Eating Healthy is not always easy. But with a bit of information, time, and the right mind set it can be something like a life-saver and certainly a change to the hectic lives we lead. In fact, if you have a hectic schedule, it's even more important to eat healthy foods that give you the fuel you need to keep going.
Between school, homework, sports, your after-school job, and hanging out with friends, it may feel like there's no time for healthy eating. And when you do stop to eat, it's probably tempting to go the quick and easy route by grabbing a burger and fries, potato chips, or candy.
But it is possible to treat yourself to a healthy snack. Even if you take time to eat three meals a day, you may still feel hungry at times. What's the answer? Healthy snacks. Smart snacking can help keep you going until your next full meal. So if you are on the late lunch plan but eat breakfast at 6 a.m, then toss some fruit or trail mix into your bag. That you won't feel tempted to grab less-healthy vending machine snacks at school, university or your work place.
Snacks are a terrific way to satisfy that hunger and get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. But you need to pay attention to what you eat.
To keep energy levels going - and avoid weight gain - steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein-rich snacks such as peanut butter or low-fat yogurt or cheese.
These seven tasty snacks have the right combo of carbs, protein and fat-giving you a boost of energy and filling your stomach.
- a handful of dried fruit and nuts
- one tablespoon of peanut butter on whole-wheat crackers
- sliced veggies dipped in hummus
- air-popped popcorn sprinkled with shredded Parmesan cheese
- pita chips with bean dip and sliced avocado
- low-fat cottage cheese with fruit and almonds
- a fruit smoothie made with low-fat yogurt or milk
For our February/March 2012 article we have found another food blogger who we would like to share with you.
It is Anjali Shah, Owner and Food Writer, The Picky Eater http://pickyeaterblog.com/welcome-2/
This is how she describes herself:
I LOVE food. I still eat pizza and fries and chocolate - I just try to make healthier versions of those options. (Or, if there isn't a healthier version available - I just eat them in moderation). I think all of these "bad" foods can totally be part of a healthy diet - being "picky" is not about depriving yourself! And because of my picky eating habits, I've become pretty informed & educated on healthy but tasty food choices, healthy living and balanced eating. I have to say, I get a kick out of finding a low calorie ice cream at the supermarket, or coming up with a new way to incorporate veggies into my diet. I guess I'm somewhat of a food nerd. Over the years, I've been able to accumulate approximately a million diet & food tips, and want to share my food-nerdiness with you. I hope you find this blog helpful and informative, and enjoy my quest to find healthy, low calorie, tasty, yummy, picky eats!
The next two pages are extracts from her blog, combining our recipe site with food blogger advice! Have fun reading!