If you are following a healthy eating plan right now, there is one thing you can be sure of: there are some important dos and don’ts. Too many people get into the habit of looking at one aspect of the plan and focusing exclusively on it. For example, it may be calories, so they think about their calorie intake, and that becomes their main focus. They seek to consume low carbohydrates, and carbohydrates become their main focus 24 hours a day.
It’s critical that you don’t miss the big picture here. Take a step back and look at the best and worst steps you could take in your diet plan …
The best: eat more vegetables. There is no doubt about it; you need to eat more vegetables. Any fresh produce will do. Get it, the more the better.
The worst: drink your calories. One point you should focus on avoiding is drinking your calories. When you drink your calories, you won’t get the same satiety benefits that you would get if you ate them; therefore, you may be consuming more calories than you initially planned. Focus on the calories in your food and drink water. The only exception to this is protein powder shakes.
The best: add more protein. Speaking of protein powder, focus on getting more protein into your diet. Most people don’t eat enough, so more will do. Chicken, fish, turkey, lean steak, eggs, protein powder are all excellent sources.
The worst: go to extremes. Another step you can take is to make sure you don’t go to extremes. Avoid eating an ultra-low calorie diet plan, as this will only lead to slow metabolism and stagnant fat loss.
Avoid eliminating all carbohydrates or fat from your diet plan; you need those nutrients. Balance is essential.
The best: eat more omega-3 fats. Getting enough omega-3 fatty acids is essential, and this is another area where many people fall short. Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the healthiest nutrients you can eat, so be careful to include them. Salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts are great options.
The worst: Forget the nutritional value. Lastly, make sure you don’t get so caught up in watching calorie counts that you forget to consider the true nutritional value of the foods you choose. Does the food contain enough nutrients, for example, or will the food be considered empty calories? A diet full of processed foods will never be a good option.
By keeping these tips in mind, you should be on your way to eating healthier than ever.