March is National Nutrition Month. Whether you want to lose weight or simply enjoy better health, good nutrition is essential. However, even the thought of eating nutritious meals can turn many people off. To many who enjoy eating pizza, cheeseburgers, fried foods, and other unhealthy choices at mealtime, it’s impossible to imagine that eating a healthy, nutritious diet could be anything but tasteless and downright boring. If you fall into this category, good news: You can enjoy meals that are packed with flavor, fun to make – and good for you!
What does a healthy diet consist of?
Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, healthy oils, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins are all part of a nutritious, good-for-you diet. What you want to avoid are saturated and trans fats, too many fried and processed foods, junk food (chips, pie, cookies, etc.) and most fast foods. You should also avoid eating red meat on a too frequent basis and consume lean protein meats such as chicken and fish. Also, consider adding plant-based proteins and eggs to your diet.
What most people don’t know about nutritious eating
For nearly every dish that you love dearly, there is a way to prepare it that is still flavorful, but healthy. For instance, if you love fried chicken there are ways to prepare it in the oven that is just as tasty as the original that is fried in oil, but far healthier. Love a good burrito every now and then? By preparing it using mashed pinto beans, salsa, and low-fat shredded cheese, you’ll never know the difference as far as taste, but your body will be healthier for it. If you’re a huge fan of hamburgers, try using ground turkey instead of ground beef. Is pizza your passion? Using fresh vegetables like green peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms and tomatoes with low-fat or fat-free cheese results in a pizza that’s every bit as delicious as the fattening variety, but much healthier with only a fraction of the fat and calories.
The point is, there are literally hundreds of ways to prepare foods that are flavorful, satisfying, and most of all – healthy.
Now, for the best part – making healthy eating fun
We all love new adventures, and when you change the way you eat every day it can be an adventure. Most people find that after they decide on a healthier lifestyle and way of eating, they enjoy healthier versions of old favorites every bit as much as the original. Now, how can you make preparing and eating nutritious foods more fun?
Constantly try new things. Up to now, you may never have experimented much with herbs, spices and healthy oils like olive or canola oil. Cilantro, onion and garlic powder, Italian seasonings, sage, oregano, and other spices can really give your foods a great “kick!”
Think outside the box. Instead of eating that turkey burger on a white hamburger bun, what can you do that will give it a new twist, both nutritionally and taste-wise? Try white or wheat pita bread.
Know that when you eat right, you can eat all day and never feel guilty! When you consume a diet that consists of healthy choices, you can literally eat almost all day long and not worry about whether you’re sabotaging your health or gaining weight. Eating fruits, peanut butter, celery sticks, nuts, seeds, even a piece of dark chocolate every now and then will keep you full, slim and far less prone to heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Realize that it’s a new learning experience. It’s often fun for many who decide to change their lifestyle to eat new things, try new spices, create their own special recipes using healthy ingredients. Challenge yourself to create meals that are every bit as delicious as the fattening originals, but far healthier. This means you can eat until you are almost “stuffed” without ever feeling guilty!
The truth is, once eating nutritious, healthy foods become a routine part of your life, you will wonder how you ever ate the foods you did in the past. You will actually feel healthier, instead of tired and lethargic. Your energy level will soar, your health with be better than ever – you can literally feel the difference. You’ll be able to see the difference as well, in the form of a slimmer, toned body, shiny hair, and glowing, translucent skin.
As evidenced above, good nutrition does NOT have to equate to boring, tasteless foods. As you begin your fun, healthy and challenging new adventure, you will find that you actually enjoy creating new twists on those old favorites. So, how do you make “Good Nutrition” fun and delicious?
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