| > | | | | function properly. We need carbohydrates, |
| In this great nation where you and I live we are | | | | proteins, and fats. |
| seeing the newest diet fads coming along, claiming | | | | Everybody's friend, complex carbohydrates, like |
| to be the only way to fix the ever-increasing | | | | wheat bread, bran cereals, legumes, and |
| obesity epidemic. It is hard to tell the good advice | | | | vegetables give us energy and make us think a |
| from the bad and those that do not work or are | | | | little better or more clearly. |
| unhealthy. | | | | Proteins, that are in many foods like grains, beans, |
| In this great nation where you and I live we are | | | | fish, and poultry make our bones, cartilage, |
| seeing the newest diet fads coming along, claiming | | | | muscles, blood and skin stronger and better. |
| to be the only way to fix the ever-increasing | | | | Fats that are naturally found in nuts, oils, fish are |
| obesity epidemic. It is hard to tell the good advice | | | | also much needed. |
| from the bad and those that do not work or are | | | | We also demand plenty of water. The best way |
| unhealthy. | | | | to eat, is to eat all day. Not stuff your face all |
| This nation does have a problem. This epidemic | | | | day, but a good breakfast, a good healthy lunch, |
| comes with a rise in heart disease, diabetes, high | | | | and a good healthy dinner. Small proportions of |
| blood pressure, and so on. It is time for you and I | | | | good healthy food of every kind. You also need |
| to take control of our lives and do something | | | | to squeeze in snacks between those meals, good |
| about it. | | | | snacks. Don't get too hungry before eating and |
| I have a very good idea for the reasons behind | | | | don't overeat when you do. This will keep your |
| this epidemic in our nation, but that is another | | | | metabolism in good running order. |
| article. | | | | Being busy and not having enough time to eat |
| Food is am important part of our lives. It | | | | right is a bad excuse. If you don't eat right you |
| comforts us, we use it to entertain, to show off | | | | will lose precious energy, not be able to think fast |
| our cooking skills and to survive. You and I just | | | | and right, and will end up wasting a lot of time. |
| need to refocus better on why and when we | | | | Shopping right is where it all starts. You don't need |
| consume it and do it in a more nutritious and | | | | the canned foods, or processed foods for a quick |
| smarter way. We can still enjoy all the foods we | | | | meal. Frozen vegetables are flash frozen and are |
| love, but just need to pay a little closer attention | | | | fine, and still have all the nutrients. When you cook |
| to our consumption. We just need to know when | | | | them though, please don't boil them to death. Just |
| to start and when to stop. | | | | steam them for a few minutes. If they get over |
| Then there is the exercise part that we have no | | | | 115 degrees they lose their important nutrients. If |
| time to do. I am guilty of driving around the | | | | you boil them to death, throw them away and |
| parking lot for 15 minutes looking for the parking | | | | just drink the water, it's better for you. Frozen |
| place 30 feet closer to the door. I see others | | | | fruit is also a good one. There's nothing like a fruit |
| doing it everyday, so I'm not the only lazy one in | | | | smoothie. A perfect breakfast is a couple of eggs |
| the world. How lazy is that though? I am not | | | | on whole grain bread, and a bowl of fruit. You get |
| parking in the back of the lot on purpose now so | | | | your protein with the eggs, your carbs with the |
| I can walk just a little more. | | | | bread, and a good start on some nutrients. There |
| It is a mind set we need to get in. The mind is | | | | are so many good quick and easy meals that are |
| the most important part. We have to train our | | | | good for you. The ones that take all day and |
| mind to want, to need, and to make us do things | | | | night to prepare and cook are usually not good |
| we need to start doing automatically so we can | | | | for you. Sure they taste great, but are loaded |
| start to live healthy, full, good lives. | | | | with things you don't need and you end up eating |
| So what you and I need to do is: | | | | too much, because you are sampling while you |
| - Eat right, which is consume more healthy foods | | | | cook. Buy plenty of fruits, vegetables, low fat |
| in the right proportions and just a little less of the | | | | yogurts, packages of dried fruit for smacks, fish, |
| foods that are not good and that we have | | | | poultry, legumes, eggs, low fat milk, bran cereals, |
| learned to love. | | | | whole grain bread and things like that. You can |
| - Squeeze in some sort of physical activities, or | | | | make some quick easy meals that are very good |
| exercise. Just walk a little more is a good start. | | | | for you. Plan ahead, make a list and stick to it. |
| - Think a little smarter and get into the right | | | | Don't shop when you are hungry either, I'm sure |
| mindset. | | | | you've heard that before. |
| Smart food choices are simple. Your body needs | | | | You and I have to help end this epidemic in our |
| food for energy and food helps speed up your | | | | nation. Let's start with ourselves, and our families, |
| metabolism. Starving yourself only will slow down | | | | and then our families will spread it to their families |
| your metabolism and cause you to lose energy | | | | and friends. We can do it. Just get in the right |
| and your body will not burn off the calories as | | | | mindset, park far away from where you need to |
| quickly. | | | | go and walk, and eat right all day long. It's just |
| Our diet must consist of all kinds of foods to | | | | that simple. |