Thousands of diet books and websites are published each year, all claiming to be the best way to eat. It is easy to find yourself confused about what foods to eat. To make matters worse it seems almost everywhere we turn we come across junk food, calorie dense and highly refined foods. How are we to figure out what is a healthy diet?
It’s really not that difficult if you base your eating habits on real, unprocessed foods. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Get rid of as many packaged foods as possible, they are loaded with added oils, sugars, artificial colors and flavors.
Stock up on vegetables and fruits and get creative; steam them, grill them, stir fry them with olive oil or roast them in the oven. Load your plate with these nutrient and fiber rich foods.
Add more fruit to your diet. Fruit makes a great snack, a sweet dessert a satisfying smoothie and delicious popsicles.
Beans are a complete and nutritious food, they are an excellent meat replacement. Unlike meat, beans provide a low fat protein with lots of fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Soaking beans overnight will help reduce digestive issues.
Use grains in their natural state; they are an excellent source of protein and minerals. Quinoa, millet, brown rice and buckwheat are just a few choices. The nutrients in the grains are better absorbed when soaked. Serve them with a good amount of vegetables for a well-rounded meal.
Fat should make a very small part of your diet. Don’t go for low fat products, they are loaded with added sugar. You need fat, but just a dash of fat and make these the good fats found in fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds and some vegetables like avocados.
Avoid sugar and all artificial sweeteners. Try honey or agave instead and bananas or apples to sweeten your smoothies and green juices.
What about all the junk food? I want to eat it! And you will, and your kids will too. The key, cut down on these foods. Make a conscious effort not to indulge on these and enjoy them on special occasions. The problem, we are bombarded with special occasions, school parties, friend parties, all the holidays are celebrated once at school, then at the house, then at the in-laws, it never ends. Set an example by taking a healthy alternative. The better we feed our bodies on a day to day basis, the less our bodies will want to seek foods that leave us feeling wired, tired, constipated and/or brain fogged.