4 Tips for Eating Healthier

America’s obesity rate is at an all-time high, but even if you are not obese or overweight, eating healthier provides many benefits, including better sleep and a happier mood. 

If you’re going through the process of purchasing one of the Indianapolis homes for sale and planning a big move, facing a household to pack, endless paperwork and more, or any other major life event, the last thing you probably want to do is worry about preparing a healthy meal. But if you can commit to these four fairly simple habits, your health will thank you, you’ll probably feel less stressed and have more energy to power through.

Protein

Increasing your protein intake can help you feel fuller longer and reduce the overall amount of calories you consume each day. In fact, one study showed that increasing your protein by 15% can reduce your caloric intake by up to 441 calories per day. Eggs are a healthy way to squeeze more protein in your diet. They have seven grams of protein and just  75 calories while being high in vitamins, minerals, iron, and essential nutrients like choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

We all know that it’s important to eat our fruits and veggies, but getting the recommended five servings can seem like a daunting task if you are unsure of how to incorporate them into your favorite meals.  For breakfast, add antioxidant-filled fruits to a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. Oatmeal is great for regulating blood sugar and if you add raspberries, you’re also adding a great deal of fiber. A chopped banana, blueberries, or blackberries are easy to toss on top or on the side and require no preparation. For lunch or dinner, a bowl full of ancient grains, your favorite vegetable, and a savory sauce make a great combination. If you are not a huge fan of vegetables, try roasting them instead of steaming or boiling for better texture and flavor.

Shopping

Always prepare a list and don’t go to the store when you’re hungry. Having a plan for what you need in order to create healthy delicious meals at home will set you up for success. It’s far better than going unprepared as you’ll be more tempted to purchase quick and easy items that have little or no nutritional value. 

An easy way to avoid the temptation of buying overly processed and packaged foods is not to shop the inner aisles of the grocery store. The perimeter of most grocery stores contain the healthiest items: fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grains.

Small Changes

Small changes can make a big impact. Focus on making one change each week and gradually build on that over time. If you like to drink soda, cut back or cut it out for good in your first week. The following week, vow to add more vegetables into every meal. Not snacking in the evening, removing cream and sweetener from your coffee, eliminating juice and eating real, whole fruits instead, and replacing simple carbohydrates with whole grains and complex carbohydrates are other ways you can make small, but effective changes.