People today are busier than ever. Between family and work obligations, healthy eating and home cooked meals are often the first to go. People settle for fast food, processed food, and ready to eat options because they take very little time or energy. However, they are also unhealthy, make you feel sluggish, and even more tired, which creates a vicious cycle of unhealthy eating, fatigue, and the inability to feel motivated.
This type of lifestyle also causes a number of health problems including weight gain, high blood pressure due to the high levels of sodium in processed food, and high cholesterol due to the high levels of fat and calories. Trying to lose weight while on this cycle is virtually impossible. You cannot lose weight while also filling yourself with foods that are overly processed and weighed down with unhealthy fats and carbs.
Research shows that people are ordering food on a regular basis. Nearly all Americans are eating far more than the recommend amount of sodium, and the majority of people are lacking the amount of fruits, vegetables, and dairy recommended for a healthy diet.
The key to sustaining a healthy lifestyle is to find healthy foods that you can make quickly and that you enjoy. Quick dinner ideas, healthy lunch ideas, access to healthy restaurants, and healthy prepared meals are what you need to focus on. The easier you make it for yourself to eat healthy, the better off you will be because you won’t be tempted to stop for fast food knowing you don’t have anything quick and easy at home.
There are a variety of resources out there to get quick dinner ideas that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats and carbs. Easy healthy meals should be based on fresh vegetables, fruits, and simply carbs. For example, starting a meal with a green salad is healthy and filling, so you won’t be tempted to overeat during dinner. Making a larger salad and eating that as your dinner is also a fast and healthy option.
While salads can be amazingly healthy for you, they can also be deceiving. Just because the food is chopped up and in a bowl does not mean it is a salad. Your salad should contain primarily vegetables. When you fill a salad with ham, eggs, croutons, cheese, bacon, and other tasty toppings, you are negating the purpose of eating a healthy salad.
There is nothing wrong with a sprinkling of toppings. For example, you can lightly sprinkle shredded cheese on your salad or add a small amount of hard boiled egg for protein. Avoid a heavy amount of cheese, as well as anything like bacon and ham. These foods are high in sodium and fat. While salad offers a lot of variety of quick dinner ideas, you want to make sure you are keeping healthy at the top of your goal list.
You also need to be mindful of the salad dressing you are using. Some salad dressings are so loaded down with fat and sugar, that you might as well be eating fast food. Dressings that are cream based will always have more fat and sugar in them. You should look for a light vinaigrette that you enjoy. Just be sure to look at the nutritional facts before choosing a salad dressing. Also keep in mind that dressing labeled fat free or often really high in sugar, so they may not be the best option.
Another healthy option is homemade soap. You can make a large amount at once controlling everything that goes into the soup and then freeze it in smaller containers for future meals. Canned soup is typically very high in sodium, so you want to be careful there. Soup or salad are just a couple quick dinner ideas that can help you stay healthy and on track for weight loss.
