We know what we should be eating, but our followthrough is often lacking. Why is it so hard to eat right?
Food is good – that’s why we work out, right? Summer is coming, and we want to hang out with our friends. Along with that comes eating, drinking, talking, and enjoying company. While you’re hanging out with friends, there are some healthy substitutions you can make to keep your “eating right” habits in check. That way, you can still participate with your friends while not completely demolishing your hard work.
Everyday Meal Substitutions
If you’re making tacos, substitute the sour cream with some plain nonfat Greek yogurt. If you’re grilling hot dogs, use turkey dogs instead. For burgers, use buffalo meat, which is even leaner than chicken. It doesn’t have a gamey taste, so it is easy to substitute and you’d never tell the difference.
Take advantage of the nice outdoor weather by using a grill. You will be able to cook your food in a healthy manner while still keeping the flavor. There are many good dry seasonings that don’t add excessive calories or sugar.
Drinking
Along with food, people enjoy summertime drinks and mixed cocktails. Instead of saying you should never have them, I think you should practice moderation. You want to have a life, so it’s all about finding a balance.
First of all, keep hydrated between drinks. Instead of having drink after drink to keep hydrated while you’re enjoying the sun, have a glass of water after each drink. That will cut down on your calories, make you feel a bit more full, and keep you properly hydrated.
When having alcoholic drinks, watch what they are mixed with. Mixers can come back and bite you with the amount of calories and sugar they contain. If you find something with little to no calories that you can use as a mixer, that can add to the volume of the drink without adding any extra calories.
Restaurant Tips
It’s travel season as well, and that means more eating out at restaurants. It can be tricky to eat something healthy, whether on-the-go, at a fast food place, or even at nice restaurants. Sometimes the healthy item on the menu can even be deceiving.
You don’t have to get stuck in thinking that you can only order what you see on the menu. Don’t be afraid to ask for something else – they are always willing to work with you. If there is something specific that you want that isn’t on the menu, just ask. If a restaurant has fried chicken, they also have a grill. They can prepare grilled chicken instead. If you know what you’re supposed to have, you can always find a way to order a suitable meal.
If you compare hamburgers to the salads offered at a fast food place, you’ll often find that there are more calories and fat in the salad. The burger is made of protein (in the meat) and carbs (in the bread), along with some condiments and veggies. Whereas, the salad often has very little protein. The main portion is sugary fatty items like dried fruits or heavy dressings. (By weight, dried fruit has way more calories and sugar.) Try to go for fresh fruit and balsamic type dressings on your salad. That can cut out a lot of the empty calories.
If you’d like to learn more about how to meet your fitness goals, check in with us at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. Call us today at (918) 743-3737.
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