Eating
Habits
Yes,
we all have our own. Good or bad, they're ours. But we don't have to
live with them forever. Growing up I did not eat anything that was green,
or had to do with nutrition. My daily meals (lunch) were steak, French-fries,
white rice, and black beans. Almost everyday, the same meal, and I was
happy. Little did I know my grandmother smashed steamed vegetables and
hid them under my black beans, but if I saw anything green on my plate,
lunch was over. That has changed (of course!!). My point is, just because
you are not currently including many vegetables or fruits in your diet,
does not mean you can't do so, and still be happy!
What
is the ideal meal? A nutritious meal that will provide your body with
vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins, so it can turn all
that into energy to keep you moving, and moving healthy!
My
personal suggestion is to eat 6 small meals a day. Wow, that's a lot
of meals in one day! IT WORKS! I have been eating 6 small meals a day
for 3 years, and the results are incredible. Below I have outlined my
meals for one day to show you as an example:
Breakfast
(8:00am):
1 Full Glass of Water before any food
A bowl of oatmeal with raisins and honey
1 Banana
Late
Morning (11:00am):
1 Sandwich (wheat bread, soy meat slices, and tofu cheese)
A few crackers (for the sake of fat!!)
1 can of iced tea
Lunch
(2:00pm):
A bowl of rice with broccoli, corn, and tofu
1 Apple
1 cup of tea
Afternoon
Meal (5:00pm):
1 Nutrition Shake
A bowl of strawberries
Dinner
(8:00pm):
Pasta with vegetables
1 glass of cranberry juice
Of
course, this is not what I eat everyday! I alternate! I love variety.
Sometimes for breakfast I will have a bowl of cereal and strawberries,
sometimes I have my nutrition shake for dinner, and so on. I do eat
meat, every now and then, even though I do my best to stay away from
red meat and chicken, but that's my personal choice. If you like red
meat and chicken there is nothing wrong with that, unless you eat too
much of it. Remember, too much of anything is not good for you, even
fruits!
Why
the nutrition shakes? Well, a lot of times we do not get all the nutrients
we need with our meals. To ensure that my body is receiving all the
vitamins and minerals it needs, I drink a nutrition shake that includes
what I have missed from my meals. I am not the greatest vegetable person
in the world! I love broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, and eggplant,
for the most part, but I cannot stand the very smell of beets, squash,
or pumpkin. However, they play an important role of nutrients that I
am "missing out" on. That's where the shake comes in. I have
never enjoyed taking pills. Sure, you can get vitamins and supplements
in pill forms anywhere now days, and you'll probably end up taking 6
pills 3 times a day. I prefer my shake. I make sure to drink a nutrition
shake once a day.
Do
not forget the water. I personally enjoy the new sports bottles packages
for waters. I purchase them in 24oz, and drink about 4-6 bottles a day.
This means I drink about 96oz to 144oz of water a day. Water plays an
exceptional, significant role in your diet.
My
best advice for a healthy, happy way to handle your diet, is to eat
healthy all week long, as much as you can, and eat the junk on the weekends,
since most likely you're home, and you're off. Two free days to eat
your junk, as long as you eat well Monday through Friday.
Again,
this is my personal suggestion. I bring it to you because it has done
wonders for me, and I hope to be helpful to you in many ways. This works
for me. It will most likely work for you as well. Why? Because it keeps
your metabolism at work all day long. If you eat small meals, 6 times
a day, your metabolism basically does not stop. It keeps "processing
and digesting" the food intake, and it keeps your energy flowing.
You'll be much more energetic and healthy.
I
hope this has helped you understand nutrition and how important it is
to be aware of your body's needs. Of course there is much more to it,
and many helpful books available to teach you more.
If
you have any health issues, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure,
diabetes, or any heart conditions, please consult your doctor before
making any changes in your diet.
© Copyright 2002 Health Exposure
