Did you know that one cup of grapes is only about 100 calories? On the other hand, one cup of French fries from a fast food restaurant may have up to four times that amount of calories. Pair those grapes with water instead of a sugary soda and you’ve just made a healthy snack choice. Need more ideas?
Making some fairly simple changes such as substituting fruit for higher calorie snacks can help make 2014 a healthy year. Steaming vegetables instead of frying them, making sure portions sizes aren’t too big, and drinking water throughout the day are a few other things that can help make the body healthier.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s the amount of food you we eat, not the number of calories, that makes us feel full. This chart from the CDC shows what can be substituted for higher calorie foods and will still make the body feel full:
Eating breakfast every day also helps to keep away urges to eat more food throughout the day.
Becoming more physically active can also help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Just making a few changes such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking your car farther away from a store entrance, or going for a hike on a local trail can help you become more active which will not only help you feel better but can also reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Making better choices when it comes to diet and exercise will help make 2014 a healthier year!
Want to find some healthy recipes? Click HERE.
Want to learn more about the benefits of physical activity and how much you should be getting each week? Click HERE.
