Healthy Choices – Guilt Not Included
March is National Nutrition Month. It is time to consider our health. Each day is a new opportunity to make healthy choices in your daily meals. Daily changes and better food choices add up to overall better health.
If you had health goals for January 1st and things did not work out then start today! It does not matter if it is January 1st , March or September 1st. Even the smallest changes can have a great impact on your health. Make these changes lifetime changes.
Sugar (fructose and high fructose corn syrup are the worst options) - my advice is to give it up or use moderation. There are numerous articles written on the subject of the negative effects of sugar, and I plan to write about it as well in an upcoming article -and explain why. Just know giving up sugars can help balance hormones, prevent diseases, improve mood, lose weight, sustain energy, decrease inflammation, curb cravings, and improve overall health.
Increase your level of activity. You don’t have to feel pressured to join a gym - just move more. Take a walk. 10,000 steps is the number suggested. Even if you don’t take 10,000 steps it only matters that you keep moving.
Eat good quality whole food. Good food can be delicious and nutritious. Always remember the important foods: vegetables, whole grains, fruits and lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Whole grains instead of refined grains. Fruits, vegetables, and beans that you prepare or cook, and fresh cooked meat. One of my rules to follow is to read labels. Some good food can come in a package or a jar, but please read the labels. If you buy a jar of tomatoes (no cans) the ingredients should be way less than 5. It should contain tomatoes and maybe salt. Nothing else. So 5 or less ingredients and if you can’t pronounce an ingredient don’t buy it!
All this being said, eat intuitively. If you enjoy something, rather than feeling guilty, just have it and enjoy. If we deny ourselves of everything we enjoy we are setting ourselves up for failure. Moderation is key.
If you have a sweet tooth then a favorite cookie I make for our family is Banana Oat Cookies. So easy! Enjoy!
BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
3 ripe bananas
1 Cup Medjool dates - chopped
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup of avocado oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
Put dates in food processor and process with oats, oil, salt and vanilla. Add bananas. Mix well. Drop by tsp on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
