Healthy Diet and Weight Loss Tips

We all know how important diet is for our heart, or at least we should know. We get bombarded with enough information about it. However, how much attention do we pay to it? And do we take it seriously? More than likely not. But it is important that we understand there are some simple things that we can do to help improve the diet we are on to help keep our hearts healthier. Once really easy way is to simply cut down on the red meat we eat. Don’t cringe at that, this is not to say you have to put down that knife and fork and banish that delicious steak completely from your life. All you have to do is just cut back on it and don’t eat it as often as you may do right now.

When fixing a meal try to remember that the meat should not be the star of your meal. Simply change the way that you use your red meat. You should consider it more of a complement to your veggies and fruits and not the other way around. When you decide to eat red meat simply make it only fill about ¼ of your plate and then fill the rest of your plate with other things.

Add color to your meals. The rest of your plate when you are eating red meat should be filled with color brought to you by lots of fresh or steamed vegetables. Try to combine a variety of different attractive colors to the dinner plate. This is going to make your meal more attractive to the eye and it also will ensure that you are getting all of the right nutrients that you need. Make sure that you try to include veggies and fruits on your plate at both lunch and dinner.

Don’t forget to add some whole grains to your plate as well and that doesn’t mean a slice of whole wheat bread with butter. No, it’s more like adding something like couscous, whole wheat pasta, or some brown rice. Although bread can be added you don’t want to go overboard on it either.

Don’t forget that you do need protein for your body to function well, but try using other high quality proteins more often over the red meats. So consider picking things like pork, chicken, fish, beans and even veggie burgers. Today’s veggie burgers are far better than they were when they first came out.

You should also learn to cook your vegetables and other meats in different ways instead of always cooking them the same way each time. Consider investing a few dollars in some new cookbooks that are focused on heart healthy cooking. You’ll find there are tons of cookbooks out there to help make your meal planning fun and a lot easier.

Final Note: Whatever you do, don’t cut out red meat all at once, in other words don’t go cold turkey, especially if you are planning on cutting it out forever. Cut back slowly and gradually add more vegetables and fruits at the same time. Much easier on you and your body.

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