subject: Stephen W. Carnes Tips On Starting A Healthy Meal Plan [print this page] There is a lot of confusion surrounding how to change your lifestyle and begin eating healthy. Between fitness gurus who expect their clients to pack multiple Tupperware containers of little meals, and holistic practitioners that aim to eliminate all of the food groups that were once deemed healthy, the average person doesn't know where to turn. Stephen W. Carnes advises: eating healthy is simple when it is broken down into these three steps:
Stephen W. Carnes' Three Eating Healthy Principals
1. Portion Control
Think of portion this way; if you are a small person, eat off a small plate. If you are a big person that wants to be small, eat off a small plate! The small plate technique works wonders. A lot of food can be piled onto a smaller plate and it seems like a lot more than a healthy portion surrounded by the empty space of a bigger plate.
Portion control is one of the biggest obstacles that prevent people from reaching their weight loss goal. Many people have no clue what the correct portion size is. Here are a few ideas:
A portion of pasta is the size of an ice cream soup. Not very much, is it? That is why many people cut out pasta in their diet and opt for Quinoa or bulgur instead. It goes a longer way.
Meat is the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.
Cheese is the size of a match box.
2. Stick to the Outer Rim of the Grocery Store
The outer rim of the grocery store contains the healthiest food. It has the fruit and vegetables, whole grain breads, meats and dairy/dairy alternative products. Try to buy as much groceries as possible from the outer rim and avoid the isles. This is where all of the packaged and processed foods are stocked.
3. Learn to Read Nutrition Labels
Reading nutrition labels will go a long way toward understanding what you are eating, what to look for and what to avoid. The easiest lesson is to know that the ingredients are ordered by prominence of the product in the food. If sugar is the first ingredient, this is probably a poor choice.
It also helps to look at the portion that the label is representing. You may be surprised to discover that the single serve breakfast cookie you purchased from the coffee shop is counting only half the cookie on the label. This means that you have to double what you see, and the breakfast cookie may not seem like such a healthy start to the day anymore.
Healthy eating and lifestyle changes begin with small steps. Everyone has to start somewhere and nobody begins their lifestyle journey as an expert. These three tips will start you off to a healthier lifestyle. Begin with a few basics like what you see here and as you continue to seek out healthier options your knowledge will grow and you will become a smarter shopper and healthier eater in no time. Contact Stephen W. Carnes to know more healthy eating tips.
