How To Eat Healthier this Summer
Eat plenty of greens
No
real surprise here, but you should aim to fill half your plate with
fruits and greens at every meal. If you’re struggling on how to
incorporate them, check out a few ideas RIGHT HERE.
Drink a lot of water
There
are a surprising amount of perks to consuming enough water. Water helps
you feel full (so you’ll snack less), it helps keep your skin clear, it
also helps fight fatigue. The hardest part is actually remembering to
drink it early and often.
Seek out delicious combinations
A
healthy combination can pack a powerful healthy punch, so try and find
a few foods you enjoy and pair them. According to Danielle Omar, a
registered dietician, the ideal snack is either ‘protein and produce’ or
‘protein and carbs’. Try options like watermelon, feta, and spinach and
sliced avocado with cherry tomatoes together. Carbs alone process into
sugar too quickly and don’t always get burnt off.
Keep an eye on carbs
Carbs
are an essential part of your diet, but because much of their energy
doesn’t get used, your body stores them as fat. A low-carb lifestyle has
become popular, but don’t get carried away. Before you consider cutting
them out altogether, think about eating better carbs. Authority
Nutrition says that certain starches, found in foods like potatoes,
cashews and raw oats are resistant to digestion and improve metabolic
health.
Eat a fiber-full breakfast
Try
to keep an eye out for cereal that contains seven grams or more. That
way you’ve met your fiber quota all in one bowl and you’re ahead before
you’ve even finished breakfast. According to experts, upping fiber
intake “helps control the insulin spike caused by eating refined
carbohydrates.”
Eat plenty of nuts
A
healthy intake of nuts has plenty of the good fats, vitamin E and much
more. Try out Brazil nuts, pistachios, and almonds in single-serving
bags, which are ideal for keeping in a desk drawer or purse.
Watch your sodium intake
We
know too much is bad for your heart, but the American Heart Association
wants to remind you that salt can also cause problems like water
retention. Because a majority of Americans get a bulk of their salt from
eating processed foods, try your hand at homemade pizza instead of
frozen for family pizza night. In fact, stay away from the frozen dinner
aisle in general.
Keep it up whenever your out
Social
get-togethers can be a disaster for all of your healthy intentions.
Along with the delicious smells and a growling stomach, peer pressure
can easily rear its head and derail your progress. To stay in control,
try checking the menu online and deciding on a healthy option before you
go.
Keep an eye on your calorie intake
Don’t
try and drive yourself crazy by completely cutting ice cream out of
your diet, just consume it in moderation. Eating it straight from the
tub is asking for trouble. Use a ramekin or small dish and stop before
you’re full.
Snack, but snack well
We
all hit those points in the day where we’re hungry and time is an
issue. Pre-planning your snacks and making sure they contain something
like carrots and hummus, Greek yogurt or even an apple as a healthy
snack substitute.