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healthy snacks
The new year brings many resolutions about healthy living and diet is often the focus. Having a healthy diet provides nutrition and energy for your body and also reduces the risk of many diseases. There are some simple changes you can make to ensure that your family is getting the nutrients they need and avoiding the things they don't.
Have healthy snacks on hand. Chips and cookies are convenient snacks, but they are not very healthy. Fill the fridge with sliced fruits and veggies for a quick snack. The veggies can be paired with low-fat dressing or hummus for extra flavor. Other healthy snacks to keep on hand include nuts, yogurt, dried fruit and fruit leathers, popcorn and string cheese.
Eliminate sodas and reduce juice intake. Sodas are full of sugar, caffeine and many other unhealthy ingredients. These should be eliminated from everyone's diet as they provide no nutritional value at all. They can be a served as a treat on special occasions. Fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and should be consumed in small amounts. Cutting juice with water is a good idea. An even better idea is to simply eat fruit because it contains the fiber that juice lacks making it a much healthier choice.
Avoid packaged foods as much as possible. Packaged foods contain many unhealthy ingredients. Strive to eat more produce and whole grains that have not been processed.
Try new foods. Visit a local farmer's market or take your kids to the produce section of the supermarket and have them select a new fruit or vegetable that they have never tried before. Trying new foods can be fun for all members of your family and you may discover a new favorite.
Plan for snacks and meals when you are on the go. It is quite easy to pull into a fast food restaurant when your family is out and about. However, most fast food is full of calories, fat and unhealthy ingredients. When you are in the car, make sure to have some healthy snacks on hand or make some sandwiches for road trips.
