Food is not the enemy

Food is not the enemy, at least I don't think so. I am all about moderation. Since I have been getting fit I have been looking at food differently though, I now see food as numbers. Calories that is. Make sure you know what you are eating, even if it is an estimate. Noom, a weight loss app on the Google Play Market has helped me with that. I know what I am eating and it makes me eat less or eat better.

Realizing what is in your food and what makes certain foods more caloric than others is important to becoming a healthier you. There are a few things that are easy to learn.

Fruits and Vegetables are your friends. Buy them, and buy them fresh. This may mean picking up groceries on your way home from work a few days a week, instead of reaching for those canned goods. If you cannot eat fresh, buy frozen instead of canned. Canned food has lots of salt and is usually fairly processed. (we hate processed) If you don't think you like fruits or veges try different ones. There are SO many varieties. Some of my favorites are Spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, cherries, watermelon.

Lean Meat is great! Lean meats such as chicken, lean beef, and lean pork or lamb are fantastic to keep your plate full without weighing you down. Chicken is my favorite, but here is a good link to some good cuts of lean meat you can find in your grocery store: http://www.nourishinteractive.com/healthy-living/free-nutrition-articles/122-list-lean-meat Remember you want the meat on your plate no more than the size of a deck of cards.

Skip the extras. Things like dressings, condiments, and added extras (like cheese, bacon bits) add lots of calories for the tiny servings they are. If you can do without them AWESOME, if you can't try adding less and less, or switch to a healthier version. I have to admit this is a tough one for me. I still make my own ranch dressing for my spinach and chicken salads, but I use much less than I used to. Remember things like no salt seasonings (pepper, oregano, crushed red pepper) make great no cal additives. Also hot sauces like RED HOT is a low cal alternative that still packs a ton of flavor.

Drink lots of water. Drinking water is only good for you. Keep a water bottle or glass by your desk at work and keep it filled with water remembering to drink it often. If you have trouble drinking your share, adding things like a slice of cucumber, or strawberry can perk up that drab water. Try fresh mint and blackberry, or cucumber and lime. YUM

Try to stay away from bread, pasta, and cream sauces as they pack a LOT of calories per tiny serving. There is a great 45 cal per slice wheat bread that you can find in most grocery stores. I think it is by Sara Lee. Wheat pasta or vege pasta are great alternatives for the regular variety, although pasta should still be eaten in very small portions. Add a large side salad to your pasta dinners to keep your pasta serving smaller and still feel full. Cream sauces are highly caloric, and sadly there is not much way around it. Try pulling them from your weekly menu entirely and treat them as a special meal every once in a while. Sauces made with fruits or veges are much better for you and can be just as tasty.

Again, moderation/portion control is key, you don't need to cut your favorite foods out of your diet entirely, just be aware of the calories they contain and budget them into your monthly menu.

I'll have some recipes for you all soon!