Spring Clean Your Diet With These 4 Simple Steps!
Why not make this season the one in which you optimize what you eat? Try these simple suggestions:
- Cut out trans fats. Scan all of your packaged food labels and avoid margarine, vegetable shortening and anything that contains hydrogenated oils. Instead, use heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil and whole foods.
- Eat “true whole grains” – that is, grains that are intact or broken into large pieces rather than ground into flour – instead of refined grains. You will feel fuller, in part because of the higher fiber content whole grains provide.
- Load up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Make a colorful salad – with red and yellow peppers, dark leafy greens, ripe tomatoes – part of one meal every day. And add a fresh fruit salad as a delicious and healthful alternative to unhealthy desserts. You can also add veggies to your day by taking spinach or kale and placing in a large freezer bag in the freezer. The next day, crush the bag to “mince” the dark greens and use over time to add to egg dishes or smoothies.
- Take in fewer calories. A simple way to do this is to skip the fast food and prepackaged snacks – instead have veggies and hummus, almond butter and an apple, or a homemade sandwich with organic proteins and fresh vegetables. You can also implement an “intermittent fast” by missing an occasional meal, as this will help with lowering the daily calorie intake.
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