Did you know that the process of dehydrating fruits, vegetables, and meats has been around for centuries? Drying food by the sun was very common in the centuries B.C.

At first thought, you may ask why. But then you quickly realize it was because people in past centuries could not freeze their food. The process of canning is also relatively new.

While canning food began in the 1790s, it wasn’t until 1810 that Peter Durand of England patented the use of tin-coated iron cans instead of bottles for preserving food. By 1820 he was supplying large quantities of canned food to the Royal Navy. Canned food traveled better than bottled food, which could break.

There have been other methods of preserving food, but dehydrating can decrease the bulk and space needed.

Are dehydrated foods safe?

I am in love with my smoothie maker. It provides me with all the nutrients I need without sitting at the table for hours chewing and swallowing fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and beans. If I also ate animals, it would include steak, pork chops, ham, fish, and shrimp.

I like my plant-based diet, but I get tired of the enormous plate I must eat to get all of my nutrients.

I prefer to divide my day up into liquid-based and solid-based eating. It gives me time to do other things that are part of the three pillars of healthy living like:

• socializing,
• taking walks,
• using my recumbent bike,
• writing articles for my website, Let's Talk Healthy Living,
• and so much more.