Food For The Bride To Be

Weddings are happy, joyous and momentous occasions that require some preparation from every bride and groom. The wedding is just the beginning of the many changes that you and your new spouse will be making. There are changes that are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It makes sense to bring yourself to the peak of health in order to be able to handle all these adjustments easily.

Aside from exercise and proper sleep, ones diet can go a long way to helping get ourselves in the best possible physical health. When we are getting the proper nutrition our body will have more energy. The food we eat can also help us avoid getting sick and yes, even help us lose weight.

Here is a list of food that any bride (and groom) may find useful in keeping their body in optimum condition:

• Apples - The saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away is very true. Apples are a great source of fiber which are important in keeping your body lean and clean. They also provide you with anti-oxidants which your body needs to prevent cell and tissue damage.
• Nuts are great to nibble on and great for adding flavor and texture to your meals. You can be totally nutty about nuts because they are cholesterol free and contain vitamins and mineral. Almonds, macadamias, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecan nuts, walnuts and yes, peanuts are generally low in sodium (salt) which is a good thing.
• Greens are a must have in every meal you eat. If you aren’t used to it yet you probably feel like someone is handing you rabbit food. The simple truth is that the body processes vegetables more easily than it processes meat. Freshly picked vegetables give you vitamins and minerals and at the same time are less fattening than meat or bread, or pasta. Eating more greens can help you slim down without making you feel starved. Just think of it as eating an appetizer at every meal. Once you get used to it you’ll wonder why you didn’t eat it more often.
• Lean meat is the best kind to have if you are going to eat meat. They contain less fat than other parts of their source which means your body ends up with less cholesterol and fat as well.
• Red Rice is the best if you want to eat rice. This organic rice has more fiber and is easily digested. One very useful thing about this rice is that you don’t need to eat a lot of it to feel full. It is heavy in the tummy which is excellent for avoiding over eating.
• Fish is definitely a good item to have in your daily meal plan. Fish meat is much lighter than beef or pork and is very tasty. It provides a healthy alternative to your regular steak dinner. Fish and shellfish are also a good source of calcium. Omega3 is found in tuna and is excellent for the heart.
• Water is a must for the body! The body requires at least 8 glasses a day in order to be able to properly cleanse its systems. Drinking less than that means that your body doesn’t have enough to wash the toxins out of your kidneys or to cool the body with when it is hot. Drinking more water is also a great way to help slim down since we often mistake thirst for hunger. You’ll find that you’ll be less hungry if you just drink 8 glasses a day regularly.

What Shall We Eat At Our Wedding?

Weddings are about love and joy, say the bride and groom; as does their family and entourage. That is very true! For most of the guests however, it is also about the food. Just imagine, for love of this couple you will get up early (if it’s an early morning wedding), possibly give up a big part of your precious weekend, get all dolled up and sit through an hour long ceremony where they take no part other than to recognize the newlyweds. Don’t forget the time it takes to get to the wedding. You can bet that by the time they actually sit down at the reception that they are hungry. So what do you serve them?

Start with an appetizer. Something to warm up the stomach is always good. A light clear soup is a favorite for weddings. Keep in mind that this is just the start of the meal so try to avoid choosing a soup that is too heavy.

A salad would also be a good thing to serve. Everybody is trying to eat more healthy nowadays. It is useful to have at least one dish that they truly feel won’t add to their calories. Some couples opt to have various greens served with a choice of sauces or seasoning available to suit the palate of your guest. It gives good variety and taste. This item is also not that expensive so be thankful for vegetables.

If you’re going Asian in your menu, try some vegetable tempura. These are sliced vegetables in batter that are deep fried. They are delicious. They are definitely more interesting than plain old carrot sticks.

If you want, have some avocado sashimi as an alternative. These fresh avocado slices are interesting with the sweet ginger sauce.

It is nice to have a fish or fowl dish in the menu. Many couples opt to serve these dishes because they are more exotic. Some choose it because they feel white meat is healthier than red meat. Others simply love chicken or fish. Whatever the reason, feel free to have some as part of your wedding meal.

Don’t let anyone tell you turkey is only for thanksgiving. Turkey is for any occasion you want to eat it. If you want some for your wedding go ahead. Don’t be afraid to say if you want some fried chicken either. If you like the taste of this dish, go ahead and have it at your wedding. You might want to have a roasted chicken or a Peking Duck instead. Yum!

You may or may not want to have a meat course. It really depends on your budget and preference. In some countries, no meal would be complete without a steak and potatoes. You might wish to have some roasted pork or lamb. If you are feeling generous, go ahead and have prime rib, but that isn’t a must.

Don’t forget dessert! Yes, your wedding cake will do. Cut the cake, serve each other than make sure that your guests get a piece. If you want to preserve the cake (though goodness knows why you won’t eat what you paid for) then have a dessert as simple as ice cream or sherbet.

Weddings Inspired by France

Have you always dreamed of getting married in romantic Paris? With the moonlight shining and the Louvre in the background, it must be a magnificent sight! Too bad the budget won’t accommodate your actually having your nuptials there and have your family present at the same time.

Don’t be sad. If you can’t go to Paris for your wedding, why not bring Paris to you? With a little creativity and some help from the experts, you can have a Paris inspired wedding without the extreme cost of transporting everyone there.

Paris is a city of romance. Bring a touch of that romance to your wedding by having it in the moonlight. Why not have a tent to protect you and your guests from the coolness of the night, as well as from inclement weather. There are now tents that are clear or almost gauzelike so that you can see the stars shining above you.

You may not be in France but that doesn’t mean you can’t have french food. How about having fromage as an appetizer instead of butter and rolls? Cheese is a favorite in France and is considered a course all on its own. You may also want to have pate de foie gras as well. Oysters have long been considered aphrodisiacs, and you definitely want your groom stimulated for the wedding night, right?

A Salade Niçoise would make for an interesting salad dish. Escargot is an acquired taste but definitely delicious if your guests don’t mind eating snails. Coq Au Vin is another favorite and not as startling to those of your guests not used to exotic dishes. If you want to give your guests something more familiar to eat, how about a steak au poivre.

Don’t forget the wines! The French are famous for this and it makes sense to have at least some wine flow at your nuptials if you want to stay in theme. If nothing else, champagne for your toasts will be present.

Dessert is always supposed to be the perfect finish to a meal. Crepes are a healthy and beautiful favorite. Chocolate Mousse and Baba au Rhum are also favorites. There are so many pastries to choose from, it will really be up to your taste in desserts in the end that will determine what treats to close the meal with.

The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are too big to transport. But you can have a similar feel if you have your wedding high up on a hilltop so you get a good view of the city. Lighting and creative construction by a good crew can create a fake pyramid behind you. That will make for interesting pictures and a bit of dramatic effect for your reception.

Of course a key element will be the music. France has a very deep musical culture. The variety is quite wide. Unless you are very familiar with their music, you may want to ask for some assistance in choosing the appropriate songs to play at your reception. Unless you speak french you may end up with a song that has a great beat but without your realizing may be a song about breaking up. Definitely not something to play at your wedding.

It always pays to consult professionals. Hiring them can take a major load off your shoulders if you want to pull off something authentic since you will need truly inspired people to work on a theme such as this. It may cost you a bit more but the results can be worth it.