Eating the right foods is essential to being healthy and feeling good overall. Chatelaine health editor Laurie Jennings stopped by to show us the simple things you can do to stay slim and be in tip-top shape.
Portion size is the key to success:
You can have your cake and eat it, too! The important thing to note is portion size.
The difference between choosing a bowl of popcorn and a bowl of potato chips is hundreds of calories—not to mention the fat and sodium levels, Laurie says.
If you’re craving chocolate or sweets, lavender is a great scent to have on hand to help squash those urges. It doesn’t matter whether it is incense, hand cream, or even natural lavender buds.
Never underestimate the power of breakfast:
If you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to eat 20 per cent more come lunchtime, Laurie says. If you’re unable to eat before heading out the door, take your meal with you. This high-fibre oatmeal square recipe from Chatelaine is great to make for a pack-and-go type of day.
If oatmeal squares aren’t your type of breakfast, classic steel-cut oats are easy to premake. Prepare a batch on the weekend, and portion it out for the week.
30 minutes of exercise is better than one hour:
Research shows that it isn’t going to help weight loss any more if you exercise one hour, versus 30 minutes. It’s easier to fit in 30 minutes of exercise versus finding one hour of free time in your schedule, Laurie says.
As a further incentive, Laurie says that people who exercise regularly are more likely to earn a higher wage, since exercise boosts confidence, productivity, and alertness.
Don’t forget the protein!
Be sure to load up on healthy proteins. These include chicken, tofu, lentils, quinoa, and even Greek yogurt. Protein helps kick-start the metabolism, therefore helping the digestion process along and aiding in weight loss.
Lastly, when in doubt, take a careful look at the nutrition facts. They’re there for a reason, and give you the necessary, standardized information as to how much you are consuming per serving. Just because something looks healthy doesn’t mean it actually is.
What food choices do you make to stay healthy? Share them in the comments below!
Watch the full segment here: