When it comes to healthy eating, nutritionists are the experts.
They are specially trained in how to take in the optimal balance of nutrients.
Nutritionists also know a little secret.
Food is not good or bad.
It has no morality.
We are not good for eating a salad or bad for eating a pizza.
They also know to avoid the fad diets.
The guidelines for a ‘healthy diet’ are constantly changing.
No wait, they’re actually full of nutrients.
Carbs will make you fat.
Oops, but you need them for energy.
Eggs
Notice we said eggs, not egg whites.
Yes, it’s possible for you to eat the yolks!
A whole egg contains6 grams of protein and only 70 calories.
The egg yolk itself is a rich source of choline, which is an anti-inflammatory nutrient.
It not only protects fromneurological disease, but also helps produce those happy chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
Eggs are healthy, but omelets loaded with cheese and cooked in butter are not.
Spray a pan with extra virgin olive oil and throw some veggies in your scramble.
Start with some diced onion, bell peppers, and spinach.
It’s time to bring them back!
Potatoes are loaded with nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B, iron, potassium, and fiber.
They also contain the new nutrition buzzwords, “resistance starch.”
Enjoying a baked potato or oven-baked fries will not derail anyone’s diet.
The secret is to be choosy with toppings.
Nutritionists are experts at this.
They choose a small amount of one or two of their favorites, then load up with veggies.
Try a dab of butter or sour cream, then some steamed broccoli.
One potato contains about160 calories.
Don’t ditch pasta all together.
Whole grain pasta is a great source of energy and fiber.
Just aim to match the same amounts of pasta and vegetables on your plate.
Some vegetables that pair well with Italian dishes are onions, peppers, zucchini, spinach, and broccoli.
Beer
You don’t have to skip happy hour with your coworkers to live a healthy lifestyle.
Your favorite nutritionist is not avoiding the bar at all costs.
She’s just being smart about portions.
Beer is a rich source of carbohydrates and antioxidants.
For women, moderate drinking is no more than one drink per day.
Having one beer per day might even lower your risk forheart disease and stroke.
In moderation, coffee can absolutely be part of a healthy diet.
Now notice we said coffee, not a double caramel macchiato with whipped cream.
Opt for black coffee with a little non-fat or nut milk.
Skip the sugary creamers.
They never taste as good as the name sounds anyways.
Avoid the jitters by limiting yourself to one cup each morning.
After that, switch to water to hydrate.
You could always add in a cup of tea for that afternoon slump.
Raisins
We often hear to steer clear of dried fruit, because of their sugar levels.
Fresh is always best, but don’t pick the raisins out of your trail mix just yet.
Unlike other dried fruits, raisins don’t have added sugar or fruit juice.
Grapes are not tart like cranberries, so they don’t need any added sweetness.
Just remember that portion sizes are still important.
One cup of grapes is equal to aboutone-fourth cup of raisins.
Toss some in with your yogurt, nuts, or celery snack in the afternoon.
Studies have shown that people who eat peanut butter regularly are actuallyhealthier overall.
Peanut butter is high in protein, keeping you feeling full.
confirm to opt for natural peanut butter.
Other kinds are full of junk like high fructose corn syrup and trans fats.
Bread is not the enemy.
Refined (white) bread has been stripped of the bran and germ.
The bran and germ contain most of bread’sfiber and vitamins.
Bacon
Like with any decadent food, small portions are the way to go.
Bacon gives food a rich, smoky flavor, and you don’t need much to taste it.
Nutritionists don’t deprive themselves of the foods they love most.
Bacon has gotten a bad rap because it is high in saturated fat.
If you’re a bacon addict, try using it as a topping instead of the main course.
For breakfast, make a veggie egg scramble, then sprinkle half a slice of bacon over your plate.
Vegetables cooked with a little bacon are unbelievable.
Toss some in with your Brussels sprouts or green beans.
Birthday cake
Yes, birthday cake and sugar cookies and pastries are still okay to eat.
The trick is to enjoy them on special occasions.
Nutritionists know when the splurge is worth it and go for it.
This keeps them from feeling deprived and hungry.
Treat yourself when it’s worth it and pass when it’s not.
