One would think in this day and age that everyone would have the knowledge to put together a nutritious diet for themselves, but, sadly, this is not the case. Past failures might frustrate you, but this will make sure you’re nutritious in the future.
Eat your vegetables and your children will too. Children like to be like mom and dad which means that eating vegetables with meals, and more importantly as snacks, sets a standard with your children. They will learn to love them once they start eating them since you are eating them as well.
Nightshades (eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers) have pros and cons nutritionally. Consider them carefully. They may not agree with your digestion. On the other hand, they may add real food value to your diet. The tomato has recently been cited as a great source of lycopene, which may help prevent cancer. Bell peppers contain vitamin C.
The nutritional value of fish makes it a “must” in our diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are its most touted value. Salmon is especially high in Omega 3’s. But fish also provide other good things: protein, vitamins A and D, and valuable trace minerals. These nutrients are best found in “wild caught” fish.
One fundamental starting point for good nutrition is to take a daily multivitamin. Although you should not rely on multivitamins for all your nutritional needs, it’s helpful to think of a multivitamin as insurance against the nutrients you may not have taken in that day. Also, be aware that multivitamins are available for a wide variety of ages and needs (kids, teens, seniors, prenatal, etc.) and choose one that’s right for you.
If you are a vegetarian, make sure your nutrition choices are well-rounded. While many omnivores miss essential vitamins in their diet, it’s easier to recover lost minerals. That said, it’s easy to keep on top of a vegetarian diet. If you find yourself hitting roadblocks, consider seeing a nutritionist.
Make an effort to cook your meals instead of eating out. When you are the one preparing your meals you have total control over each and every ingredient that goes into the preparation and you can avoid those that you know are not particularly good for you.
If you want to give your children the best nutrion possible, and they seem to be picky about it, trying making it fun. Cut food into fun shapes or provide vegetables with a favorite dip. This will make your child see that good food can be just as much fun as junk food.
Switch to natural, unrefined sea salt. Most table salt has been heat processed to remove beneficial trace minerals and bleached to produce a bright white color. Not only that, but it often contains anti-caking agents and sugar as well. Natural, unrefined sea salt, on the other hand, is taken directly from the earth and is sold with the beneficial trace minerals intact. Unlike bleached, processed table salt which has been shown to raise blood pressure, unrefined sea salt has actually been shown to lower blood pressure by providing your body with the trace minerals that it needs. Not only that, but it tastes great too.
Buy low fat yogurt and make sure you have a bit of it in your fridge. Yogurt is a great meal supplement that is low in calories and fat. It also tastes great and is good for your health. It is also relatively inexpensive, allowing you to keep your food budget low.
Since they are soft and spongy, eggplant provides a nice backdrop to dishes like eggplant parmesan and baba ghanoush. In addition, the eggplant is healthy, containing antioxidants, potassium and folic acid.
For the greatest level of success in increasing the nutritional value of your diet, don’t abandon all unhealthy foods at once. Trying to make a drastic change in your diet is sure to lead to failure. It will make you feel deprived and confused. Instead, focus on adding healthy foods in slowly, even just one at a time.
Nut milk is a great option to consider if you have problems with digesting liquids that contains lactose. This type of milk is also very low in saturated fats, which will help to create a smoother skin tone. Invest in nut milk if you want to improve your skin care regimen.
Incorporate more super foods into your diet, especially if you are active as they can help keep muscles from tiring too quickly. For example, soybeans help build lean muscle plus they have properties in them that can help soothe muscle inflammation. Chocolate soy milk is a great choice for a post-workout beverage.
With nutrition, stick to any dietary goals. Avoid thinking about past failures because that will only leave your frustrated; instead, concentrate on eating healthy by incorporating the tips learned here to help give you that healthy lifestyle. You are going to start seeing results fairly quickly.