OK, how are you doing with those New Year's Resolutions? We're almost positive that you had one on your list like, "Eat healthier" or "Lose weight," right? March is National Nutrition Month and it's the perfect time to revisit your goals, evaluate your current nutrition program and make some healthy
changes to help you stay on track.
Here are six tips guaranteed to help you shed a few extra pounds and feel more energized:
1)
Don't go anywhere without food!Always carry a healthy snack like a handful of nuts or protein bar for that mid-day pick-me-up. It will get you through until your next meal and ensure that you don't reach for anything unhealthy.
2)
EAT!
A common misconception is that skipping meals will help you drop unwanted pounds. This is entirely untrue. If you skip meals, your metabolism slows and your body goes into 'starvation mode,' holding on to whatever energy it can to sustain. Eat 4-6 small, healthy meals throughout the day and you'll burn calories more quickly and efficiently.
3)
Skip the soda!
If you have a limit of 1,500 calories per day, make sure that 1,500 calories consists of food. Soda and coffee drinks rack up the calories (200+ in each drink). It's much better to eat your calories rather than drink them. If you can't skip your morning mocha, count it as one of your small meals.
4)
Organic or no?While it's always better to eat organic, it can really add up. Buying produce that's farmed locally is more important than buying organic in your local grocery store. Produce that's harvested closer to home retains more nutritional value than produce that has to be shipped across the country, or worse, overseas. Visit your local
Farmer's Market to get the best produce (it's usually cheaper than the store!).
5)
Cut back on processed foods!
Try to eat as fresh as possible. Add more lean meats, fresh fruits & veggies and whole grains to your diet. Avoid white sugar, white flour and boxed foods as much as possible. When grocery shopping, start by filling your cart up with items on the outside perimeter of the store first (produce, meat, dairy sections) and then go through the middle sections for healthy condiments, grains, etc.
6)
Watch the sodium!
The natural foods section may lead you to belive that the items you'll find there are super healthy, but watch out! Those 'healthy' soups and frozen foods are oozing with sodium. Here's a guideline: don't eat over 300mg of sodium per small, healthy meal. Look for low-sodium condiments like salsa, to season food.
If you'd like additional health tips, please feel free to
e-mail us and one of our nutrition experts will be happy to answer your questions.
National Nutrition Month is a great time to schedule an on-site
Nutrition Lunch-and-Learn Workshop or Healthy Cooking Class.
Contact us for details!
