You know you should be eating healthier, but you just can’t
seem to ditch the sugary cereal for a heaping pile of oatmeal in the
morning.
By dinner, your healthy eating
plan has gone out the window when the fam orders pizza and you are feelin’ a
little guilty.
If only there were ways
to get yourself to eat a little healthier without having to give up all the
stuff you actually like.
Well, it’s GL
to the rescue, and we’re here with some tricks that will help you mix some good
stuff back into your diet.
A little bit of
spinach goes a long way.
A handful of spinach has tons of good stuff for you, like iron
and vitamin K, and it’s great to toss into almost anything. If you’re fam is chowing down on spaghetti
and meatballs, you can hide the spinach in the sauce or even chop it up and add
it to your meatballs. If you love BLTs
or always put lettuce on your sandwich, ditch the Iceberg and try substituting it
with this darker, leafy green.
Spice up your water
Even though you’re supposed to drink eight glasses of the
pure stuff a day, actually refilling your cup that much seems like a
chore. Try adding fruit (like
strawberries) or veggies (like cucumber slices) to your water. The healthy stuff will give the water a
little flavor and after you finish a glass, you can eat the goodies when you
get to the bottom of the glass. Bonus!
Pack your lunch
Even if you’re chillin’ at home on the weekend, you should plan
out your lunch before you start getting hungry.
Once you’re starving, you’re way more likely to reach for the quick
stuff, which usually isn’t all that good for you. Try packing a lunch after breakfast, when
you’re full. That way, you can make decisions
your brain likes instead of letting your stomach rule the world.
Make your own dips!
Ranch dip goes great with everything (even veggies!), but
all those dips add up to a ton of calories that don’t always fill you up. Instead of buying the pre-made stuff in the
store, mix up your own with low fat plain yogurt. It still tastes amazing, but you’ll be
getting protein from the yogurt and cutting out tons of fat. Try the same thing with your other fave dips:
salsa is 10 times better fresh and guacamole is super easy to make on your
own.
Eat your veggies
first
That lasagna your mom made smells delicious, and you just
can’t wait to dive in. Wait! First,
tackle the pile of green beans on your plate before hitting the protein and
starch. The fiber from the veggies will
fill you up (and keep you full) more than the lasagna. You’ll still get to chow down on the cheesy
goodness, but you won’t eat as much of it, which means leftovers for lunch
tomorrow!
BY KATE GERAGHTY ON 10/11/2012 2:38:00 PM
POSTED IN healthy eating 101, how to cut out junk food, nutrition