subject: Maintaining A Healthy Diet [print this page] With all of the preservatives, fats, and chemically altered ingredients found in fast food and frozen meals, it is no wonder why much of the United States' population struggles with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The best way to avoid these food items and bodily illnesses is to control the types and quantities of the food you eat.
If you are hoping to become healthier and make your diet more nutritious, it is best to buy fresh and hearty ingredients and cook your own meals. When you cook for yourself, you are able to control what does and does not go into your body.
First, you must focus on buying all natural ingredients that are low in fat, oils, and sugars. Try allotting most of your grocery list and budget into purchasing fresh fruits and veggies.
You should also focus on eating lean meats, like pork, fish, and chicken, as opposed to red meat, like hamburgers and steaks. This protein will help nourish your body and muscles without adding extra fat into your diet.
Research simple and nutritious recipes on food channel websites or cookbooks, and make a list of about ten to fifteen that you would enjoy making and eating. Once you have decided these, make a grocery list containing some of the ingredients, enough to last you one week.
If you are cooking for more than one person and also need to feed your spouse or family, make sure the ingredients that you have bought and the recipe you have chosen will adequately satisfy the extras. The best way to save you time and energy is to make multiple meals all at once.
Choose a day, either at the beginning or end of the week, in which you spend a few hours cooking the meals that can be stored in the freezer. To keep these meals fresh and make preparation easier, vacuum seal them in bags and freeze them.
You can order these types of vacuum sealers online or buy them in a home or appliance store. They are very easy to use, and store your meals without any oxygen left in the bag, ensuring that your meals will taste fresh when you prepare them again.
To reheat them, cut open the bag and place the prepared meal in the oven or microwave to reheat. You can make dozens of these ahead of time and save yourself the energy of cooking a dinner that will feed your entire family after a busy day.
Another way to makeover your diet is to replace your usual snack and unhealthy foods with similar, more nutritious options. Nuts, berries, baby carrots, celery, and all other types of bite-sized snacks can easily make up for bags of chips or cookies.
First, decide what your food weakness is. It may be sweet, salty, greasy, or heavy snacks.
Once you have determined what your favorite snack is, choose one day during the week when you are allowed to eat it. This will make it easier for you to stick to a diet throughout the week without feeling like you are starving or depriving yourself.
Next, rework "good for you" snacks into the times and meals in which you would eat the less healthy options. Pack small plastic bags of cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and ranch for your mid-day treat.
Make your own parfait for breakfast by mixing fresh berries, granola with flax seed, and light yogurt. This will be a healthier option to pancakes or French toast, but still satisfy your sweet tooth.
Avoiding refined sugar will drastically change how you feel from day to day. This type of ingredient is a stimulant.
It gives you an initial boost of energy, but is followed by a system crash that makes you sleepy. It is found in many sodas, cookies, and candies that you buy in the store.
Instead, satisfy your sugar craving with fruits or homemade treats that have low sugar content. You are guaranteed to feel more energy throughout the day and still feel gratified.
Fast food and eating out can get expensive. Making your own meals will also save you great amounts of money in the long run.
Making over your diet just takes a little bit of research and determination. It will make you feel stronger and healthier, while also saving you extra time and money.
