Nuts are an overlooked diet food that any dieter should take advantage of. High in protein and low in calories and saturated fats, nuts are an excellent replacement for meat when you need a protein boost. Almonds are the best, providing lots of protein without the burden of high amounts of fat.
When you eat a salad, put your dressing on the side for dipping your fork. Most of the calories in a salad come from the salad dressing that is poured on top. If you put the dressing on the side instead, and put a little bit on your fork before you pick up a bite of salad, you will still get the flavor of the dressing without using a lot of dressing. This will really cut down on the calories consumed.
Drinking a glass of orange juice every morning is one of the best ways to start off your day. Orange juice is loaded with vitamin c, potassium, and other great nutrients. Some brands even add calcium to their orange juice. One tall glass of 100% orange juice per day is a great way to get the recommended amount of fruit in your diet.
Eating well and taking supplemental vitamins are keys to maintaining one's health. For one to appreciate what "eating well" means, they must understand that having a well-balanced diet is very simple, but also very important for one's physical and mental well-being. The human body requires the proper mix of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, in order to function. Food is fuel for any animal and having a good understanding of what is good for one's body is important. Lean meats, fruits and vegetables and grains are all important and all of these need to be items in one's daily diet.
You will want to consider pesticides and their effect on your food. They are generally portrayed as detrimental. But if you talk with farmers, you may come to a more nuanced view. For instance, you may hear that some fungicides are necessary; that a healthy crop cannot be produced without them, and that none of the chemical is retained on the produce you buy.
Avoid using too many condiments if you're trying to eat a healthier diet. Dips, sauces, spreads and dressings may jazz up a meal and taste delicious, but they are often full of fat, salt and calories. Try cutting back on how much dressing you put on your salad and how much mayonnaise you use on your sandwich.
When considering a diet that provides an adequate nutrition level, be sure to here distribute your food intake more evenly across the day, as opposed to large meals. This will help to prevent eating too much, as well as to aide in digestion and the usage of nutrients. Having five or six medium or small meals, is much better than two or three larger meals.
To reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, try using natural sweeteners instead of white sugar. Honey, molasses, and syrup can sweeten your food without adding as many calories. When you're baking, try substituting fruit juice for some of the sugar. Use fresh fruit to add some sweetness to your cereal in the morning instead of another spoonful of sugar.
When looking to add more nutritious vegetables to your diet, make it easy by chopping a batch of vegetables to keep on hand for when time is short. Choose vegetables that are rich in color to maximize vitamins and minerals. Having the vegetables ready to add to soups and salads will make it more likely that you will actually eat them.
Eat more tinned baked beans. Baked beans are a cheap food source and they are packed with nutritional benefits. They are full of protein, iron, fiber, calcium and vitamins. There is also some scientific evidence that the antioxidant, lycopene, is found in the accompanying tomato sauce that can prevent heart disease and prostate cancer.
Beware of salads on the restaurant menu that are supposed to be "healthy". A salad is usually healthy and nutritious. However, the salad might not have been made in a healthy way. For example, a cobb salad might be topped with processed meats that are high in fat and salt. In addition, it might be drenched in a high-fat dressing. So, keep that in mind when you order restaurant salads.
Instead of ordering takeout on those nights that you do not feel like cooking, try having some healthful frozen dinners on hand. Watch out though and remember to read the labels, because sometimes there are hidden sugars in foods that are supposed to be considered healthy and low in fat.
To reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, try using natural sweeteners instead of white sugar. Honey, molasses, and syrup can sweeten your food without adding as many calories. When you're baking, try substituting fruit juice for some of the sugar. Use fresh fruit to add some sweetness to your cereal in the morning instead of another spoonful of sugar.
The drinks one choosing can often be some of the worst things for them nutritionally. Pops, certain juices, and other drinks can be very high in sugars. The sugars in these drinks do not do any good for ones nutrition. Drinking water or healthier minded drinks can be beneficial to ones nutrition.
As stated in the beginning of the article, a balanced diet is essential for good nutrition. There are many benefits to making healthy food choices. Hopefully this article has given you some great ideas for healthy alternatives that are easy to incorporate into your everyday routine. Your body will thank you for it!
