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Preparing Your Meals at Home IS The Healthier Choice

Posted By Dr. Mercola | December 28 2006 | 12,616 views

According to a new study, young adults who prepare their own meals generally have healthier diets than those who don't.

The study surveyed more than 1,700 men and women aged 18 to 23. The study found that women were generally more involved with food preparation.

Twenty-one percent of young men and 36 percent of young women buy fresh vegetables each week, and only 44 percent of the men made a dinner with chicken, fish or vegetables at least once a week, as opposed to 56 percent of the women. Thirteen percent of the men wrote a grocery list at least once a week, and 23 percent of the women did.

Participants who cooked at home the most were less likely to eat fast food and more likely to eat nutritious meals. However, even among those who cooked at home frequently, only 31 percent consumed at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Only 3 percent of those who did not prepare their own food did so.

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

I remind you often how important it is to you and your family to spend some serious time in the kitchen preparing your own food, if you want to optimize your health and live longer.

If you want to achieve high-level wellness, you, or someone who cares for you, will have to spend some serious time in the kitchen. You simply can't rely on restaurant food or purchasing highly processed foods from the grocery store. To do so is a prescription for disaster that will invariably significantly increase your risk for developing chronic medical illnesses.

It is vital to avoid the typical American plan when purchasing food, where a full 90 percent of the money they spend on foods is for processed foods. You need to reverse this ratio and spend 90 percent on UNprocessed whole, preferably organically and locally grown, food.

One interesting number from this study is that one-quarter of the people said they didn't have enough money to buy and prepare their own food, and more than one-third said they didn't have the time.

There is no question that convenience is an issue. But look at it this way, you are going to pay the piper at some point. Either you pay him up front by spending more time in the kitchen or pay him later when you are in your hospital bed surffering the consequences from choosing a lifetime of eating processed foods.

The fact is, you can afford to buy healthier foods, even on a budget, in the real world with some careful shopping and preparation. Also, take a few moments to review this link to find more sources of wholesome foods in your area.

On Vital Votes, reader Mary from Cabool, Missouri notes:

"It is a lot cheaper to prepare your own meals then it is to eat out.  One meal of eating out can pay for almost 1 week of home cooked meals.  And when you prepare your own foods you know what is in them, not so when you eat out."

Other responses to this article can be viewed at Vital Votes, and you can add your own thoughts or vote on comments by first registering at Vital Votes.


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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

© Copyright 1997-2012 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.

 

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