National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to focus on improving your eating habits and overall health. I have realistic tips and recipes to help set yourself up for health eating success.
My first tip is to focus on meeting your recommend 2 cup servings of fruit and 2 1?2 cups servings of vegetables per day.
Fruits and veggies add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber to your plate. Sprouts Farmers Market offers a wide selection of local, organic and unique products to fit any lifestyle ,and are known for the season’s freshest, most delicious produce around. They keep seasonality always top of mind and work with local farmers to bring in the season’s freshest, most delicious produce including limited-time varieties you can’t find anywhere else. One easy way to help meet your daily needs is by starting your day with an all day energy smoothie using mu formula from my book: with 1-2 servings of mild-tasting veggies like spinach, 1-2 servings of fruit like pineapple, fiber rich fats like avocado protein like yogurt and water or almond milk.
My next tip is to simply cook more meals at home. Studies suggest that meals prepared at home are almost always lower in calories, sodium, fat and added sugar than meals prepared outside the home.
Preparing meals at home can be healthy, rewarding and cost-effective. Sprouts offers a fresh, friendly take on grocery shopping, where exploration and discovery happen naturally. Besides being known for the season’s freshest, most delicious produce around located at the heart of the market, shoppers will discover a wide selection of natural and organic foods, including farm-fresh produce, bulk foods, fresh meat and seafood. This Asian chicken salad is the perfect quick lunch recipe you can prepare with ingredients from Sprouts. For the dressing, whisk together 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tbsp olive, ginger and garlic and toss with tri color coleslaw, shredded chicken for convenient protein, bell pepper, mandarin oranges and sliced almonds.
My next tip is to experiment with more Plant-Based Meals.
Studies show that eating MORE plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, while limiting animal products, may help support weight management and lower your risk of certain chronic diseases. A meatless monday is a great place to start. Many recipes that use meat and poultry can be made without such as these tacos made with tofu instead of beef. Start by crumbling a block of tofu with your fingers in a bowl and toss with taco seasoning, olive oil and cornstarch. bake for 30 minutes at 350. Serve in tortillas with your desired toppings. Every time you shop at Sprouts, shoppers can expect a feel-good experience and the best assortment of better-for-you products. They take extra care in curating uniquely healthy products to fit any lifestyle including unique attributed products such as plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, and more, all at affordable prices.
My last tip is to SNACK SMARTER.
Healthy snacks can sustain your energy levels between meals, especially when they include a combination of foods. To build a balanced snack, pair 2 food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and protein. Some great examples are plantain chips with hummus, yogurt with fruit, popcorn with cashews, or roasted seaweed with avocado. Sprouts offers a bright and airy farmers market experience with an open layout and it can be an exciting treasure hunt for healthy alternatives and good-for-you products.
