Plan to Eat and Eat According to Your Plan

Poor nutrition has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and many other diseases. We can reduce our risk by choosing well-balanced meals. Balance, moderation and variety are the keys to eating well to maintain a sound mind and body.

This is the age of fast foods and eating out — the obvious consequence of fast-paced life, extreme work pressure and long and erratic hours of work and travel. Home food has become a rarity, a great challenge but worth adopting nonetheless.

First begin with a plan. You have heard many times that if you fail to plan, then, you plan to fail. It is the same with eating. Plan your meals at the beginning of the week. Breakfast is as simple as whole grain cereal, whole-wheat toast, fruit, low-fat yogurt, 100% juice, and skim milk. Pack your lunch the night before so you will not make excuses or be tempted to run to the hotdog vendor. Pack leftovers from dinner, a veggie or tuna sandwich with low-fat mayo, fruit or soup. Purchase ready-made salads [without dressing mixed in] for a quick and easy dinner. Store readily available vegetables with low fat dip for easy snacking. Children love to dunk food into dips, this is a great way to get them to eat a healthy snack.

Prepare meals that can be stored in the freezer such as casseroles, pasta dishes, etc. Before you go to work, take a dish out of the freezer to thaw out. When you come home from work, all you need to do is throw the thawed dish in the oven for about 35-45 minutes and dinner is served without much effort.

Eating healthy on a regular basis is not difficult, but breaking old habits may appear to be a daunting task. You will need a whole lot of determination to overcome the initial hesitation. But the good news is that within a couple of weeks, eating healthy will become your second nature. You will feel healthier in body, mind and spirit, especially when you start seeing the good results yourself.

Be a good role model for your family. You will be serving them by providing both healthy meals and educating them about leading a healthy lifestyle. This is huge because you are setting the example for your kids and passing it on to their kids, and down the line. So, if there was any evidence before of family history health problems, feel well that you decided to take charge and end the madness or at least decrease the risk for your family's future generations.

The goal here is to enjoy nutritious and tasty foods. Remember, moderation is key so do not be too obsessed or restrictive as you may sabotage your success resulting in binge eating. Many of you can probably relate to forcing yourself not to eat a certain type of food such as a cookie, only to find a whole box devoured later. Have the cookie to prevent overeating down the road.

Your meals should include protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. As per RDA recommendations 55-70% carbohydrates, 20-30% fats and 15-20% proteins should be your daily intake. The World Health Organization adds 40-50 grams of fiber to it. Remember, a balanced, moderate and varied diet is essential to good health. Concentrate on foods that are high in vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, unrefined carbohydrates, high fiber that is low in sugar, low in fat and low in sodium. Plus, you must limit your intake of salt, sugar, caffeine, fats and alcohol to avoid stress that leads to cancer. According to the American Cancer Society 60% of cancer is related to diet.

You must start by making a decision to live a healthy, less stressful life by developing good eating habits. Come up with a plan and include your family by asking for feedback. Find out what healthy foods they want to try. Get them involved. It is easier to change when you are supported. Eating well will help you manage stress, reduce risk of disease and illness, control weight, and provide energy.

Article Source: http://www.articles.ask-me-about.com

MonaVie is a delicious and energizing blend of the Brazilian Acai Berry, one of natures top super-foods, and other nutrient dense foods | Health Business Opportunity | Health Articles
Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the diet Articles Submission Service