Meal Quick Changes

Eating nutritious food is one of the best ways to improve your overall health. It is important to get the right nutrients to keep your body working properly. We all know a healthy diet consists of the right amount of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats. There are simple switches you can make to make your meal a little more healthy.

White, processed foods, fried foods, foods high in calories are the ones you want to try to substitute. Instead of choosing white processed flour, breads, and pasta, make the better choice and substitute them for whole grains. Whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta are the better option for your health.

Another way to improve your healthy eating is by changing the way you cook your food. Turn the fried foods to baked foods. Put your chicken and French fries in the oven to bake rather than cooking them in grease. Instead of boiling your vegetables, steam them. Steaming will also keep more nutrients in the vegetables while boiling can leech out some of the better nutrients.

You can also limit the amount of processed meat and red meat you eat and choose a healthier option of chicken, fish or tofu. Some studies have linked an increase risk of colorectal and stomach cancers with eating large amounts of processed meats.

Try substituting items in your meal so you don’t consume as many calories. For example, you don’ t have to skip out on the macaroni and cheese dish you love so much, pick healthier ingredients instead. Make your dish with skim milk, less butter and light cream cheese rather than using whole milk, butter and full-fat cheese. You can also mash up some cauliflower to replace mashed potatoes. Mashed cauliflower has only a fraction of the calories of potatoes and if you do it right, nearly impossible to taste the difference.

A lot of the time you can change how healthy your meal is by changing up a couple of the ingredients all while keeping the main meal intact. Here are some substitutions to try:

Egg Whites = Whole Eggs
Applesauce = Butter and Oil in cooking
Nonfat Greek Yogurt = Mayonnaise or Sour Cream
Mashed Avocado = Butter or Oil in cooking

Mashed Bananas = Sugar, Butter and fats
Nuts = Croutons in salads
Rolled Oats = Bread Crumbs
Soda Water = Tonic Water
Whole Wheat Flour = White Flour
Zucchini or Spaghetti Squash = Pasta
Black Beans = Flour
Marshmallow Fluff = Frosting
Evaporated Skim Milk = Cream
Stevia = Sugar
Cinnamon = Cream and Sugar in Coffee

Popcorn = Potato Chips
Red Wine = White Wine
Ground Turkey = Ground Beef

Eating healthier does not have to mean skipping out on your favorite dishes. Make some of these changes and even research some other ideas so you can still enjoy your meal without all the negative effects.

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Superfoods

Superfoods are food which are extremely nutrient dense and give you the biggest bang for your buck compared to other foods. They contain amazing medicinal properties that they have been used in different cultures for thousands of years for healing, for endurance, for vibrant health, and for their anti-aging characteristics.Although all fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and nutrients, some contain far higher amounts of these natural properties. These foods have become known as superfoods. Three major benefits are jam packed in all superfoods are antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber.

One thing that all superfoods have in common is that they are not processed foods. They are whole foods that you consume in their natural state. More and more people are realizing that some diseases and illnesses are being caused by the increased amount of processed foods we are consuming. The processed foods contain too much sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and salt. Many superfoods have been shown to help the body fight inflammation diseases like arthritis, heart disease, a buildup of bad cholesterol, and premature signs of aging.

The following are some of the greatest superfoods:

Hemp Seeds Hemp Protein Soy
Bee Pollen Wild Honey Legumes
Maca Powder Spirulina Water
Blue Green Algae Chlorella Salmon
Sprouts Wheat Grass Green Tea
Barley Grass Dulse Psyllium
Kelp Goji Berries Oatmeal
Cacao Beans Avocado Flax Seed
Coconut and Coconut Oil Acai Berries Royal Jelly
Mangosteen
Spinach Agave Nectar Blueberries
Garlic

A great example of a superfood is avocado. Avocados are easy to find and incorporate into your diet. Some amazing facts about this superfood include that 75% of its calories consist of good monosaturated fat, it contains 60% more potassium than the average banana and also contains a lot of vitamins B, E and K. Avocado is also a great source of fiber. Eating a lot of avocado has shown to be beneficial for cholesterol levels in the blood.

Top 10 Reasons for Including Superfoods into your Diet:

  1. Adds the nutrients to your body that it requires.
  2. Superfoods could be less expensive than refined packaged food. Go natural!
  3. They are colourful, tasty and full of texture leaving you feeling more satisfied.
  4. Eating superfoods means a healthy body with a more alkaline pH.
  5. Aids in weight loss by being more nutrient dense.
  6. It adds to a balanced diet, reducing cravings and bingeing.
  7. Superfoods are low in fat and help with calorie counts.
  8. Superfood contain high fiber content.
  9. Superfoods combine phytonutrients – vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and adaptogens vital for health.
  10. Superfoods boost your immune system and help fight off disease and infection.

An easy way to make sure that you are picking and eating healthy natural superfoods is by sticking to the outside aisles at the grocery store. Many of these items are found in the produce section. You can also visit farmers markets and health food stores where they are sure to stock all the best superfoods. Talk to your trainer about adding more superfoods to your diet today!

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