Healthy Eating is Happy Eating
As we get into the Holiday season, the feasts and sweet treats are all around us. Of course, we are going to enjoy all of these but how do we still focus on healthy eating? Rather, the bigger question may be, what is healthy eating? Remember the food pyramid from grade school? Bring yourself back to those days where eating your veggies may have been a fight but always a key ingredient in one’s diet. Now, we may not have our parents telling us what to eat but we still need to make sure we get our leafy greens and fruits in. Whether you are looking for weight-loss, a nutrition plan, or performing better in your workouts, healthy eating will be one of the key factors.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and Veggies cannot always be dipped in sauces to disguise the taste. That really defeats the purpose of getting them in your diet. According to the federal guidelines, men and women should be consuming 2-3 cups of vegetables per day, and 1.5 - 2 cups of fruit per day. When doing your grocery shopping, pick up a bag of baby carrots and cauliflower. They are both very easy to prep such as eating them raw with some hummus or simply enjoy them as is. It is a great on the go snack and has a pretty long shelf life. You can never go wrong with an apple as it has your source of vitamin C for the day.
A diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect upon blood sugar, which can help keep appetite in check. You are what you eat! Not only do fruits and vegetables aid in proper health but they can also help you perform better when exercising.
Grains and Carbohydrates
Ditch the white pasta and rice when prepping your next meal and try to focus on different types of grains. Take a bit more time exploring the rice isle when doing your shopping. Farro is a great alternative to rice as it has 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. It is also a bit bigger than rice which will help in feeling satisfied. Quinoa is also another great option. Prep it like you would rice with water or use low sodium chicken or beef broth to give it that extra flavor.
Meat Protein
Most people love a juicy steak, and they are okay in moderation. Having too much red meat will increase your cholesterol, risk of stroke, and diabetes. Good alternatives to red meat are chicken, and pork. Focus on the lighter meats as they have more protein and less fat.
Your brain is probably a little full with new information but here are a few easy ways to focus on healthy eating: the darker the vegetable the better and the lighter the meat the better. Also focus on filling your plate with three items; two vegetables and a meat, or 1 vegetable, 1 meat, and 1 starch. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store rather than the isles. The perimeter is where the fresh food is and going down every isle is just going to cause temptation.
Happy Holiday from SPENGA Marlborough
Enjoy the holidays and what is has to offer but don’t go crazy. Feel free to choose the mashed potatoes but try to leave out the gravy. Sure, enjoy a piece of pie but just not the ice cream or whipped cream that could go along with it. Eating healthy can be fun! Explore different recipes on websites such as “Yummy” and My fitness pal”. Healthy eating should not be a chore, you only have 1 life, and it should be a healthy one! Always remember, a healthy life is a happy life!
