By: Ana Margarita Olar | Foodfindsasia.com
Every person has different caloric needs. Your individual calorie needs are based on several factors such as age, activity levels or medical condition.
Nowadays, people are getting concerned with what they eat. One reason is that they are aware of the illnesses brought about by unhealthy eating habits.
Here are some ways on how to make healthy food choices:
CHOOSE SIMPLE FOODS
The less preparation your food undergoes the better. Choose foods which are closer to their original form. There are many healthy foods which you can consume right after picking, washing and peeling.
Apples, oranges, bananas, jackfruits, papaya, turnips carrots, celery, lettuce, are among these foods. Or you can boil them such as eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and banana (saba).
You can also stir-fry vegetables in low-fat butter. The less processed the foods are, the better.
SHIFT TO HEALTHY GRAINS
Whole grain products are healthy because they are low in fat and high in fiber. They also contain complex carbohydrates which help you feel full for a longer time. This will prevent you from craving unhealthy foods.
Are you fond of doughnuts and sweet rolls? Then shift to whole grain bread, ginger snap cookies and angel food cake. Opt for corn or whole wheat tortillas instead of fried tortillas. Replace sugar cereals with oatmeal.
PREPARE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS THE HEALTHY WAY
Fruits and vegetables are healthy foods. What makes them unhealthy are the way they are cooked or prepared. Also, the dressings and heavy syrup are loaded with sugar and calories.
As much as possible, eat them raw, boiled, or baked. Margarine, butter, and mayonnaise add extra calories to fruits and vegetables. To add flavor, choose herbs and low-fat salad dressing.
CHOOSE HEALTHY MEAT CUTS
Select a lean part of any meat products. Chicken, fish, and beef are preferable than pork. Prepare your meat the healthy way, either by broiling, baking, and roasting. Or if you want, you can also fry it using nonstick pans so that you can cook it with a little oil. Use herbs to add flavors to your meat dish.
CHOOSE HEALTHY REFRESHMENTS
The calories that we cut by choosing and preparing the healthy meal can be ruined by calorie-packed drinks. Ditch soft drinks, sugar loaded smoothies, and powdered drinks. Instead, opt for fresh fruit juice, low-fat milk, yogurt, fruit and vegetable smoothie.
There are many conditions which are brought about by unhealthy eating habits. Obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, cardiac problems, and stroke are some of them. So before it’s too late, make your healthy choice right now.
