Steps to a Healthier You.
In April 2005 the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new version of the well-known Food Guide Pyramid. The revised model, known as “MyPyramid”, was created to better assist Americans in maintaining a healthy diet based upon their age, sex, and level of physical activity.

"MyPyramid", as illustrated to the left, has 6 total slices representing different food groups; orange for grains, green for vegetables, red for fruits, yellow for oils, blue for dairy products and purple for meats and beans. In contrast to the previous Food Guide Pyramid, the revised model stresses the need and importance of physical activity and therefore includes a figure climbing the pyramid.

Carbohydrates: Good? Bad?

What are Carbohydrates? Carbohydrates come in two basic forms: complex and simple. Simple carbohydrates are easily identifiable by their sweet taste, whereas complex carbohydrates, such as potatoes, have a pleasant taste but are not sweet. Why are carbohydrates good for me? Energy Fuel: Like fuel for a car the energy we need has to be blended: •  57% Carbohydrates (sugar, sweets, bread, cakes) •  13% Fats (dairy products, oil) •  30% Protein (eggs, milk, meat, poultry, fish) Why do people gain weight? People gain weight only if they consume more calories than they expend. When this happens, they should blame their forks, not the carbohydrate.

The USDA's model is best used in conjunction with an interactive website where you can determine your specific dietary requirements. Visit the USDA Website

Did You Know?
According to the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, “Overweight and obesity are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States today. Roughly 97 million American adults 20 years old or older are overweight or obese----55 percent of the adult population. This condition raises substantially adults' risk of morbidity from a number of diseases.”

Think about it.
These statistics are from 2002. imagine what they must look like today. The number of overweight children, teens and adults in the United States is simply staggering. With so many resources at our disposal, we as a society, could easily become the most fit and nutritionally sound nation in the world. However, that's not the case. Despite the virtually thousands of diets, fitness centers, weight loss plans, health foods and over-the-counter medications that are readily available, America keeps getting fatter year after year.

The Problem.
The basic formula is this: If you eat more calories than you burn—you'll gain weight. With today's hectic lifestyles, corner fast food restaurants and supposed diet-foods popping up everywhere, it's easy to ingest literally thousands of calories throughout the day, sit on the couch, and go to bed without having burned even a small percentage of the calories consumed throughout the day. There is little time to prepare healthy meals or visit the gym, but somehow we find plenty of time to make excuses.

The Solution.
Obviously, there is no quick fix weight loss program. And if there was one, more than likely it would do more harm to your body than good. The best thing to do is get professional advice on a fitness program and evaluate what and how much you're eating. This doesn't mean going on a diet, but it does mean adopting healthy eating habits.

Why Simply Turkey Cares.
More than three in five Americans are overweight, and nearly one in three is obese. For many of these individuals, the additional pounds have become a health risk and often places limits on normal day-to-day activities.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family and friends--the food we eat during these meal periods should be just as special. Our business is committed to serving fresh and healthy food to individuals, companies and families with busy schedules. Our lives are full of activities, appointments and physical activity, Simply Turkey would like the opportunity to help you eat well, and live well.