Avert a Nutritional Crisis

Americans are overfed and undernourished. Yes! Believe it or not, the most obese children and adults in the country are also the most nutritionally deficient! How can those two things possibly co-exist? I’m Wendy Corr, and in today’s wellness tip, I’ll share some ways that you can get more nutrition without consuming more calories!
It sounds awful, but America’s fascination with food has led us to a nutritional crisis. Desserts like that all-American apple pie have gone from being a treat that we enjoy once in a while to being a staple of our daily diet – we eat too many sweets and too many processed foods, and don’t include enough of basic nutrition in our meals.
The problem is that the standard American diet is energy dense, with too many calories; but nutrient poor – we’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals. Too many “empty calories” confuse the metabolism and pack on the pounds.
How do we stop this trend, for our own health?
It really does start with some simple swaps. For example, Replace mayo with mustard, or avocado. Replace soda with tea. Swap out croutons for almonds, and potato chips for popcorn. When you feel you need something sweet, use stevia or honey instead of white sugar or, worse, something with high fructose corn syrup.
Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables – make sure you have at LEAST one serving of vegetables at each meal, and fit in two fruits a day. And we’re not talking about fruit filling here – two servings of whole fruits, like a banana, an apple, or a handful of grapes!
When you start eating more whole foods, you will find that you get full faster, and your desire for the junk will begin to diminish. Your body AND your brain will thank you!
Thanks for tuning in to Wellness with Wendy! I love sharing tips and tricks to help you live your best life – so for more health and wellness news and advice, follow my blog on mybighornbasin.com.