Healthy Lifestyle Tips, Part One

The new year brought in the promise of an inspiring, fresh start…a chance to clean up our act and eat healthier. I’m doing my best so that my family and I live a healthier lifestyle and make healthier choices. Because it’s hard to remain resolute, I’ve put together some tips to help stay motivated and committed to adopting and adapting to a healthier lifestyle.

Breakfast is an important start to every day. Make it a healthy and filling one featuring fibrous foods like chia seeds, oatmeal, and fruit. My day begins with a bowl of oatmeal made with quick serve rolled oats. I combine ¾ cup of oatmeal, a teaspoon of brown sugar or turbinado (raw) sugar, milk, and raisins, craisins or a banana, and then microwave for three minutes. It’s a quick, easy and hearty breakfast.

Chef Giada De Laurentiis makes an overnight chia seed breakfast pudding for a healthy start to her day. I recently bought a bag of chia seeds and a pound of strawberries, so I’m looking forward to giving this recipe a try.

Who doesn’t love dining out – letting someone else prepare the meal and do the dishes – whether it’s fast food, a casual sit-down meal, upscale dining, fine dining, delivery or grab and go. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional meal out, so you don’t have to deny yourself. But if you’re looking for a healthier you in 2019, consider eating in more often.

Finding delicious and healthy recipes might sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The Internet is filled with options. Check the cookbook section of your local library or dust off one of your own. Be sure to vary your meals so you don’t get bored. Here are some of my favorite web sites for finding healthy dinner ideas.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3733/healthy-dinner-recipes/
https://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/healthy-dinner-recipes
https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g4288/healthy-dinner-recipes/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/g154/healthy-dinner-recipes/
https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/recipe-finder/month-healthy-dinner-recipes

Select leaner cuts of meat and poultry for your meals. Ground turkey – 93% lean, is a favorite of my family – as is 90% lean ground beef (which I always buy on sale). I recently bought chicken breasts at $1.49-a-pound, which I’ve repackaged and have stored in the freezer.

When cooking with soups, look for healthier options, like Campbell’s Healthy Request, and don’t forget to check their website for lots of healthy meal options.

Pay attention to your food when eating. Turn the television off. Put your cell phone and iPad away. When you eat, concentrate on eating. Enjoy your food – the smell, texture, and taste. Savor your meal without distractions. Eat to live. Don’t live to eat.

Be sure to keep plenty of healthy and fresh foods in plain sight in your refrigerator. My healthy go-to snacks are cartons of 100 calorie flavored Greek yogurt, apples, clementines, and baby carrots, which I keep on the fridge’s top shelf.

Do you have a favorite healthy recipe or lifestyle tip to share?

Drop me a line in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

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