Our nation is riddled with health problems. From heart disease to obesity, it may seem like an uphill battle to try to stay healthy and ensure that you do not spend time, money and energy dealing with health problems that could have been avoided.
When you are trying to lead a healthier life, a great way to start is by getting in enough fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables will ensure that your body is getting the nutrients that it needs to avoid many diseases.
It’s recommended that an adult eat about nine servings of fruits and vegetables in a day. This averages out to about two and a half cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit.
This can be an overwhelming goal if you’re not accustomed to eating fruits and vegetables. While you’re working on incorporating more fruits and veggies into your diet, you may want to start by taking a look at your day and making a mental (or written) note of where you can incorporate more fresh produce.
So if you’re planning to eat lunch at your favorite burger joint instead of automatically adding fries to your order, ask about different options such as coleslaw, grilled veggies or fresh fruit.
After grocery shopping prepare some fruits and vegetables so that they’re ready to grab when you’re on the go. Cut up veggies and put them into ziplock bags. Make up a fruit salad and divide it into individual containers. Getting everything ready once or twice a week will ensure that you have something delicious and healthy to grab on your way out the door.
Start thinking about new ways to prepare your fruits and vegetables that will make them healthier and maybe even get you excited about eating more fresh produce. For instance instead of automatically dousing your vegetables with cheese sauce or ranch dressing, try roasting them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. You just might find that you don’t need anything else to enjoy them. If you’re skeptical about whether or not you’ll like a new vegetable, toss it in a skillet with some of your favorite vegetables. And while we’re talking about sauteeing, be sure to use an oil that isn’t going to take the nutritional value away from them. Tossing them with a small amount of coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil will ensure that they’re going to get cooked without losing nutrients.
Starting off small by adding one more serving each of fruits and vegetables than you normally have and working up to nine servings a day will make this new way of eating much less overwhelming.
Thank you to Megadyne – an electrosurgical equipment supplier that understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle – for their contribution to The UnDiet. Megadyne specializes in electrosurgery. Megadyne encourages everyone to consult with their physician to find a healthy eating plan that is right for each person’s individual circumstance.
