Try out this healthy recipe!

Broccoli Soup with Cheddar Cheese

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1 large onion, chopped

salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper

1 small russet potato

1 bay leaf

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

about 1 quart low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

5 cups broccoli florets

6 tablespoons shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the celery and onion, season lightly with salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes.

2. Peel and slice the potato and add it to the pot. Add the bay leaf, oregano and broth and bring to a boil quickly over high heat.

3. Lower the heat and simmer until the vegetables are completely tender, about 15 minutes.

4. Add the broccoli and simmer until just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Remove the bay leaf and puree the soup in a blender. Strain and adjust the salt and pepper.

6. Serve the piping hot soup in bowls, sprinkled with a tablespoon of cheddar cheese.

Living longer and feeling great

Is eating healthy a main concern nowadays? Yes it is! We are all coming to the realisation that due to our busy lifestyles and daily schedules, our health is being placed on the backburner.

To maintain a healthy weight, a daily intake of a variety of foods in moderation is necessary. This is in order to gain the nutrients required to fuel our every day activities and nourish our bodies.

The benefits of healthy eating is living longer and feeling great! So plan your healthy eating by using a food pyramid. The healthy eating pyramid recommends the following intake of different food groups each day, although exact amounts of calorie intake depends on sex, age, and lifestyle:

• 2-3 servings of fruits
• 2-3 servings of nuts, or legumes
• 1-2 servings of dairy or calcium supplement
• 0-2 servings of poultry, fish, or eggs
• Vegetables, in abundance
• Plant oils, including olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, and sunflower seed oil
• At most meals, whole grain foods including oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice
• Sparing use of white rice, white bread, potatoes, pasta and sweets
• Sparing use of red meat and butter
• Daily exercise and weight control

Healthy diet

Maintaining a healthy diet is the practice of making choices about what to eat with the intent of improving or maintaining good health. A healthy diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables; is based on starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice; and is low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar. Keys to a healthy diet are eating the right amount of food for how active you are and eating a range of foods to make sure you’re getting a balanced diet.

Tips of healthy eating :

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat more fish
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• Don't skip breakfast
• Avoid trans-fats, heavily saturated fats like palm oil
• Eat less salt
• Do exercise and try to maintain healthy weight
• Cut down sugar