Diet Digest.net

Living better means eating better. The type of changes in diet that are made should not be limiting or difficult to live with. For people who were raised eating meat, making the transition to a vegetarian food plan or even reducing meat may seem daunting. However, this change may be easier and more enjoyable than they would have imagined, and taking into consideration the enormous health benefits, it is surely worth it.

If you consciously follow a few things, you will be able to make a smooth switch to whole foods without even feeling it:

• Eat more of plant foods like nuts, grains, legumes and seeds as they contain more fiber.
• When you go out for dinner, instead of eating all those non-veg varieties, try all the exotic vegetarian dishes. Many ethnic restaurants – Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern etc. offer wonderful dishes with vegetables and grains. In fact, you can prepare many of them at home. Begin by investing in some good vegetarian cook books and the spices and seasonings that you will need.
• When eating meat, choose hormone-free, range-fed meat.
• Cook protein food either by baking, broiling, poaching, sautéing, steaming or stir-frying. Avoid frying as much as possible because of the calories that are going to be added. Never overcook meats as they lose their nutritional value.
• Move to whole foods gradually and do not be rigid about your diet.
• Eating whole foods regularly provides the body with nutrients and avoids the stress that is associated with skipping meals and overeating.

When you go to the market, ensure you exercise a certain amount of fortitude to resist skipping into the old convenience patterns. The improvement you make in your food choices will pay off in better health for you and your family.

Let’s take a look at some guidelines to follow while shopping:

• Read the ingredients list and nutritional analysis and do not go by the labels, such as “Natural” or “organic.”
• Think in terms of the main dish being “whole grains, fresh vegetable, beans and moderate amounts of lean animal proteins,” instead of that huge meat loaf and baby back pork ribs.
• Buy organic foods as they do not use artificial fertilizers, herbicides and growth hormones. Organic farmers use crop rotations, green and animal manures, organic wastes and biological pest controls to raise whole, natural foods.
• Buy seasonal foods because usually foods that are grown out of season are grown using artificial means. They may have also been imported from other countries, where pesticides that are banned in the U.S. may be used. Seasonal foods are also less expensive and available in plenty.
• Food should look good and colorful food looks appetizing. Instead of being too concerned about getting the vitamins and minerals in perfect ratio, focus on eating colorful food. Make it a point to get at least three different colors of vegetable and fruits at lunch and dinner, to ensure the best exposure to appropriate nutrients.

If you keep all this in mind and slowly start implementing these changes in your diet, you will be surprised at how easy the transition is from fatty foods to whole foods and within a few days, you will begin noticing a difference in the way you feel. Think healthy> and adopt a healthy way of living.