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Plan to Eat and Stick to Your Plan

By: Tara Smith

The secret of good health is a balanced and nutritious diet. If you are not as healthy as you should be, you need to plan to eat and eat according to your plan. Then you can save yourself from problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and many other disorders. The catchwords are balance, moderation and variety; remember them and enjoy a sound mind and body.

Fast foods and eating out in restaurants have become so prevalent in our society that eating healthy meals are somewhat difficult. Understandably, it is easier to take the kids to a fast food restaurant or drive through after an exhausting day at work. No doubt there are more convenient choices but they are killing us and our families. Like with any change, it is challenging to adopt a new way in the early stages, but not impossible.

First begin with a plan. You have heard many times that if you fail to plan, then, you plan to fail. It is the same with eating. Plan your meals at the beginning of the week. Breakfast is as simple as whole grain cereal, whole-wheat toast, fruit, low-fat yogurt, 100% juice, and skim milk. Pack your lunch the night before so you will not make excuses or be tempted to run to the hotdog vendor. Pack leftovers from dinner, a veggie or tuna sandwich with low-fat mayo, fruit or soup. Purchase ready-made salads [without dressing mixed in] for a quick and easy dinner. Store readily available vegetables with low fat dip for easy snacking. Children love to dunk food into dips, this is a great way to get them to eat a healthy snack.

It really does not take much time to prepare meals at home if you plan properly. Cook dishes you can store in the freezer such as casseroles, pasta dishes and take out a dish before you go to work. By the time you get back from work, it will be thawed and all you have to do is heat it in the oven for about 35-45 minutes and your dinner is ready without much effort.

Eating healthy should become a way of life. However, you will need an extra effort in the beginning, which basically means proper planning and strict discipline. Remember, old habits die hard and the effort you put in is to break old habits not to prepare healthy meals. You will need to overcome the temptation to drift back into the old routine. You might find it rigorous to prepare meals and grocery shopping may feel like a chore. But, if you are determined, you will start enjoying it within a few weeks. When you discard a bad habit and adopt a good habit, you will feel strong and more in control. And the results will be so encouraging that you will not need any other motivation to continue.

Be a good role model for your family. You will be serving them by providing both healthy meals and educating them about leading a healthy lifestyle. This is huge because you are setting the example for your kids and passing it on to their kids, and down the line. So, if there was any evidence before of family history health problems, feel well that you decided to take charge and end the madness or at least decrease the risk for your family's future generations.

However, don’t go overboard following the plan obsessively. Remember, moderation is the key. A cookie once in a while will save you from devouring an entire box in a weak moment.

Planning your meals is very important. Make sure you include protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. According to the RDA, your daily intake of carbohydrates should be 55-70%, fats 20-30% and proteins 15-20%. The World Health Organization suggests 40-50 grams of fiber daily. Basically, you should plan a varied diet because it is essential for good health. Concentrate on foods that are high in vitamins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, unrefined carbohydrates, high fiber, low in sugar, low in fat, low in sodium, and limit alcohol consumption. Eating well and limiting your use of salt, sugar, caffeine, fats, can reduce stress and disease. American Cancer Society has stated that as much as 60% of cancer is related to diet.

By changing your eating habits you can live a healthy and less stressful life. All you need to do is to make a plan and stick to it. If you include your family in the process of planning, it will be easy to follow the plan. So, start eating well today in order to manage stress and reduce risk of disease. It will help you control weight and feel more energetic.

Article Source: http://www.healthandwellnesscentral.com

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