March Is National Nutrition Month

Most of us are aware that we need to make a change to our diet. However, a complete overhaul of our current habits is an overwhelming task. Instead of looking at the whole pie all at once, try breaking down the end-goal into smaller pieces. Each small step that you accomplish is a mini-victory on your way to a Healthier diet.

We have highlighted a few small steps that can help jump start you goals:

Slow Down – let your brain and body register the food that you are eating. Your appetite is controlled by hormones. The hormones will send signals to your brain stating if you are hungry or full. Your brain needs about 20 minutes to receive these signals. There have also been studies to show that fast eaters are more likely to be obese than slow eaters.

Eat Your Greens First – The best way to ensure that you eat all your greens/vegetables is to eat them at the beginning of your meal.

Eat Your Fruits Instead Of Drinking Them – Fruits are most nutritious in their natural form. Most fruit juices don’t even use real fruit. They are typically made from a concentrate that contains excess sugar. Some fruit juices can contain as much sugar as a soft drink.

Cook At Home More Often – This tip helps your diet and your wallet. Choose to eat at home 4+ nights a week. By cooking the food yourself at home, you know exactly what you will be consuming once it is completed.

Replace Your Sugary Beverages With A Sugar Free Alternative Or a Flavored Sparkling Water – Sugary beverages are loaded with liquid sugar which is linked to numerous diseases like Heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep – the importance of sleep cannot be overstated! Our bodies need good and ample sleep to function properly. Example being, sleep deprivation can disrupt appetite regulation.

Eat From A Smaller Plate – When eating from a smaller plate, it can trick your brain into thinking that you are actually eating more.

Learn these tips and more at Healthline.com