Recipes, Food Tips, Healthy Eating & More

@merpreb. @contentandwell At my age and widow I don't do gourmet meals anymore My appetites isn't what it use to be I think age does this ??

@lioness Definitely. I make simple, healthy meals when it's just my husband and myself. When my daughter or son is visiting I do more elaborate things, but I do try to keep the meals healthy. My son has become fanatical about that.
JK

@contentandwell My son is a did heart vegetarian and dip is a vegan try to cook for them ! We usual Risotto and salad

@lioness my son-in-law was brought up vegetarian. He will eat chicken now, but it is a challenge for me at times. My daughter went vegetarian for a while but she does love certain meats so she will eat some of them, whereas my son-in-law, having been brought up without them does not like the taste of most.
JK

@contentandwell I grew up on lard and lots of meat with vegetables that were canned for the winter or placed in the root cellar. We ate what was placed in front of us even if we weren’t hungry enough to eat. My mother was not a good cook. I grew up eating overly cooked everything and did not like it then and still do not like that type of cooking. Just wondering if how we choose to eat as adults is what we grew up with or even as children we had tastes unique to each of us?? I know many that cook like their mothers and I am repelled by it still. Yes, many still save their bacon grease to season their other foods.
Back to we are not all wired the same.

@parus My mother was a really good cook and I loved being in the kitchen with her. I realize now she did use too much butter. I avoid butter and even fry eggs in EVOO. She used bacon fat in making fried eggs and one other recipe but that was it. I do not use it now. It does add flavor, but so does butter and I had been avoiding that even before I realized my problem had a lot to do with lactose.
JK

@jakedduck1 May I respectfully suggest you invest in a simple to use food thermometer? If you use that to test your (chicken, for example) food for doneness you will know whether it is safe to eat no matter how it looks. I have never used an air fryer and have been following your posts regarding it. My girlfriend with one adores it, but I cook quite differently than she does so I was looking for more experiences. I wonder if, like microwaving, there are some techniques specific to air fryers to get the best taste from them.
I have decided I am too old, tired and worn out to chase every new idea. So I only go looking if what I am currently doing no longer works for me. I never followed fads of any sort and do not intend to start now in my "hag" years. haha
You have lots of instructors here so I am confident you are progressing nicely.

@parus
Hi,

I grew up in the 40s and 50s, lived in New York and most of our food was fresh veggies, not canned or frozen...meat from the butcher....fresh fish. No fast food restaurants available. Mom ground her own hamburger. But boy did we eat butter, eggs and bacon and meat with potatoes! Corned beef and cabbage....I use to have liver and onions and bacon for breakfast. My mom and dad’s side were all lean...not one obese person that I can remember. My husband grew up eating the same way in the same time frame and his mom’s side of the family were overweight and cancer ridden. His dad’s side were slimmer but prone to high blood pressure and heart ailments. I didn’t know what a vitamin was. Goes to show the role genes play.

In the 60s and 70s raising my children fast food places started to appear. I cooked a little more adventurously than my mom but never gave a thought to butter or bacon or globs of cheese or frying food. Wow, have times changed for the better now that we are all aware of what fuels our bodies. I’ve never had any organic illnesses or conditions and do not take any prescription medicines, no pains or aches and I will be 78. I credit this to my genes and growing up eating basically really organic and unprocessed foods.
My husband ate and cooked well but always had high blood pressure. My children are great cooks and food conscious knowing they have half my genes and half their dad’s side. We all exercise...well the adults do and some of the grandchildren do.

A long way to say that genes play a role in your health but no matter how hard you try to eat and live well, sometimes you just can’t beat it. At least today we are more

Regards to all of you and kudos for being on this site and having an interest in how to live life healthier and longer.

Mary

@imallears Mary, you are absolutely right. Genes do play a big part. My husband's family tends to live fairly long lives so when I married him, after the death of both of my parents, I told him I married him for his longevity genes! 😉
My husband is 12 years older than I am, very fit, and takes no medications except an occasional ibuprofen if he has a muscle ache or headache. He looks younger than his age too. I read somewhere, a long time ago, that the age you look is a reflection of your physiological age. In other words, if a person looks young for their age, then they are probably younger in many ways, whereas a person who looks old for their age is probably older physiologically. I think that's probably true, except in the case of people who have some form of plastic surgery or botox.
JK

@contentandwell
Hi JK,
If the “Age you look is a reflection of your physiological age” then gracious me, I must look like the walking dead. Never the less I’m still kickin, granted not very high.
Jake