The adage “You are what you eat” is absolutely true. It is imperative that you know the right foods to eat and what to do to remain healthy. Put these healthy eating suggestions to work in your daily life. Nutrition is an essential thing to living a fulfilling life!
Whenever you get that growling sensation in your tummy, have a healthy choice on hand. Look at portion sizes for your usual, and then compare that to the healthy alternative. This is a chance for you to fill up for less. Keep snack size portions on hand so you can’t use the “it’s easier to get the other” excuse.
Instead of bemoaning the fact that your favorite foods are high in fat or sugar, start focusing on the healthy foods you do like. This way you’ll be happier about eating in a health-conscious way, and you might be surprised at the number of foods that are healthy that you already like.
Allow your children to help you prepare meals. The more involved children are in the process, the more likely they are to eat the meal. This is especially true for things they may not want to try, such as vegetables. It may not make them like broccoli, but it might make them more likely to taste it.
Choose organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Organic food is grown without pesticides and fungicides. While organic foods can be more expensive, the long term health benefits save money in future health care costs. The more unnatural things you can cut out of your diet the healthier you will be.
If your child doesn’t like to eat vegetables or fruits, try to be creative to get them to eat. Mix some sliced peppers or broccoli into spaghetti sauce. You can cut up some fruits and mix them into your child’s cereal. They’re more likely to eat healthy foods if they’re mixed into foods they already like.
Avoid using hydrogenated oils for cooking, and watch out for them in packaged foods. These oils provide no nourishment for your skin or your body. In fact, they actually interfere with “good” oils (olive oil, sunflower oil, flax seed oil, fish oil) ability to nourish your skin, hair, nails and entire body!
Whenever possible, avoid eating processed or pre-packaged foods. These types of foods tend to be high in refined sugar, sodium and fat. Not only that, but typically they don’t offer much in the way of nutrition. Instead, focus on eating fresh, unprocessed foods that provide your body with the energy it needs to get through the day.
If you feel like you don’t have enough energy to get through the day, try eating more fruits, vegetables and grains. These foods are filled with vitamins and minerals. They also have a very low fat content and are a great source of complex carbohydrates. They will help you get through your tired part of the day.
Sometimes salads are best when they are all green! Just include a variety of lettuces and spinach. Add some edamame and some chickpeas, maybe some sliced bell peppers, and whatever else you can think of that is green. Finish it all off with a low-fat dressing, and rest assured you are eating very healthy indeed.
There are a variety of items in your diet where you can start to improve your nutrition. Use the tips and ideas that we’ve covered here to start developing a healthy nutrition plan that will benefit you and your family. The results that come from improving your nutrition will have an effect on almost every part of your life. By making these changes, you are creating a better future for yourself and your family.
