Last Updated on April 24, 2024
We are all busy. Between work, kids, errands, family, and sleep most of us don’t have time to cook a healthy meal every night. As someone with diabetes though, it’s critical that you are following a healthy diet, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen every night. Here are 6 easy ways to eat healthier.
If you Can’t Pronounce It, Don’t Eat It.
Most processed foods contain chemical ingredients that you can’t pronounce. While many of these ingredients aren’t necessarily harmful, they aren’t right for you either. One of the easiest ways to eat healthier is to eliminate these chemicals as much as possible. Instead of choosing frozen meals or box meals, opt for fresh choices.
Pick Healthier Snacks
One of the worst foods for you is the stuff you eat in-between meals. Snack foods can contain a high amount of salts and sugars, and these foods are eaten late night after dinner. Instead of eating snack foods like chips, ice cream, or cookies, swap those out for healthier options.
There are plenty of delicious snack foods that won’t expand your waistline. Instead of the chocolate bar, cut some fruit and toss it in a cup of yogurt for a sweet snack. While chips provide a salty treat, unsalted peanuts are just as yummy without all the added sodium and fat. If you aren’t a fan of peanuts, unsalted sunflower seeds are a great snack to eat while you’re watching your favorite TV show. Looking for something more filling? Hummus and cucumber or celery are a great way to fill you up without taking in a ton of extra calories and sugar.
Pick Fresh Instead Of Canned When You Can
While canned vegetables, fruits, beans, and soups are convenient, they aren’t always the healthiest option. Canned goods typically add sodium to give them a longer shelf life. While it’s nice to be able to open a can of vegetables and warm them up in under 2 minutes, cooking fresh vegetables is much healthier and tastier.
Canned fruits are not much better. They will last much longer than fresh fruit, but contain tons of excess sugar and syrups. You can often buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the same price as the canned version. If you’re worried about them spoiling before you eat them, you can buy frozen packs of fruits and veggies or freeze the fresh ones.
Prepare Your Food Ahead of Time
One of the main reasons many people do not cook healthy foods is the time requirement that comes along with it. One way to combat this is to prepare your food beforehand. You can chop all of your vegetables, measure out the spices, and have everything laid on the counter ready to be cooked. Prepping the food before dinner can save you hours of time every week. Having your food prepared will also eliminate the desire to go out to eat for dinner instead of cooking.
Eating a Good Breakfast
Skipping breakfast can have adverse effects on your body. Starting the day with a healthy breakfast will jump start your metabolism and give you energy throughout the day. There are dozens of breakfast options that you can cook that will only take you a few minutes every morning. Cooking scrambled eggs or an omelet with vegetables is a filling and delicious breakfast that gives you a great start to your morning. Making unsweetened oatmeal with a pinch of brown sugar is another healthy alternative.
Go For Smaller Portions
It’s easy to load our plates down with food and eat until it’s clean. Instead of filling your plate during meals, makes your portions smaller. This will remove the temptation to eat everything on your plate. If you’re going out to eat for dinner, ask for half of the meal to be boxed up immediately, you’ll eat less and have food to eat the next day.
Eating Healthy
Eating healthier doesn’t have to take several hours every day. With a few simple choices, you can drastically improve your diet and still enjoy the foods you love. These tips can make a big difference in your diet and your waistline.
