Eating Healthier

If you're like me you believe that most people have common knowledge of what foods are good for you and what foods aren't good for you. I became interested in the subject of nutrition a few years ago and decided to read several books about what is healthy and what isn't. My interest in the subject has grown stronger as I've gotten older because I have seen people that once ate healthy and exercised become overweight because they have turned to unhealthy foods based almost on entirely on convenience because of their so called busy schedules that don't allow them to eat healthy. In all reality, putting together a salad or mixing fruits together as a snack doesn't take any longer that microwaving a frozen meal....it just takes more effort. Having read several publications and articles on the subject I feel confident sharing some guidelines if your goal is to start eating healthy. Here they are:

1) Eat produce-It really doesn't matter what kinds of fruits and vegetables you eat as long as you're eating produce several times a day. Variety is really key because research has shown that when you mix fruits or vegetables together you tend to reap more health benefits rather than eating single items at once. I think Jack LaLanne really shows you how great juicing can be and if you would rather enjoy your fruits and vegetables as a shake I recommend buying a juicer.

2) Only purchase items with ingredients you know-How many times do you pick up items at the supermarket and read the label to see what is in it only to see a bunch of really long terms you can't even pronounce? If your child or grandmother doesn't know what is in a particular product don't buy it. I read every label before I buy a product because I want to know what is in it. If I see an item with ingredients that I don't know or if a product has more than 5 ingredients I won't buy it. Most items with all kinds of weird ingredients are located in the center of a supermarket. If you're interested in buying fresh and healthy products try to stick to the perimeter of a supermarket. The items in the aisles are typically junk with high profit margins.

3) If you like snacks give nuts a try-Rather than buying chips, popcorn, and various other junk food try giving nuts a try if you're not allergic to them. They provide a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have been shown to lower cholesterol.

4) Soy Milk-If you're a milk lover like myself try giving Soy Milk a try. The taste is much different than Cow Milk but it's a much healthier option.

5) Eat meat sparingly-You're better off getting your protein from soy sources rather than meat but if you're like me you enjoy a good steak, pork chop, or chicken breast once in a while. While chicken and fish are healthier options than beef and pork you should try soy items such as tofu or tempeh. If you enjoy meat I recommend eating beef and pork no more than once or twice a week and getting the majority of your protein from soy, fish, legumes, and nuts.

6) Graze on healthy foods throughout the day-If you're a fan of eating 3 big meals every day try switching things up by eating 5-6 small meals (around 300-400 calories) each day. You won't feel stuffed and your metobolism will increase by doing this.

These are just a few guidelines out of several that you can implement to lead a healthier lifestyle. Now that the new year is here any bookstore you go to is really promoting books on healthy living because this is the time of year most people become interested in the subject. You have to make sure that if you want to follow a healthy lifestyle that you stick to it. So many people make New Year's resolutions only to give up after 2-3 weeks. Make healthy eating and exercise a big part of your life and you'll reap many rewards for your effort.

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