5 Tips to healthy eating

Healthy eating is not about DIETING, strict rules and limitations. I'm not the greatest all the time at healthy eating, but I can tell a big difference in how I feel, my mood, and my body when I pick healthier choices. With all the Diets/Weigh loss programs that are out there I think it confuses people with what they should do to lose weight. What one "expert" says to do the next "expert" is telling you not to do it. Calorie counting, high protein, low fat, fat free, low carb, no carb, Weight Watchers, Adkins, Jenny Craig diet, the list of weight loss options goes on and on.

That is why I choose Beachbody over all these other options. Not that any of them don't work, or aren't great substitutes for people. I personally just think if you want to lose weight and keep it off, stay fit, and get healthy you need to put in the work and make it happen. Some say Beachbody is the long, hard way of doing it, and you would probably be right. No, you don't get prepackaged meals in the mail, no, you can't just eat whatever you want as long as you stay under a calorie count for your body type. Its putting the work in to workout, taking the time to meal plan, and put thought into what you're eating. But then you say, "well eating healthy is so expensive." It may possibly be depending on how many you feed in your family. But think of it this way. Is what you eat, prepackaged junk that makes you feel sluggish, moody, tired, and you are sick all the time. Food is medicine. Fuel your body with the right type of foods. So your next question, "What is healthy? What should I eat? What should I get rid of? I'm going to give you some tips to help you!

-------------------------------------------------------5 TIPS----------------------------------------------------------

1. Set yourself up for success: Make small manageable steps. As your small changes become habit, you continue adding in more healthy choices.

• Prepare more of your own meals: Preparing your own meals at home can help you monitor exactly what goes into your food. 
• Make the right changes: Replace unhealthy foods with healthy alternatives. Ex. switch butter for olive oil. Instead of a sugary fruit smoothly/high calorie frappe for breakfast from McDonalds, wash up fresh fruit and eat with Greek yogurt/make your own healthy smoothy/or/ have a cup of black coffee or tea. 
• Simplify: Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories, think in terms of color, variety, and freshness. Avoid packaged and processed food and shoot for more fresh ingredients.
• Read the Labels: Be aware of extra hidden sugar and salt in packaged foods that manufacturers claim to be "healthy."
• Focus on how you feel after eating: The more healthy meals you eat, the better you will feel after eating. The more junk food you eat, the more you will feel tired and bloated.
• Drink plenty of water: Water flushes our system s of toxins. You may not know it but you go through life dehydrated, which causes tiredness, low energy, and headaches. Its also a common mistake thinking your hungry, when really your thirsty. 

2. Moderation is Key: Only eating as much as your body needs. Balance between carbs, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

• Try not to think of certain foods as "off limits": When you ban certain foods, you just crave those foods more often. Then when you fail and eat the whole bag you feel as though your whole day was shot. 
• Smaller Portions: When dining out, choose a starter instead of entree, split the dish with a friend or put half in a box to eat later. Portion size examples. Meat- size of a deck of cards. half a cup of healthy sides.
• Take your time: Stop eating before you feel full. It takes a few minutes for your brain to tell you body that it's full, so eat slowly. 

3.  Fill up on colorful fruits and vegetables: Low in calories and high in nutrients.

• Greens: Branch out from lettuce. Kale, broccoli,  and cabbage are packed with calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K. 
• Sweet vegetables: Corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, onions, and squash add healthy sweetness to your meals and reduce your cravings for added sugars. 
• Fruit: Berries -cancer fighting, apples- fiber, oranges and mangoes- Vit C

4. Eat more healthy carbs and whole grains: Rich in antioxidants, which help to protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. 

• Healthy Carbs: Whole grains, beans, fruits, and veggies. Digested slowly, helps you feel full longer.
• Unhealthy carbs: White flour, refined sugar, and white rice. 
• Avoid: breads, pastas, and breakfast cereals that are not whole grain. 

5. Reduce sugar and salt: Too much sugar and salt has been linked to diabetes and depression. Reducing the amount of candy and desserts you eat is only part of the solution. Sugar and salt is hidden in foods like bread, cereals, canned soups and vegetables, pasta sauce, margarine, instant mashed motatoes, frozen dinners, low-fat meals, fast food, and ketchup. 

• Slowly reduce the sugar and salt in your diet: A little at a time to give your taste buds time to adjust. 
• Be careful when eating out: Look for low sodium meals. Lots of gravy's, sauces, and dressings have extra salt and sugar so get it served to the side. 
• Eat healthier snacks: Eat naturally sweet food such as fruit, peppers, natural peanut butter to satisfy your sweet tooth. 
• Check labels: Reduced sodium and low sugar products
• Use herbs and spices: garlic, curry powder, cayenne or black pepper to improve flavor of meals instead of salt. 
• Avoid: Sugary drinks like pop, energy drinks, and high fat/calorie coffee drinks.