Nutritional Clutter

It’s spring cleaning time again.  This is when we are encouraged to clean our homes and remove clutter/build-up from the long winter.  Hopefully you are not a candidate for the hoarders shows t hat are on TV now!  Stuff can build up.  When this happens, it’s hard to get motivated to do anything.  It’s the same way with trying to get in shape.  It gets overwhelming—and where do you start?  It’s easier to go home and plop on the couch and  do nothing.

The confusion starts with all of the information that we are fed daily by the media.  Last week, eggs were “bad,” this week they are “good.”  Who do you believe?  Start with the latest Dietary Guidelines .  They are a good rule of thumb to use when looking at your physical wellness.

• Balance your calories.  Enjoy your food—they all fit.  Just monitor portion sizes.  Don’t super-size your take out.  A serving of pasta is one cup—not a platter full!
• Increase the intake of certain foods.  Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.  Use skim or low-fat dairy products.  Make 50% of your carbohydrates whole grain.  Give soy a try.  Choose lower fat cuts of beef and pork.
• Decrease other foods.  Choose foods lower in sodium and fat.  Decrease the amount of sugary drinks consumed.  Choose oils over solid fats.
• Exercise.  Just move.  You burn more calories standing then sitting.  You might as well be moving if you are standing!  Aim for 30 minutes most days or 60 minutes if you are a kid.
• Relax.  In this busy day and age, we forget to take five minutes to regroup and relax—enjoy things.  Quiet is not bad!

There—that’s easy enough.  Now this clutter is cleared away and you can cross it off your list!

 

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