There are a few obstacles in my path to staying healthy and vital. One of these is the fact that my metabolism has slowed down. Boo, hiss! No amount of whining will change that fact, but setting my mind and heart to create positive change will help!
Making a commitment to healthy living involves not only embracing exercise (a hard one at times for me!) but also eating foods that help my body function at its best. This means educating myself about and making consistently better food choices every day.
Choose Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
I try to eat well-balanced meals, but I do love to snack, which can be a hurdle if I don’t keep some of my favorite snacks on hand! Fruits and vegetables are obvious choices that can be easily transported, along with bananas, grapes and tangerines. Keep veggies like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots washed and ready to grab quickly. For a lower price, buy seasonal produce and freeze foods such as strawberries and blueberries. Even brown bananas can be frozen for later use in smoothies or banana bread.
Plan Ahead
Prep your snacks on the weekend for the work week ahead. Foods like roasted chickpeas, hardboiled eggs and mini muffins can be cooked or baked while preparing other meals to save time. Pick up items like granola bars, plain popcorn and cheese cubes at the grocery store during your regular shopping trip.
Dried fruit and nut mixes can be expensive, so combine your favorite ones and store them in plastic containers with lids so they’re ready to grab and go. Containers of all sizes can be purchased at the dollar store to save a little money, or use sealable plastic sandwich bags and throw them away when you’re done.
Choose Water Over Soda
Instead of choosing soft drinks, keep chilled bottles of water on hand or keep a few in your work refrigerator or car. Limit your caffeine, choose a healthy tea or drink only a small amount of coffee each day.
You can’t beat this new recipe I tried with only three ingredients. You simply line a 9”x9” pan with foil and spray lightly with non-stick spray. Melt 1 cup of peanut butter with 1/2 cup of honey until the result is smooth. (I used the microwave.) Combine this mixture with 3 cups of rolled oats and press into a pan. Refrigerate until it’s set, and cut it into squares. These are yummy and easy!
For more healthy eating tips, check out these five healthy meal solutions.