Eat Breakfast
There's no better way to start your morning than with a healthy breakfast. The key to a good breakfast is balance. Include lean protein, whole grains and fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. For example, oatmeal cooked with low-fat milk and sliced almonds and berries or crust-less quiche with mixed veggies, low-fat cheese and a slice of whole-wheat toast.
Cut Back on Caffeine
Too much caffeine can interfere with sleep, can make you jittery and can cause you to lose energy later in the day. Keep your caffeine intake in check by limiting regular coffee to 3 cups or less a day, and watch what you put into it. Skip unwanted calories and sugar by drinking it as plain as possible. Need to wean off? Try three things: switch to half decaf or tea, drink plenty of water and eat small, frequent meals to keep up energy.
Bring Lunch to Work
How do you make bringing lunch to work easy? Have your arsenal of food for the week. Have the right foods to put together. By stocking up the fridge, you're setting yourself up for success. Prepare the week's lunches over the weekend — bake chicken, chop veggies, steam rice. Make sure your options include a combination of lean protein and carbohydrates. For example, whole-grain bread with turkey, 1 cup of veggies and a piece of fruit. Or, try a salad with veggies and chicken, a piece of fruit and a 100-calorie cup of low-sodium soup. It doesn't have to be a full meal. If you're crunched, get a snack. Go for fat-free or low-fat yogurt and fruit, whole-wheat crackers and low-fat cheese or hummus and baby carrots.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies add color, flavor and texture, plus vitamins, minerals and fibers to your plate. Pick one fruit or veggie you've never tried each time you go to the grocery store. It's a great way to discover new options. Don't let winter stop you from enjoying produce either. It might be harder to find fresh options, but frozen and canned are great alternatives.
Cook Dinner at Home
Making meals at home doesn't have to zap the last bit of your time and energy. The trick is to plan ahead. If the week is cramped for you, then prepping on the weekend is a great time saver. Choose options you can make in advance. For example, cook a batch of soup you can portion out for lunches or dinner during the week, or bake a whole chicken to slice for sandwiches, wraps and casseroles. Use shortcuts such as pre-cut or frozen veggies and keep staples on hand such as low-sodium broth, herbs and lemons for flavoring. A quick and easy idea is to turn leftover beef into stew with beans, no-salt-added diced tomatoes and pre-cut veggies.
Quick Tips
For breakfast eat …
• Berries with low-fat cottage cheese and high fiber cereal
• Whole-wheat English muffin with peanut butter
• Whole grain cereal with low-fat or fat-free milk
• Oatmeal with a side of hard-boiled or scrambled egg
For lunch try …
• Oil-based salad dressing instead of a cream-based dressing
• Salad with as many veggies as possible
• Ordering an appetizer as a meal
• Splitting an entrée or save half for later
For dinner use …
• Pre-cut veggies
• A slow cooker
• Leftovers
• Extra veggies in stir-fry, meatloaf, spaghetti sauce and soup
• Frozen fruit for desserts
This message for healthy living is made possible by funding to the Fulton County Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) Program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.fultoncountyga.gov/partnership-to-improve-community-health
