With the new year upon us, millions of men and women are looking to reshape their diet for the better. As the saying goes, you are what you eat, holds true. People who eat fast food burgers and meals day after day are morel likely to develop diabetes, obesity and heart disease, while people who eat natural, nutritious foods will reap the benefits of better health. So, how do you plan a healthy diet?
Stick To The Perimeter When Grocery Shopping
Regardless of which grocery store is your preferred shopping destination, they all have one common characteristic: the processed foods are found in the middle, whereas the fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy are found in the perimeter. You may have to occasionally venture towards the middle aisles for certain foods, but the bulk of your grocery shopping should be done in the perimeter.
Add Color To Your Plate
A good rule of thumb when preparing your meals is to make it as colorful as possible. Brown, tan and other neutral colors typically have minimal nutritional value. On the other hand, brightly colored vegetables like red/green bell pepper and squash. are full of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Avoid the temptation of filling your plate with potatoes and choose more colorful vegetables instead. This will go a long ways in making your meals more nutritious.
Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time
Another helpful tip is to plan your meals ahead of time. Choose a nutritious lunch and dinner for each day of the week, changing it up so you don’t get burned out on the same food. Waiting until the last minute to plan your meals will only increase the temptation for fast food, so try to get into the habit of planning them at least a week in advance.
Beware of Convenient Breakfast Foods
Whether it’s a pastry, granola bar, or even a bowl of “vitamin-fortified” cereal, convenient breakfast foods such as this are typically loaded in sugar and calories while offering little-to-no real nutritional value. Unfortunately, we live in an age where very few people have the time to prepare breakfast from scratch, so they grab one of the aforementioned products instead. If you’re looking to improve your health, however, you need to stay away from convenient breakfast foods and choose more nutritious options like Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast, etc.
Give me a call today to learn how you can get back on track to better health!
