Guest Post: Simple Ideas for Eating Better by Kristin Wells

It all comes back to Simple Ideas for Eating Better

Eating healthier does not always mean giving up all of your favorite foods. Sometimes, all you have to do is change some small things in your diet to make a big difference. Healthier ingredients can go into traditionally unhealthy foods. Fresh fruit juices can be substituted for sugar styled brand fruit juice generally bought at stores. Olive oils can be used to substitute butter when cooking foods in a pan. These little things can eliminate calories and increase vitamin intake, making physical exercise easier. Here are a few ideas that can help you to lose weight without full dieting.

Beverages
Interestingly, many people forget to think about beverages when they are trying to eat better. Even some healthy fruit juices can be full of calories, decreasing the amount of food a person can intake. Start eating better by allowing yourself to eat a little more. This way, you can eat more healthy food so you do not feel hungry even after meals. Stay away from sodas and low percentage “real fruit juice” drinks that are laden with sugar and additives. If you cannot stick to just water, stick to juice you’ve squeezed yourself. Squeezing the juice on the weekends can last you all week if you’re pressed for time during the weekday. Also, freezing the juice you’ve squeezed can make for great popsicle ideas. If you’re like me, you want something sweet after supper. Making your own popsicles can also keep you on track with your diet and still allow you to enjoy a “dessert.” Fresh fruit and fruit smoothies are extensively used during chemo therapy for patients suffering from Testicular Mesothelioma. They’re easy to digest and gives the patients an immune system boost with the nutrients they need.

Grains, Carbs, and Meats
When it comes to carbs, eliminate anything that is not brown. Instead of white bread, always go for wheat or grain. The same goes for pasta, pizza dough, rice and crackers. The flavor is very similar and it is much more digestion friendly. Cheese is a favorite to top these carb items. When choosing cheese, go for something that is organic and low fat or fat free. The same goes for yogurt and milk. Soy or Almond milk are great alternatives to dairy milk and are much better for you. Save your body's fat intake for meats. This way, you still get the fat you need but not so much that your body stores it all, which can defeat what you’re trying to accomplish. In addition, you do not have to eliminate that fatty steak you might enjoy once a week. The fat you eliminated from your dairy intake will make that steak exactly what your body needs.

A few other options
It is easy to find ways to eat healthier when you spend some time deciding what healthy foods you enjoy and which you should avoid. This helps reduce that lackluster diet that can leave you disappointed and craving fatty food. You can still stick to the foods you love by doing some simple and healthy substitutions. Also, substituting fish for red meat as often as your palette will allow is another way to get the nutrients you need, without a great deal of fat. Another great rule of thumb is two vegetable portions and one meat portion. Keep adding new, healthy substitutes and you will eat right without feeling as if you are dieting. Remember, variety is the spice of life!

Kristin Wells is a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia and an aspiring writer. She wants to make a difference in people's lives through her writing. Kristin also likes competitive cycling, running, and traveling as much as possible. Kristin also collaborates on Curious Mind Musings.