If you are completely new to the world of proper nutrition, then you are probably thinking that some tips on how to improve the quality of your diet will help you immensely so that you can begin eating healthier. Listed below are some tips to get you started with improving your diet plan.
You should write down everything you eat during the day. This helps make you accountable for what you have eaten. It also helps you to not “forget” about that latte you indulged in, or that candy bar you ate after lunch. Knowing what you have eaten already will help you make better decisions about what to eat at the next meal or snack time.
An easy, yet effective way to improve nutrition in your diet is to incorporate fresh, raw juices into your daily routine. By making your own juice out of organic fruits and vegetables, you will be able to quickly and deliciously gain a hearty dose of vitamins, minerals and fiber any time of the day.
People who are nutritionally aware have made an effort to reduce or eliminate hydrogenated fats in their diet. Studies have shown the dangers of hydrogenated fats, found most commonly in margarine, peanut butter, and bakery products. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life of products, but it “gums up” our bodily systems.
You can be very creative with food without your children even realizing it. Chop up some extra vegetables, and throw them in your chili. You can ever puree fruit, and add it to a smoothie, and your child will think they are having a nice cold dessert.
Smoothies are delicious treats and even fun to make. Delicious smoothies can also be nutritious. Add some flax seed with omega 3 fatty acids or cocoa powder (which has antioxidants) to the smoothie. Either of these two ingredients is a winner, as they taste great and will help improve your immune function.
A great way to keep your tired eyes looking fresh and well rested is by applying potato slices. Take a raw potato and slice off two pieces. Apply a slice to each closed eye and leave for about fifteen minutes. The Vitamin B in potatoes helps reduce inflammation on tired and puffy eyes.
A great nutrition tip is to be more aware of how much food you’re eating. If you eat your meals off of a large plate you’re probably consuming more calories than you should. An easy way to reduce your portion sizes is by serving your food on smaller dishes.
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.
Eat more tinned baked beans. Baked beans are a cheap food source and they are packed with nutritional benefits. They are full of protein, iron, fiber, calcium and vitamins. There is also some scientific evidence that the antioxidant, lycopene, is found in the accompanying tomato sauce that can prevent heart disease and prostate cancer.
Many people are not aware of how damaging trans fats can be. They are commonly found in processed food, such as margarine or shortening and are frequently found in ready to eat food, such as commercial pot pies. These fats, deposit and clog your arteries, because your body does not know how to process them. It’s okay to use saturated fat, like butter or coconut oil, in moderation instead.
Peas can make a delicious addition to your diet. While they do contain some starch, they also have lots of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They’re also quite versatile. In addition to eating freshly steamed garden peas, they also make a fine split pea soup when dried, or when frozen, make a great addition to stir-fries.
To get a proper healthy nutrition you should make sure every meal you eat is balanced. Do not over-indulge any one food group at any one sitting. Putting all of your food groups together on one plate encourages you to maintain a balanced diet through sheer force of habit. You will find this a lot easier than trying to eat an all-vegetable dinner to make up for a vegetable-free day.
To make sure your body is getting everything it needs, add a wide variety of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to your diet. All of these are rich in important vitamins and minerals. Studies have repeatedly shown that these are the foods most Americans are deficient in. As an added bonus, fruits and vegetables also tend to be low calorie.
Take advantage of great prices on bags of lemons and limes by making your own homemade lemonade or limeade. Made with honey, these drinks are both refreshing and incredibly nourishing. The citrus fruit provides generous amounts of vitamin C, and the honey provides B vitamins and boosts your immune system.
Do some of your meal prep ahead of time so that making nutritious meals won’t seem like such a chore. You can prepare fresh vegetables in advance for cooking by washing and trimming them and then wrapping them in paper toweling and popping them into a plastic bag in the refrigerator to stay fresh for a day or more. Then they will be ready to go when you are ready to cook.
A key to nutrition that isn’t very intuitive is to never skip meals. Skipping one meal can make you feel more hungry than you are at the next meal and lead to over eating, ultimately meaning more calories than you would have eaten in the first place! Instead, focus on eating regular meals of smaller portions.
As you can see from the above list of tips, proper nutrition can be very useful in making you a happier and healthier person. It can also prevent many illnesses and diseases. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to proper nutrition, but you can become an expert on it.
