

* Serve fresh fruit for dessert.

* Switch your breakfast cereal to a high-fiber, low-sugar alternative.

Deciding to eat wisely doesn't mean having to seek out unusual "health foods" such as broccoli sprouts and wheatgrass. It doesn't mean denying yourself desserts or other good-tasting foods. Healthful foods can and should taste good. Some of the world's most tempting dishes are built around the season's best produce, prepared simply to bring out the fullest flavors.

Wonderful fruit desserts make it a pleasure to add servings of fresh fruit to your daily menu. Fruits are rich with compounds that help fend off cancer and heart disease. Try serving a colorful fresh fruit dessert such as Tropical Fruits with Mint and Spices. The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook offers these and many other strategies and recipes for eating healthier.

For sample recipes and some other healthy eating tips, Mayo Clinic is offering a free brochure "Eating Well for Better Health." Write to Mayo Clinic Communications — Eating Well Offer — OE-6, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.

To order The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook ($34.95 plus shipping, handling and applicable sales tax), call 800-291-1128 and mention order code COOK2. The cookbook also is available on-line and in most local bookstores.

Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511 (evenings)
e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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