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Home » Health Articles » 5 Simple Tips To Healthier Eating

5 Simple Tips to Healthier Eating

It seems there's always a new diet treatment hitting the market, or talk of a magic pill that will eliminate fat. Whether you choose to partake in any of these new treatments or not, it's wise to remember the basics of healthy eating.

Just what is "healthy eating?" Is it only fruits and vegetables? Is it never eating sugar? It is eating only organic foods? Well, to some people, that is healthy eating. But, for the purposes of this article, when I refer to healthy eating I'm referring to balancing the food you eat to stay healthy. By keeping your diet balanced, you'll find you are giving your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay strong. This in turn gives you energy and helps you maintain a healthy weight.

What are some basic tips for healthy eating?

1. Don't skip any meals

That might sound odd to some people who believe you can only lose weight when you eat less. But, in fact, skipping meals is not healthy, and can actually keep you from maintaining your desired weight. Why? Well, one reason is that your metabolism increases when you eat. And, when the metabolism is increased, you burn more energy. Eating 3 meals with snacks in between is the ideal way to maintain both energy and a healthy weight. What's that, you say, a snack in between? That's right; a snack in between smaller meals is actually good for you. First, it can help you not feel so hungry at meals. And, when you don't feel so hungry at meals, you tend not to eat as much. And, second, eating 5 smaller meals a day helps prevent the large spikes and drops in your blood sugar associated with fewer meals a day.

2. Chew slowly

This advice may seem a bit corny, but it makes sense. When you wolf down your food you aren't giving your brain time to register when you're full, which takes about 20 minutes. By the time you finally get the signal it's too late and you've eaten far more than you needed to. Therefore, if you chew your food slowly it slows down your eating.

3. Learn how to prepare foods

Instead of deep frying, try grilling, stir frying, microwaving, baking, boiling and, in the case of vegetables - raw. And, if you really insist on using butter for cooking, try a butter substitute. I use a yogurt butter which is half the fat of regular butter, but tastes the same as real butter. If you use butter to add flavor to food, try something else for a change, like lemon, vinegar or dried herbs and spices. Before you eat any type of meat, be sure to trim it of fat and skin.

4. Avoid alot of sugar

If you can eliminate sugar, good for you, but, if you can't, at least cut down. Drinks that contain sugar are a major source of empty calories. If you plan to drink sugary drinks, don't go overboard - limit yourself to one a day.

5. Skip the diet foods

If you follow healthy eating guidelines, there's really no need to buy prepared diet foods. A good number of these foods contain chemicals and additives that can be counterproductive to a healthy diet. A healthy portion of "real" food beats a heaping of prepared diet food any day, and doesn't leave you feeling deprived.

Eating healthier doesn't have to be difficult. The key is to be mindful of what and how you're eating. Noticing is the first step in changing behavior.

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Work From Home And Get More Done!

Working from home can be a most effective way to be more productive!

Today's open plan offices stop many people from getting their work done. The constant noise, phones ringing and colleagues interrupting can drive anyone to distraction!

Many people would dramatically boost their productivity if they could spend some or all of their working week out of the main office and join the thousands of small business owners who work from home.

However there are a few rules you need to follow to do this successfully:

Establish a Routine

Decide on a starting and finishing time. Include breaks.

Plan Your Day

Prepare a 'to do list' each day and action it.

Clean out the Clutter

Keep your work area clean and tidy. You'll work far more effectively and reduce the stress levels.

Organise Your Work Area

Have the right tools and systems to work with - an appropriate chair, desk, computer, filing system.

Group Tasks Together

Divide your day into similar activities. Make all phone calls in the morning and work on important tasks. Do errands later in the afternoon after the lunch-time rush or when you go to pick up the kids.

Learn How to Say NO!

Inform your family and friends of your working hours and that because you're working from home doesn't mean you're 'available'.

Take Time Out for You

It can be easy to lose yourself in your work. Take time to smell the roses...and make human contact.

The Final Word

Not everyone can work successfully from home - some need the daily discipline and people interaction encountered in the office.

However, for many others, working from home has greatly improved their productivity and enhanced their lifestyle.

They have more flexibility, more time and the opportunity to work much more effectively without all the usual distractions encountered in the traditional office environment.

So next time when you become overwhelmed with with the distractions at work and feel like you are going nowhere and getting nothing done, see if working from home for some of the week is a viable option.

After all, what's the point of just showing up at the office if you cannot concentrate and work effectively.

Coping with your workload isn't about being busy, it's about being effective and working smarter, not harder.