The Greek cuisine is mostly based on fresh and raw vegetables that are to be considered the foundation of every meal. The reason for that is that, until the 1950’s, the average Greek family could afford meat only once a week (meat was reserved mostly for the festivities) so the Greek cooks had to use mostly vegetables and be very inventive with it. Of course, the usages of vegetables depend from the season: in the cooler months the vegetable dishes are predominated by leafy greens while in the warm season eggplants and tomatoes reign supreme.

Greeks love to use leafy vegetables to make salads, pittes (baked pies) and casseroles. One of the most typical Greek vegetable dishes is Briam, a ratatouille with zucchini, potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes. Furthermore eggplants are used in numerous recipes like melintzanosalata (eggplant salad or a eggplant puree with tomatoes, onions, lemon juice and olive oil), melitzanopitta (eggplant pie), eggplant moussakas (a casserole with fried sliced eggplants, minced meat and bechamel sauce) and melintzanes Paputsakia (eggplants stuffed with minced meat and bechamel sauce).

One of the most typical Greek dishes is pittes or baked pies that are made using artichokes, potatoes, peppers, leek, spinach, onions, chicories, cheese, cream, minced meat, olives, zucchini, ham and rice. In fact they make pittes almost out of everything even edible weed.

Cheese is quite a typical Greek ingredient. Greece is the biggest cheese consumer in Europe and every Greek region has its own cheese. Feta is of course the most famous, and it is made from goat, sheep or cow milk, but there are many other varieties of cheese to try like kefalograviera (of harder consistency), manouri (a sweet cheese) and touloumbisio (a cheese with a stronger taste used for stuffing).

Greeks love to eat meat. Typical meat dishes include souvlaki (pork or lamb kebab), yiros (doner kebab with pita bread and garnish), loukanika (pork sausages), pansetta (pork ribs), mousakka (oven-baked casserole with minced meat), stifadho (stew). In Greece it is very popular to eat lamb and goat meat (grilled, baked or stewed). Many meat dishes are oven baked casseroles that are prepared in the morning and then left to cool down during the day, thus intensifying the taste of the dish. Greeks love to grill their meat as well, using oak wood coals and a lot of herbs and spices.

As far as fish is concerned there are many varieties to choose from: sardines, anchovies, shrimps, cuttlefish, octopus, bass, sole, bream and other indigenous species that are mostly fried or grilled. Beware, Greek love to use large quantities of lemon juice with their fish (sometimes even too much) so be prepared for that.

The Greek sweets are something you absolutely have to try! The most famous are baklavas (a walnut, honey and sugary sweet), kataifi, loukoumadhes (deep-fried puffs with honey, syrup and cinnamon) and galaktoboureko (custard pie). The bottom line is that their sweets are really, really sweet, so if you do not like that I would suggest you choose another typical Greek dessert: yogurt with honey.

As far as drinking, Greeks are definitely not heavy drinkers. They like sipping their drink with their meal (which is definitely their main concern). Greek wines are good, are often sold in bulk by quarter, half or full liter (served in glass bottles or cups called kantaria). If you have the chance try retsina, a wine with a taste of pine resin, it is very strange but you might love it. Of course, when in Greece, you have to try ouzo (a spirit with a taste of anis or fennel). Greeks drink it all the time mixed with water. It is very refreshing and tasteful.

At the end we must mention olives and the olive oil! Olive oil and olives are absolutely the favorite Greek ingredients. There are dozens of olive varieties (green, black, purple) and they are mostly use for oil making. Others, as the Kalamata olive, is used for eating and for making salads, like the famous Greek salad that in Greece is called horiatiki (or peasant salad)!

* Poor bone

* Tooth decay

* Increased desire for sugar (and in some cases, caffeine)

America 's another problem with alcohol …

Some experts call soda "liquid candy" and the combination of our habits to get "the problem of U.S. beverages.

*Each day of typical 2 years, carbonated soft drinks provides more added sugar cookies, candy, ice cream combined.

* 56% 8 years old drink soda every day.

Children * A third of teens drink at least 3 cans a day.

* 60% of all public and private high schools and colleges from the sale of soft drinks to students.

Ideas for change!

* Go with H2O. Take water with you – and drinks throughout the day. It should be used for filling bottles and green.

*Thoughts food drinks. Drink water with meals. Do not give more attention, offer a simple water during meals.

* Do special. If you drink, except soda, lemonade, Kool-Aid, juices and bottled for special occasions – no more than once a week.

* Even better, drink fresh fruit juice. If you drink only bottled 100% fruit juice drinks and vegetables – but not limited to a small (4 to 6 ounces) of glass or a can of juice per day. Bottled pasteurized juices in the maintenance andmost nutrients, no. Fresh juice made at home or at the bar to buy the juice is fresh, delicious and loaded with nutrients and live enzymes!

* Keep plenty of fresh fruit on hand. If it stays fresh and delicious fruit flavor is available now, and limit their sweets. Eating whole fruit is well suited for fiber, which has many health benefits. You'll get more nutrients and are more satisfied.

* Be careful. Go easy on sportsdrinks – water is best for exercise. If you really want to feel like the balance of electrolytes, they do naturally. Hit your local health food store and buy a baby coconut in Thailand. Probably the best cut for you and provide a straw. Voila! Natural choice that provides the nutrients and health, the body!

Do not get overwhelmed. If you set a good example and teach children to make healthy choices not enter into "America" s Otherdrinking problem. "There are many resources to families to help provide healthy choices, or at least better decisions. I recommend a book called" Naturally sweet recipes for all the family recipes Will Love "The rules are simple sugar from natural sources. If you limit the aspirations and desires of their children sweets with fruits and other sweeteners, natural, will not be tempted to fall into "a drinking problem." teach them well and do wellelections.