Healthy Eating
Eating better is easier said than done. Most people would like to live a healthier lifestyle and have a healthier diet but that takes commitment. It is a lot easier to go to a restaurant or fast food place then it is to make a healthy lunch every day. Eating healthier takes a solid commitment and there are several ways to start. Below you will find some tips and some simple suggestions on how to become a better eater.
Start Slow
You cannot be successful dieting and eating healthier if you try to do too much at once. Changing a daily routine takes time and effort. So the best way to start eating healthier is to start by eliminating certain types of foods. The easiest place to start is to eliminate fast food. Fast food is typically loaded with salt and full of grease and fat. If you can eliminate fast food and replace it with restaurant carry out, grocery store prepared foods, or a salad from a salad bar you have taken the first step. There are down sides to eating these other prepared foods, but they are still better than fast food burgers. So, make a small first step and eliminate fast food entirely. You can worry about cooking everything yourself and following a more comprehensive meal plan later on.
Learn to Cook
A lot of people do not make their own lunches because they do not know how to cook. This problem can be tackled a number of different ways. There are a number of places that offer hands on cooking instruction. You can always sign up for a cooking class and learn from an expert. However, if you do not want to take the time to enroll in a class there are always cooking shows on the television and tons of websites that can help you. Some of what you see from online shows and internet blogs might seem very complicated but in reality it can be done by almost anyone. Online directions will also let you know how difficult a recipe might be prior to starting it which enables you to pick something simple. The most important thing to remember when you are learning to cook is that you will make mistakes. So do not quit because of a failure. Learn what you did wrong and improve your skills so your next cooking endeavor will be successful.
Shopping Correctly
One of the most difficult things to do when learning to cook and prepare lunches is learning how to properly shop. Certain food items might appear to be natural and healthy but might not be the best for you. When you are shopping for produce and vegetables it is better to buy fresh. Buying frozen is not always bad but you must be careful to read the packaging. Does the frozen product have a lot of preservatives? If it does, it might not be as healthy for you as you might think. The best way to shop is to plan appropriately. Prior to going to the store come up with a menu for the week and know what you have in your pantry and what you need to purchase. Going to the grocery store without a plan can cost a lot of extra money. If you try to wing it at the store you usually end up forgetting something you need and spending more money on things you don’t eat. Finally, not having a plan often ends up with you purchasing snacks that are less healthy and can ruin the whole idea of eating healthy in the first place.
Buy Fresh and Buy Local
When was the last time you were at a farmers market? Most major cities and suburbs have a weekly farmer’s market event where you can buy directly from the growers. Do a little research and attend at least one but it is usually better to go to multiple farmers markets and see who is there. Not all farmers markets are created equal but once you find a quality one you have taken the first step to healthier eating. Most of these markets will have farmers who will be happy to tell you about how their product is grown. You have the opportunity to ask them what insect control products they use and if their products are organic. Aside from those obvious questions you can ask them what they feel their best products are. Farmers markets allow you to buy the best produce and fruit directly from growers, so do not hesitate to ask them what they do best. They will be happy to help and it is in their best interest to be honest. They want to make a long time customer and not push one sale. Finally if you are not happy with the quality of the product you buy just try another farmer next time.
Frozen is Not a Bad Thing
Buying frozen foods can be a good idea and it can also be a bad idea; the challenge is knowing what to look for. Frozen chicken and meat might not be a bad idea but you must always read the label or ask. Is the product treated with preservatives prior to being frozen? Preservatives make food last longer but also take away from the farm fresh quality. So if you find a butcher you really like at a market buy some extra meats and freeze them yourself. This ensures that when you defrost the meat it can steal be fresh and healthy. Be careful when companies advertise fresh and never frozen products. This might be a good thing but in some cases these companies might use preservatives to help maintain freshness longer. Products might contain extra salt or other items to help keep them fresher longer but this also changes the nutritional value of the product. The best way to stock your freezer is to buy fresh products yourself and freeze them yourself to avoid the addition of other preservatives.
Organic and Hormone Free
A major trend in the meat business the last several years is advertising when a product is natural. Some cow farmers still use injections to ensure their cows grow big quickly allowing them to harvest more meat from each animal. From a business stand point this is a great idea for farmers but for a consumer these antibiotic injections or growth hormone injections are not natural. There is not telling what the long term side effects of eating meat from animals injected with manmade chemicals are. There might not be any but it will be decades before we know for sure. Long term research takes time and the side effects might not be known until it is too late. The best practice is to stick with natural meats. Almost all companies who raise animals naturally will advertise that they do. If you are at a market and do not know, just ask. What is important is that you are getting a quality natural product, so avoid any meat that come from animals that are treated with growth hormones or unnecessary chemicals.
Seasonal Foods
One of the best ways to ensure freshness is to buy a seasonal item. Not all products are harvested year round so when a particular fruit or vegetable is in season make sure you incorporate it into your diet. This not only ensures you get fresh products but it also creates some variety in your meal planning. If you are a big salad eater you can get creative with items like apples, corn, and pumpkin in the fall. In addition, many farms will have markets that are seasonally focused that allow you to pick what in season product you like. Finally, many online websites and television programs will focus on the in-season food and air or post recipes to incorporate them. This allows you to have variety and freshness at the same time.
Being healthy is difficult and change does not happen overnight. So start planning your meals and start learning how to cook sooner than later. There are countless resources out there through multiple media sources to help you, so make a commitment and start making small steps to improve your diet and improve your overall health.