Calories seem more like an enemy these days than a friend. However, if you change the way you view and use calories in your everyday life it can be quite Calorie-ffic! Here are 5 ways to make calories count in your favor.
DRINK ZERO
The easiest way to consume hundreds of empty calories with no nutrient value is through liquid. It’s a no brainer that water should be an automatic staple in everyone one’s diet replacing it with the sugary sodas, fruit juices, and alcoholic drinks.
GO NATURAL
Always replace processed foods with natural choices like fruits, vegetables, and anything that is whole from the food pyramid chain. This will cut down on the amount of packaged food and unrefined sugars that you consume. Read labels when buying packaged foods to look for ingredients you can pronounce and natural products that claim to be natural, gluten free, and have no corn syrup or artificial flavors.
FOCUS ON PORTIONS VS. CALORIES
With weightloss or achieving certain body goals, often times it’s easy to get caught a calorie trap. Rather than focusing on the concept of calories constantly, focus on the idea of healthy portions and nutrients. Go for USDA serving size and ensure you are filling up your plate with a majority of greens, a lean protein, and a healthy carbohydrate.
CHOOSE HIGH FIBER, LOW GLYCEMIC, AND PROTEIN RICH FOODS
If you always choose high fiber, low glycemic, and protein rich foods for most of your meals, the concept of calorie counting will become non-existent. Fiber and protein foods keep you fuller longer, and prevent overeating, whereas low glycemic foods keep blood sugars steady which prevent eating too much. Go for fruits and vegetables that are packed with fiber and a high water volume which = will leave you fuller longer, and make digestion easier. Likewise, going for lean proteins and foods with low glycemic index will keep your portions in check.
MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR GO-TO FOR ACTIVITY BURNING EXERCISES
Home no longer has to be considered a sedentary place. There are so many activities you can do in your home to burn calories whether it’s cleaning your home to gardening to cooking to washing dishes. Here is a chart that details how many minutes of each of these home activities you need to do to burn a 100 calories
DISCLAIMER: The nutritional and well-being information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional nutritional or medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or health condition.
