Eating healthy is about more than just losing weight. Good nutrition does a lot for your overall health and sticking to a healthy diet does not have to be difficult. Here are some helpful tips that might be able to help you to eat a little healthier and plan your meals accordingly.
One tip when thinking about nutrition is nutrient density. How rich in nutrients is the food you’re eating – not by weight, but by calorie? You would be surprised to learn, for example, that when measured by CALORIES, a vegetable like broccoli is surprisingly high in protein – comparable, calorie for calorie, to the amount of protein found in red meats. But of course you can eat far more broccoli for the same amount of calories, which also provides fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid.
Choose fruits and veggies for snacks instead of processed foods. Processed snack foods have very few vitamins, minerals and nutritional value, while fruits and veggies have essential nutrients. You can eat until full when eating veggies and fruits and get more nutrition than eating a smaller amount of processed foods.
Try new ways to eat foods you eat on a regular basis. Instead of just eating plain yogurt, pour a bit of honey in and experience a new taste sensation. Instead of always steaming broccoli, trying frying it up with a few other vegetables. You’ll be more likely to eat healthily if you have fun with it.
A great tip for healthier living is to make sure you visit your doctor for a checkup on an annual basis. We all hate going to the doctor, but this is vital to make sure you stay in the best health as you possibly can. If there is something wrong, you will be glad you went.
Don’t stuff yourself at the table if you want to eat a healthy diet. Many people make the mistake of thinking they should feel stuffed after a good meal. Instead, you should just feel satisfied. Serve yourself smaller portions and use smaller dishes, so that you don’t feel compelled to eat as much.
The humble cabbage family (including kale, collard and mustard greens), provides us with an especially good buy, nutritionally. If you haven’t yet added these to your diet, you should. These dark green leafy vegetables are renowned providers of phosphorus, calcium, iron and carotenoids. Also, they are inexpensive!
Focus on food labels. Always look at the fat and sugar content of foods when shopping. Check the ingredients list, as they are listed in order of weight. Certain nutritional food claims can be misleading. ‘Light’ or ‘reduced fat’ may be just that, but it can still be very high in calories, due to the sugar content.
Don’t bother with the microwave. You want to eat all-natural foods as often as possible when wanting to improve your health and lose weight.
If you normally use cream cheese or butter as a spread for some food items, you should think about using a healthier option. Butter and cream cheese are not very healthy. Peanut butter or almond butter can be good replacements for cream cheese and butter. Peanut butter and almond butter are healthier and are just as flavorful.
A great nutrition tip is to opt for white meat when you’re eating chicken or turkey. Although dark meat may taste good, it is much higher in fat. White meat is leaner and much healthier for you. Stay away from the thighs as well and stick with the breast.
Eat regularly and be sure not to skip meals. When you start to miss meals your body starts to hold on to foods you eat and use them as a reserve. This means that you should try to at least have a snack when you are feeling hungry.
Increase your use of herbs and spices. Part of the reason “eating healthy” seems so unattractive is the perceived blandness of the food. The truth is, fat and salt are natural flavoring agents, so if you remove them you’ve got to start experimenting with herbs and spices until you’ve got healthy food that is full of flavor.
Many people these days like to eat lots of cold water predatory fish, such as swordfish, salmon, and tuna, because they are relatively firm-fleshed and several are mild-tasting. They also have the advantage of being nutritious and easy to prepare, because they are not as bony. However, they do contain mercury.
Try to increase your levels of protein and decrease the amount of carbohydrates you intake. Protein can be really beneficial to increasing muscle mass, something which will also help you to lose weight. Don’t avoid carbohydrates completely but eat them in moderation and be sure to eat more complex ones like fruit and grains.
When it comes to nutrition, what you drink can be just as important as what you eat! Sodas are often filled with too-high levels of sugar and other harmful ingredients that do nothing to help your overall health. Gradually replace your soda consumption with water or tea – your body will thank you!
Do not discount fiber in your nutrition goals. Fiber comes from sources like, grains, beans, fresh fruits, vegetables, and various other sources. Increasing your fiber during meals will extend your feelings of fullness and help your body in its efforts to remove waste. Getting rid of much of the waste that can be forgotten in your system will allow your body to function more normally.
It is important to incorporate at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables into your diet everyday. Fruits and vegetables are very healthy and help your body to get the fibers, antioxidants and vitamins that it needs. They also help fill up your stomach fast so you are able to feel full longer. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories so they help to keep your calorie count low.
Now you see that eating healthy does not have to be hard. Eating healthy foods has many rewards. Not only will it help you stay in shape, but it can also help you discover brand new food combinations that you didn’t know were out there. So, ditch the fast food and try out some healthier options. It’s a decision you will not soon regret.
