Nutrition Advice

A healthy lifestyle involves many choices, which most notably includes deciding what you will eat. A healthy diet and proper nutrition are crucial. What many people get stuck on is precisely how to set up their eating plans.

But before we get to that, let's talk about what a healthy and balanced eating plan involves, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020:

• A healthy eating plan includes a strong emphasis on produce – both fruits and vegetables.
• There's a reason you see more and more foods in grocery stores advertising their use of whole grains. They're good for you!
• Low-fat or fat-free milk or milk alternatives such as soy, almond, or oat milk.
• Lean meats, poultry, or fish.
• Protein-rich foods such as nuts, eggs, and beans.
• Foods low in both saturated and trans fats.
• Foods low in cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.

And of course, regardless of what you're eating, you'll want to stay within your daily calorie needs.

The Comfort Food Myth

For many of us, our comfort foods are loaded with fat, added sugars, or are otherwise high in calories. But despite what many people may tell you, to live a healthy lifestyle, you do not have to give up your favorite foods entirely.

Like many things in life, it's merely a matter of balance. These comfort foods can still be part of your life alongside healthier choices and increased physical activity, but you have to do it right. Here is some advice on striking this balance:

• The most obvious solution is about quantity. Simply eating less of your rich meal or dessert will immediately cut down on your calorie intake. Whether you'd be going from a daily indulgence to weekly or even less, the key is to lessen what you consume.
• Many foods on the market have lower-calorie or low-fat alternatives. Try those the next time you're out shopping.
• For meals prepared at home, you can modify your favorite recipes. Swap high-fat milk and cheese ingredients for lower-fat versions. Or even substitute ingredients for healthier alternatives such as vegetables when you can.

These are only a few simple examples, but we list them to illustrate that there are many ways to eat and live healthy without having to give up the things you love entirely.

Meal Planning

The number of places we consume meals these days is always growing. Besides restaurants, you can eat at home, at work, your desk (even if you shouldn't), and, admit it, your car too.

Some of these places make it easier to control what options you have in terms of nutrition, and some make it harder. The trick is to plan accordingly, and if you know you're going to be somewhere with limited options, find a way to bring a healthy snack or meal along from home.

Talk to a Dietitian

Proper nutrition is an integral part of weight loss. Talking to a registered dietitian can help guide you to make healthy decisions about food, changing negative eating behaviors, and provide tips and tricks for your new lifestyle – all to help you reach your weight loss goals.

Further Reading

Eating right is just one part of your overall wellness. Contact us today to find out how we believe our program as a whole will help you move to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle that includes: