At Suburban Eats, we’re always trying to find ways to get our clients to start eating healthier. The new year is still somewhat young and whether you’ve already abandoned those New Year’s resolutions for better eating or you’re still struggling to reach your goals, we have five easy ways to get you started or even stay on track for eating healthy.
1. Know Your Serving Sizes
When you are putting more food on your plate, you’re inevitably going to end up eating more at every meal. One of the reasons that Americans are getting larger is because their serving sizes have only been increasing the more, we forget about proper portion control. A good nutritious breakfast, lunch, or dinner is predicated upon knowing what to put on your plate. But pay closer attention to how much you put on it.
A good rule of thumb is to check the serving size information on the labels of your food; Those amounts are there to provide you with the knowledge and data necessary for eating proper portions.
2. Eat Your Vegetables
I know, this probably isn’t much of a surprise, but eating healthier this year means you need to put more of an emphasis on adding vegetables to your dinner plate. Federal dietary guidelines recommend that you consume a minimum of 2 ½ cups of vegetables every day. The reason veggies are so healthy for you is because they contain a whole lot of vitamins and minerals, along with phytonutrients and fiber.
The good news is that you can find a whole range of recipes that can turn seemingly tasteless legumes into extremely tasty side dishes. Some folks even enjoy having their veggies raw or, at the very least, dipped in dressing. Just be sure you go light on the dressing and avoid fats.
3. Don’t Forget About Breakfast
It’s the most important meal of the day, but a lot of people skip it because they’re in a hurry to get to work in the morning and taking time to prep, cook, and enjoy a healthy breakfast can be time consuming. One of the ways to avoid this is by prepping your breakfast the night before. Think up some interesting recipes and prep them ahead of time, so they’re ready enjoy before you run out the door, or if you can, take them on the go!
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is one of the most important components of good health. When the body is well-hydrated, your organs and internal systems work a lot more effectively because they are being flushed out regularly. You don’t even need to drink plain water either, freshen up your water with some sliced fruits or mint leaves.
5. Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Think of all the things we eat and enjoy. How many of them contain sugar? Most products with sugar are obvious, some might require some closer scrutiny. Read those nutrition labels to find out just how much sugar is present inside the foods and drinks you decide to consume.
