Making Healthier Food Choices

We are surrounded by fast food and it’s often difficult to come home at the end of the day to whip up a home cooked meal. However, more Americans are realizing that fast food solves a short-term problem while leaving behind long-term issues.

Obesity rates are on the rise and health hazards accompany this fast growing epidemic. So what can you do to help yourself? Begin with making healthier food choices. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Fruits

Fruits of any kind and in any state will be nutritional for your body. Grab them fresh, dried, canned or frozen. Don’t depend on store bought fruit juices for your daily serving because the additional sugars added will render the beverage useless. Instead, look to making your own juices. Focus on getting 2-cups on fruits into your diet, daily.

Veggies

The consumption of vegetables should be second nature. Try to incorporate all vegetables of varying colors into your diet. Beans and lentils are encouraged since they are excellent sources of protein. Get motivated to eat in color with carrots, eggplant, broccoli and squash.

Calcium

Get your daily serving of calcium to keep your bones strong and healthy. Calcium could be found in yogurt, milk and cheese. If you are lactose intolerant or are allergic to the consumption of milk, there are plenty of lactose-free options in the market. A little research could help guide your purchasing decision.

Lean Protein

Try your best to get some meats and poultry into your diet. Steer away from frying anything, and focus your attention on baking, broiling or grilling it. You have the choice to alternate how you would like to consume this protein. You have extended options of fish, beans. seeds and nuts.