Quick Tips on Healthy Eating
By Donna Stark
If you work during the week, your weekends are probably pretty special to you, aren't they? After all, weekends are the time that you can finally shift your focus away from work and do whatever you please, whether that means spending the day with friends on the golf course, hiking the trails with your children, or just sitting back and relaxing. So, it is completely understandable that you may not want to spend the bulk of every weekend meal planning, grocery shopping, and food prepping. And it's OK to feel that way because being a healthier eater doesn't mean you have to give up your entire weekend. You can actually do so with the following simple tips.
Portion Sizes
Have you ever grabbed a bag of chips and after eating a couple of handfuls, looked at the serving size? Scary isn't it? Especially when it points out that you have consumed two or even three times the recommended portion. Portion control is key to maintaining a healthy weight, and a key to portion control is to eat less processed foods and more natural foods. By filling your diet with nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats, you will likely feel more satisfied and will have less of an urge to eat those larger servings.
Beverage Choices
With convenience marts and coffee chains on every street in town, it can be easy to satisfy your thirst with a sweet drink, but be warned! Some of those beverages can contain nearly a third of your daily caloric intake. And what's even worse, is that you consumed all those calories without getting any real nutrition from them. The best option you can choose is to drink water and save those other types of drinks for special occasions.
Vitamins and Minerals
It may seem easier to grab a daily vitamin every morning before you leave for work, but it doesn't have the same effect as getting your nutrients through whole, natural foods. It's important to incorporate a variety of fruits, deeply-hued vegetables, fish, dairy products, lean proteins, and whole grains to your daily diet so that you can ensure you are giving your body exactly what it needs.
Free Up Your Weekend
Weekends are a great time to prep and prepare for the week ahead, but if you want to really enjoy a weekend devoid of any adult responsibility, go ahead! By incorporating the tips above into your healthy lifestyle, you can give yourself a free weekend to look forward to every now and then!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Woodbury, Minn.