Meal Planning on a Diet
If you’re like most shoppers, the weekly grocery run can be cumbersome enough without adding your “Diet Meal Planning”: to the hunt! But again, let’s not diet…let’s live it!
If you have time to read labels for two hours (and sometimes you do) it is a good way to initially familiarize yourself with sugars, fats, carbs and calories in packaged foods. For most of us, we want to get in and out as quick as possible, but make wise choices as we go.
The best advice I can give to the “Diet Meal Planning” is to make a list. Trust me, it will speed up your trip, save you money by avoiding unnecessary purchases and make sure you don’t forget any items for your healthy culinary creations!
The next best advice I can give to the “winger” is to remember the 4 food groups from 7th grade health class: Protein, Dairy, Grain, and Fruit/Veggies. READ MY LIPS…Whole Foods! What is a whole food you ask?
Ok, it’s real simple, an apple is an apple, a potato is a potato, a banana is a banana, a bell pepper is a bell pepper and an egg is an egg…get it? A whole wheat cracker is not a whole food because it does not originate itself…it is made with other ingredients! The grey areas are things like milk, yogurt, cottage cheese etc; which have processes it goes through, but originally come from whole milk, and those are good for you too!
Diet meal planning will help to simplify your main menu to keep it healthy, keep in mind simple is the key, such as a dinner of broiled fish on a bed of greens, several small red potatoes and unsweetened iced tea. It’s all wholesome and nutritious.
Expand your taste buds by including a wide variety of delicious and nutritious food items.
Some of the advantages of eating super foods are they help build healthy bones, boosts your immune system and improves your cognitive function.
The problem is usually the DARK SNACK WORLD, full of dieter contempt!
Do not let big industry or Little Debbie’s push you around! Make your own snacks. Mix up some popcorn and apple chips, drizzle with a tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. WOW, you have a handful of apple pie in every bite! Toss some peanuts and red grapes in your mouth for a quick snack, it’s like a peanut butter & jelly sandwich without the bread! Anything “they” can do…you can do better!
So as you push the buggy down the aisle, let one mantra roll over and over in your head, “Foods, Whole Foods, and nothing but Those Foods, so help me God!”
