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Nutrition

A Healthy Diet

By Shelly Haag

You won't find a planned diet program, I don't believe in "diets". You will find healthy tips to eating properly that go along with creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Eating "whole foods" will help you in your goal to maintaining health and a strong lean body. Whole foods are fresh, nutritious and wholesome. These are foods that nature actually intended to be food.

Actually, the best foods have one "listed" ingredient....what it actually is! Examples include chicken, turkey, fish, beef, vegetables, fruits, potatoes, whole grains, olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds and things that are in their natural form.

Once the food manufactures get a hold of these nutritious whole foods, strip them of their nutrients, add back who knows what in preservatives, put it in a pretty box that can sit on the store shelves and maintain it's "freshness" for years, you can no longer actually call this nutritious food. Junk food comes to mind as well as toxic chemically altered food.....yum, now doesn't that sound appealing?

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Oils and almost anything else that you can not pronounce nor have a clue what it is I advise you to avoid. These chemicals are not recognized by your body as nutrients and therefore create a toxic environment in your body's well designed system.

For now, I encourage you to eat as many whole foods in their natural form as possible. My favorite diet, or shall I say meal plan or lifestyle choice, is the Mediterranean way of eating.

The Mediterranean cuisine is often referred to as the healthiest in the world for a good reason. It emphasizes higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes and beans, whole grains, nuts and fish while only eating moderate intakes of dairy products and lean meats. This way of eating will certainly keep you lean as well as stave off chronic illness. It is a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and the food is meant to be savored and enjoyed, with a glass of wine if you choose. Sounds perfect to me!

I plan to bring you recipes that you will find irresistible and delicious while still fitting into your busy life. Preparing your own food is more economical, time saving, satisfying and delicious. I look forward to sharing my favorite recipes and tips with you.

To Your Success!!

Shelly

I believe the best way to obtain the nutrients and vitamins your body requires is to eat "clean" foods, in their most natural form. Foods "without labels" are your healthiest choices. The Mediterranean diet is an excellent example on how to choose a variety of fresh, wholesome foods, bursting with the nutrients that your body craves. I love that this pyramid sits on the foundation of daily exercise which is a key ingredient in both health and weight control. Mindful eating, and daily exercise, are the two most important elements which strongly influence your chances of staying well, and living a long healthy life.

A great tool to keep track of your calories and exercise program is

www.myfitnesspal.com

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