Do You LIVE TO EAT or EAT TO LIVE?

1. Choose only whole grains rather than foods made from refined, enriched flour. Choose brown rice over white, whole wheat pasta over enriched, etc. Make sure your bread or wraps are 100% whole wheat and do not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup.
2. Read the label: If High Fructose Corn Syrup is listed near the beginning of the list of ingredients (or even at all, really), choose something else!
3. Meats: choose fish, chicken, lean red meats, lamb, or wild game. If possible, choose meat that is organic or grass-fed.
4. Avoid processed food and products that contain nitrites or nitrates. This includes lunch meat, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs. Fortunately, at most grocery stores you can now find some of these products preservative/nitrite/nitrate free!
5. Avoid hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils, and trans fat. This includes vegetable oils and margerines and most baked goods. Instead choose healthy oils/fats such as real butter (in small quantities) and olive oil and one of the healthiest oils available – coconut oil.
6. It’s time to cut out the soft drinks! These are one of the worse things you can put in your body! They are just empty calories! Same goes for alcohol.
7. Eat some color! Choose fresh fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors (the more color, usually the more antioxidants the produce has) and try to get organic as often as possible.
8. Sweeten with raw honey or stevia instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Ok, just a few tips to get you started if you have no idea of where to start your journey into good health. So how about YOU? Do you live to eat or eat to live?  If you fall into the “live to eat” category, start making changes today!  Try to just make one change at a time if you seemed overwhelmed at the thought of switching to a healthy diet. Happy eating!