Since I’ve been exercising and running more, I’m beginning to appreciate the importance of refueling my body, the right way. For the most part, I’ve never been a junk food junkie, but I’m learning even more better ways to eat healthier.
I’ve never been a big breakfast eater…it usually involved just grabbing a granola bar and that’s it. But, one thing I’m learning is that breakfast is truly an important refueling time, if not the most important.
Yeah, I know, I know….”breakfast is the most important meal of the day”…but it’s only been recently I’ve begun to understand that better.
After we exercise or run hard, then sleep for 6-8 (or more for some :)), our body has to be re-tanked. It’s important to refuel on energy-rich foods. Is this possible while counting our calories. With a resounding, yes! Remember when I talked about exercising burns calories and therefore, adds that amount of calories back into your intake budget.
We need to think about a healthy diet of complex carbs (not just the white, full-of-sugar kind), but better choices of wholesome wheat products, and proteins. Choices that include fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and grains, beans, and low fat dairy. Forget about empty filling on candy, chips and cookies and the like.
For breakfast I now usually have and egg-white omelet with veggies or a bowl of Kashi cereal with fruit added. If I need a quick breakfast on the run, I’ll grab a granola bar or yogurt with a banana. And the way I think about granola bars is also different. I now look for healthier options instead of high sugar, higher, emptier-calorie bars, but now choose a richer, healthier version.
Lunch and Dinner is usually pasta or couscous with vegetables and grilled chicken. I also like to play around with tortilla wraps to see what different things I can put in them!
I also love, love purchasing frozen bags of veggies. They are so easy to pop in the microwave and have a healthy meal ready in six minutes!
My favorite snacks include granola bars, apples and peanut butter or peanut butter with anything :), bananas, almonds, popcorn and yogurt. To really satisfy my sweet tooth, there are now lots of 100 calorie snack packs to choose from.
The main thing I’m wanting to let you know is that eating healthy is not as hard as we’ve always made it out to be. It is however, about being prepared (I always have a couple of snacks with me in my bag), planning head, having a goal and being determined to stick with it.
Remember, it’s not about dieting; it’s about healthy living!
O Happy Day!
These are a few of the items in my pantry and fridge right now.
