Wednesday, March 26, 2008

How to fail at nutrition

After writing for A Sizable Apple for 8 months now, what I know about nutrition has significantly grown. Based on what I’ve learned, I’ve decided to compile a ‘how to’ on what I’ve learned, in reverse. Here’s my take- how to fail at nutrition.

  1. Shop unprepared:

Heading to the grocery store listless can be a horrible mistake. Pair it up with running on errands on an empty stomach, and your trip can be seriously hazards to your health. Be empowered, and shop on a mission! The grocery store is the most vital stop to managing your waist line. Know what you’re going for, be it recipes already in mind, or a list of what’s missing from the pantry.

  1. Skip breakfast

It’s called the most important meal of the day for a reason! If you’re normally not quite a morning person, pre-pack your morning start. No matter what, eat up! Breakfast helps keep your metabolism in check for the rest of the day.

  1. Forget the labels

I’m no nutritionist, but knowing the basics on the back of packaging is easy and important! Make sure the serving size number matches up with what your normal serving is, and that you’re not spending your precious calorie dollars all in one place.

  1. Pass up on all produce because of the expense

Fresh produce can get pricy, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it all together. Fruit and veggies come in a variety of different options, most of which keep longer in your fridge and put your wallet at ease. Make the best out of the frozen food section and canned fruits and veggies as well.

  1. Be bland

Keeping up with the best nutrition requires creativity. Cut calories with olive oil in a spray bottle, substitute pasta and potatoes with cauliflower or tofu noodles. Keep up with food blogs, helpful nutrition magazines and healthy sites that promote healthy eating.

Mastering eating well is a difficult feat, but a little creativity and attention can go a long way from bringing home healthy goods from the grocery store, to learning how to eat them properly once they are home.