I am a big fan of eating healthy. Sometimes I have to laugh and scratch my head when my philosophy of eating healthy is the minority thought process. Even my kids get picked on sometimes at school because they bring their healthy lunch to school. It is almost as if we are all expected to eat unhealthy and live less of a quality life than expected. You really have to wonder sometimes.
Well, I am not going to go off on a rant about how poorly our country eats and how our children are being set up to fail in life due to poor nutrition and health habits, but I am going to share some healthy tips that I live by.
Tip #1 Eat whole foods as much as possible
Everyone likes to have the snacks, the pizza, and treats, but it should be kept to a minimum for many reasons. Your body isn’t meant to eat that way and if you keep forcing it to deal with it eventually it will give in and stop fighting for you. So, the largest portion of your daily eating should come from whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, and various grains and beans. Foods like these are packed with important nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Now, some of you may not like to eat meat. No problem. I personally limit the amount of meat I consume and feel great because of it. Others feel meat is important for them. It is a choice and as long as it is good natural meat and not highly process, chemical-laced, and hormone-induced, you can enjoy it.
Tip #2 Shake it up
What I mean is make good healthy shakes. I am going to come out with a new program soon on how to use the blender to eat healthier. Each day I make a healthy shake that gives me energy and keeps me focused for hours. I use a green leafy vegetable (big handful), water, 1-2 bananas, 2 strawberries, and sometimes add a natural protein mix, and blend it up. It is so creamy and good. It gives me great nutrients and allows me to work on tasks for a couple hours without feeling overly hungry. This shake is a great post workout shake because it replaces sodium and potassium naturally unlike some of the sports drinks full of dyes, chemicals, and processed sugars.
Tip #3 Be like Elaine
That’s right, be like Elaine on Seinfeld. She always wanted the BIG SALAD! I try to have a big salad everyday. I mean big. I have lots of greens, and add little bits of other veggies as well. I use carrots, tomatoes, and broccoli, but not too much and not too many other veggies. The reason is I want the main food to be the green leafy vegetable to be my main source. Sometimes I will add natural organic black beans or chic peas for protein, but only a little. By eating a nice big salad everyday you are setting your body up for good health and energy.
Tip #4 Snack The Right Way
When you are hungry in between meals, eat a snack to keep you energy and focus up. The snack should be fruits/veggies, nuts, or small shakes. I am a big fruit eater so when I need a pick me up snack I usually eat apples, bananas, grapes, grapefruit, or some other kind. I also love walnuts, almonds, and various nuts. But I have to admit I am a big shake fan. I will make a smaller shake at times by blending various fruits and sometimes adding almond milk and maybe a little peanut butter to give a rich taste. I know mixing too much isn’t always the best but I try to stick with healthy foods to mix together.
Tip #5 Drink lots of H2O
I start every single morning regardless if I am traveling or at home with at least 16-20 ounces of water. I use a special green mix I put in my water (you don’t have to do this) but it makes me feel good right off in the morning. Especially when you consider you have gone all night without hydrating at all. Unfortunately, I don’t mean the water in coffee. Drinking water starts your digestive system working cleanly; it hydrates your cells and gets your brain feeling good. I have been taking the green mix I put in my drink for 10 years. It is a natural blend of grasses and it has done well for me for all those years.Well there you go. These are 5 easy to implement tips that will help you be healthier each day and hopefully make you feel much better. To your health!