Here’s another challenge…for just one day, track the servings of fruits and vegetables you consume. If you’re like most Americans, you probably get one to one-and-a-half servings, a day. By consuming a minimum of five (5) fruits and vegetables a day, you come a lot closer to meeting the nutrient needs of your body. And some nutrition experts are now recommending 12 servings a day! I say the more the better. The fiber found in fruits and vegetables aids in digestion and is known to prevent certain types of cancers. These foods not only provide most of the nutrients we need, they help our skin and hair, our immune system, and our body composition.
The greatest benefit of adding in quality foods, is you decrease your appetite for foods containing empty calories. Try this:
The next time you have that “it’s three thirty and I have to have a Snickers and a Diet Coke” craving, try an apple instead. I know, an apple doesn’t look half as exciting as a candy bar, but make yourself eat the apple with the promise that after you eat it, you can have the Snickers. Nine times out of ten, the apple satisfies your craving. You get a little boost in blood sugar, and thus some renewed energy, the chewing and swallowing satisfy your desire to just eat something, and best of all, you save yourself 200 calories that you can use on something you really want, like dessert, or a glass of wine with dinner. Every once in awhile, you will still crave the Snickers, so indulge. And then celebrate the fact that the other nine times you chose fruit You’re on your way to a healthier, happier, more energetic you!
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