Entry #4 Diets, Nutrition and Weight Loss

With a title like this, I could spend years writing volumes.  There are so many diets, supplements, programs, eating plans, and main-stream ideas that at the end of the day, we really don’t know what is good for us and what is not.  Here are my brief thoughts and personal guidelines.  

 

• Moderation and Balance

I eat sweets and/or chocolate every day.  I have to have my sweets!! Now, I don’t eat a whole chocolate cake every night before bed, but I do have a cookie, three pieces of salt water taffy, or a square of good dark chocolate after dinner.  I also eat lean proteins, whole grains, green veggies and fiber-rich fruits.  We can’t deprive our selves of foods or put certain foods on an “I can’t have this” list.  Restricting foods only makes us want them more and more.  If sweets aren’t your thing, then enjoy a small helping of potato chips or a glass of wine once in a while.     

• Forget the Processed Foods

Who doesn’t love convince?  Pop it in the microwave and TADA, dinner is served.  But when we dig deeper into what were eating, it gets pretty scary.  Take for example a “TV Dinner” style meal: high in sodium, low in fiber, and high in saturated and trans fats.  Many of the pre-made meals contain the things that we should consume sparingly.  When we cook at home, we have control of what we put into our dishes; we can choose healthy fats over saturated and trans fats.  We can still enjoy our favorite styles and cuisines of food without stepping one foot in to the grave.  Recipes can be adjusted to make healthier choices, even for desserts.  Ask Google for a little help or dive into tinkering with your favorites for some new treats.  

 

• My Plate

In 2010, the USDA put out www.choosemyplate.gov.  It is a graphic of a dinner plate divided into four sections: protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables.  The four main goals are to:

·        Build a health plate

·        Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt

·        Eat the right amount of calories for you

·        Be physically active your way

They printed an easy to ready brochure with easy to remember guidelines and tips for portion sizes, eating out, and types of foods to choose.  Click here for more info:  Choose My Plate Brochure

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art."- La Rochefoucauld