You wanted to start eating healthy so you found the newest fad diet. Was it the low carb diet? How about the low fat? Or maybe it was low cholesterol and less sodium?
You followed along diligently for a whole two weeks and then quit because the results were not there... Most of the time these fad diets are overly complex and not realistic. That's why I'm going to explain here how nutrition can be made simple by eating the right foods.
When all said and done, nutrition really isn't that complicated. It all comes down to eating natural, whole foods. This means anything that is not highly processed, such as: white breads, cakes, cereals, chips, candy, or deserts.
But that takes away all the fun!
Yes it does, but unfortunately none of those foods mentioned above are going to give you any benefits towards fueling your body. You will likely get a nice rush from the sugar and then you'll experience that all-too-familiar crash.
If you really want to eat healthy and have proper nutrition you have to stick to fresh fruits and vegetables: apples, oranges, berries, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, etc. The list goes on and on, and you can easily pick a variety in any produce section at your local market.
These foods should be your "core" food group. In other words, all meals should be based around the fruits and vegetables.
You should also include a source of high quality protein. Some great choices are eggs, fish, chicken, or lean meat such as a top sirloin steak. Combine these with your veggies and you'll start to see great improvements in your health and physique.
If you've noticed, I haven't included any real source of carbohydrates just yet. That doesn't mean that they are bad, but for those who are serious about losing weight, the main carbohydrates should come from the fruits and vegetables.
That being said, there are great options for healthy carbohydrates that aren't going to expand your waistline. For best results stick to whole grains, such as Ezekiel bread, steel cut oatmeal, or even fresh popcorn.
Some other great sources of good carbohydrates include: legumes, quinoa, and brown rice. These carbohydrates are especially useful if you plan on exercising at later parts of the day, as they are a slower digesting than fruits.
Last but not least are the healthy fats. Many people think that by avoiding fats they will lose weight; however, avoiding the wrong fats will actually hinder your weight loss efforts.
Some examples of healthy fats include, avocado, almond butter, and olive oil. Something these all have in common? They are monounsaturated fats and help stimulate weight loss and lower bad cholesterol.
By mixing up the various foods you can find hundreds of different tasty meals that will not only help you achieve your fitness goals but help you feel healthier all around. Starting with your core foods of fruits and vegetables, add a source of protein, a quality carbohydrate and a source of healthy fats.
If you can stick to this on a consistent basis, a bowl of ice cream or cookie every once in awhile isn't going to kill you. It's still possible to enjoy the sweet things in life.
Stick to the basics, buy whole foods, and you'll be eating healthy in no time.
By Harrison Bevins
