Recognizing the Benefits of Healthy Nutrition!

Is the Juice Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Many of us have fallen into the mindset that healthy nutrition is synonymous with boring drudgery and self-deprivation. Not so! Proper nutrition is actually the exact opposite! While sugars, saturated fats, and processed foods contribute to lethargic, sedentary lifestyles, a healthy diet lays the foundation for energy, clear thinking, and a positive attitude.

If your nutrition regimen has fallen into a rut, here are some easy steps that can get you and your family back on track. Realizing the benefits of healthy nutrition is sometimes just a matter of how you choose to look at your new eating habits!

Help your family form a positive approach to nutrition by focusing on the healthy foods you are adding to your weekly meal plans, instead of having a restrictive, negative approach. Don't focus on what you are missing out on or what has been taken away from your eating program rather focus on the exciting new foods you get to try out.

Did you know you have approximately 9,000 taste buds? Make sure you are making choices that are not only healthy, but filled with flavor as well. If you have a sweet tooth, it would be better to choose cantaloupe instead of spinach to get your daily iron boost.

When implementing lifelong eating habits, make gradual changes as opposed to shocking your family with the "cold turkey" approach. Gradually changing eating habits will give you time to adjust and help prevent cravings which lead to binges.

Instead of loading up on bottled vitamins and minerals, try to choose natural foods to provide daily nutritional needs. Especially when dieting, always try to replace those empty eating times with snacks such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Again, it's much better to replace, than to deprive.

Have an ethnic night! Ethnic dishes are very often more healthful than American fare. Trying a new and flavorful recipe is always a welcome addition to the dinner table.

When trying to introduce a new food to the family, especially if you fear it may not be a welcome addition, always make the most positive introduction possible. Your family may be more likely to trysprouts if it is an ingredient in a delicioustaco mealand spinach chopped up in a veggie dip has a much better chance than soggy leaves sitting on a plate.

Snack time can be the "make it or break it" time for you and your family. Provide lots of healthy choices for those between meal and nighttime kitchen raids. Foods such as grapes, raisins, carrot sticks, celery, and fresh fruit can ease the cravings without compromising healthful eating.


American meals have become "all you can eat" feasts. This causes sluggishness and causes your body to work harder to digest these oversized meals. Instead of consuming three large meals per day, it is much healthier to break it down to five or even six smaller meals. Think of mealtime as "refueling" and be sure to stop before feeling full.

Healthy eating is a way of life, and making the decision to choose wholesome, nutritious food is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family. The commitment to change poor eating habits may seem difficult at first, but the lifelong benefits are well worth it. Following these simple, fun steps can change your attitude about healthy nutrition from tedious to tremendous!