Do you opt for fresh over processed foods? You may be surprised to find out that eating well has nothing to do with time commitment. It really has to do with choice. Deciding to eat healthy, fresh food and having a plan of action to follow through.
What’s more, it’s important to understand what’s really in that can or frozen dinner. Most are loaded with fillers, artificial flavors, sodium, sweeteners, preservatives, dyes, and pesticides NOT found in nature
Eat well
Simple, whole foods are your ticket to a great body, inside and out. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can be found in abundance wherever you live, and these foods should be the foundation of your everyday eating. By basing your diet on these foods, you’ll create nutrient dense meals without loading up on calories. There are a few steps that can help you make the most of simple, whole-food eating, without getting bored:
Eat an assortment of foods: Choose vegetables and fruits of many colors. A colorful diet is also a well balanced diet. Take a look in your fridge: do you see an assortment of red, yellow, greens, white, purple and orange? Your eyes can help you manage your diet by keeping a variety of whole food on hand.
Eat seasonally and locally: Buying locally grown foods and eating foods in season helps keep variety in your diet, and allows you to take advantage of food at its freshest and most nutrient-packed.
Load up on vegetables: Be sure to include an extra serving of vegetables to at least two of your daily meals. You’ll fill up on the fresh stuff before you have a chance to crave anything fried or processed.
Drink your water: You need at least 8-10 glasses of water per day. Avoid sodas, energy drinks, and other sugary beverages. Keep alcohol to a minimum—one drink per day for women, and two drinks per day for men is considered moderate. In combination with fresh natural foods, plenty of water will leave you feeling satiated and energized.
Keep it clean
Part of eating well means keeping away from pesticides, herbicides and fungicides that contaminate so much of our food supply. To improve the cleanliness of your food:
• Buy organic food whenever possible.
• Be selective. Avoid produce that is bruised, punctured or has mold spots.
• Wash your produce in water. Use a scrub brush to clean exterior, and rinse thoroughly.
• Scrub the outside of melons with water or a produce wash and rinse thoroughly before cutting the rinds—the blade of your knife can transfer contaminants to the flesh of the fruit.
• For waxed produce like cucumbers, rinse in cool water before peeling.
