Healthy Eating Secrets

Steam in the bag Broccoli!

What a great technological advance. 5 minutes in the microwave and voila, a totally delicious satisfying snack or meal that is immensely good for you and incredibly good for you. Add the condiment of your choice , it's still a great caloric value. Buy steamer bags on the internet to beat the cost.

Carrots (or other favorite vegetable)

Keep a bag of baby carrots in the very front of your refrigerator. Whenever you open the door (for any reason) you have to eat at least one. This will help you get your vegetables in for the day and keep your appetite curbed. If you don't like carrots or want a change, try other vegetables.

Curbing needless eating

I plan out my food, including snacks, first thing in the morning and put it in my SparkPeople nutrition tracker. I print it out and put it on the fridge. I titled it, "Are You Really Hungry?" It makes me thing before eating--if I'm not really hungry, I forgo the snack until I am hungry.

Water Trick

I save all of my disposable bottles. I rinse them up, and refill them. Then I leave them next to the sink. That way my required water is already right there and waiting for me to drink it. No hassle and can't forget.

Track that Supplement

Don't forget to track those supplements you take on a daily basis. It may take time to input all that information. But it will keep accurate records of the stuff you get that's not from food. Plus a few members have put certain vitamins in already. Check if yours is here.

OdWalla and Naked Foods Juices

These seem to satisfy and fill me up when I want to snack or am hungry. PLUS, they are healthy...

How to Avoid Snacking in Between Meals

Eat meals at specific set times throughout the day and try as best as possible to eat at those times only. Don't eat anything until the mealtime.

Sweet snack/cholester
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fighter

I measure a cup of honey nut cheerios into a baggie and take it to work for my mid-morning snack. It keeps me from craving donuts or other office fair and it helps with my cholesterol.

Budget calories for dessert

I always save 100 or so calories of my daily budget for dessert. This prevents me from feeling deprived and satisfies my sweet tooth while keeping me well within my calorie range for the day. It also helps prevent binging since I know I can have that pudding or chocolate chip cookie.

Strawberries

If you want to add sweetness to strawberries without adding sugar or artifical sweetners, try a couple of tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. It's delicious and healthy.