Let's Focus Nutrition: Clean Out the Pantry
One of the most important things you can do when you are trying to get in shape is to pay attention what you are eating. This does not take a lot of time away from your busy schedule and you will feel much healthier when you eat the right foods in the right proportions. Sooo. Who's ready to get off that Struggle Bus?
Let's start out by getting rid of those unhealthy temptations in your pantry. Sorry chips, cookies, and all you other culprits but your time is up. Time to replace these unhealthy and overly processed snacks and staples with healthier choices. Now I KNOW this can be difficult for most people seeing as how the majority of these are considered "go to" comfort and easy snacks, but by making small changes a little at a time it could make it easier. You want to start by reading your labels nutritional info and the ingredients in them. Concentrate on getting rid of refined carbs, sodium, and added sugars.
Purge the junk: Okay, so don't try to get rid of and replace EVERYTHING all at once as this could not only be expensive but could lead to not acceptable by all members of the family. Instead let's do this one or a few items at a time so it's not only less shocking to our budget but also easier to ease into a healthier lifestyle that will stick with you and your family in the long run. Chips, sugary cereals, candy, white sugar, and anything else that has ingredients you can't pronounce on the label. Look for products that have the LEAST amount of ingredients listed. Donate whatever can be saved or toss out everything else.
Once you purge you want to slowly replace (as mentioned above you don't have to do it all at once) these things with items that are healthier and taste good as well. Some the best things you want to stock your pantry with are: Dried beans, Healthy grains, no sugar cereals, oatmeal, etc.
If such an overhaul sounds too drastic and has you throwing in the towel early on your healthy resolutions, don’t be discouraged. There are countless incredible swaps you can make to not only make more nutritious versions of your favorite guilty-pleasure foods, but also diversify your gut with a variety of ingredients. Examples include nut flour for pie crusts, or almond and cassava flour for cookies. Also, arrowroot powder is an excellent thickener for sauces, soups, stews, and puddings. Bonus: It’s also a wonderful stimulant for circulation and metabolism.
The bottom line is you can google to find better replacements for those unhealthy options... it comes down to are you willing to make those small changes to make a difference in your health? More info and tips coming in our next blog "Meal Plan Suggestions"