by kelsey | Feb 9, 2011 | Diet, Etc., Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Do you get your 5 a day? I am referring to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which is a very essential part to a healthy diet! A higher consumption of fruits and vegetables not only aids in heart disease prevention, but it also helps promote a healthy weight, prevention of diseases such as diabetes, and gastrointestinal health.
Fresh and frozen varieties offer more nutrients compared to canned or juice products due to the processing. In addition, it’s very important to get a variety of colors!
Did you know that only 17% of South Dakotans are actually getting their “5 a day”!?! WOW! So next time you get the itch for a snack, grab an apple or orange…and double your serving of vegetables at your dinner to get you closer to that “5 a day.”
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 3, 2011 | Diet, Food, Weight Management
When drinking liquids containing calories, we usually do not compensate by eating less food. One can of regular soda pop contains 150 calories, while 1 can of diet soda pop contains 0 calories. While I am not promoting soda pop, I do believe diet soda is a healthier choice over regular soda pop, if water does not satisfy your taste buds. In fact the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association both recommend sugar substitutes over sugar for weight management and blood glucose control.
In addition to the sugary beverages, you have to be aware of the calories in alcoholic beverages. There are about 100-120 calories in about 12 oz of light beer and 150-170 in 12 oz of regular beer. So if you have a few alcoholic beverages in a sitting, the calories can add up quickly! With the Superbowl approaching you may want to increase your awareness of what and how much you are drinking. Personally, I would rather “eat” my calories than “drink” them, so when I get ready to watch the big game on Sunday, I’m going to opt for a lower calorie drink such as my favorites Diet Coke or Diet Mtn Dew so that I can really enjoy the food selections.
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Feb 2, 2011 | Diet, Holidays, Weight Management
Did you know that a handful of chips, a handful almonds, a handful of chex mix, and 2 regular soda pops totals about 750 calories!? WOW! That’s almost half of the calories we should be taking in a day!
When preparing snacks and food for a party such as the Superbowl, it’s important to try to incorporate a few healthy items into the mixture. This is especially important if you are watching your waist line. Below are a few snack ideas for you as you prepare your menu.
- Low fat, whole grain, or baked chips with salsa
- Fat free or whole grain wraps with lean lunch meat and veggies
- Thin pizza with lean meats such as hamburger or Canadian bacon (stay clear or thick crust and more processed meats like pepperoni and sausage)
- Trail mix with healthy nuts such as almonds and walnuts
- Fresh veggie and/or fruit trays
- Dips made with low fat cream cheese or sour cream and whole grain crackers or chips
- Avoid or limit of any foods that are breaded, fried, and creamy!
Stay tuned to my next post regarding liquid calories!
-Kelsey
