No one eats perfectly all the time, even dietitians. So which lousy habits are getting folks into trouble? Here are the top 10 missteps on our hit list, and how to avoid them.
1. Poor meal planning: Taking a few minutes to plan out weekly meals before shopping for the week will save you money, calories and time.
2. Too many meals away from home: Restaurants and take-out will always mean super-sized portions, along with more calories and sodium.
3. Too many processed foods: Opt for mostly fresh and whole foods and read labels to help make the smartest choices when you do go for more highly processed goods.
4. Too much added sugar: Sugar is lurking in places you might not expect, like whole-grain cereals, salad dressings, condiments and breads. Take inventory of the total sugar in your diet and find ways to cut back on those empty calories.
5. Mindless eating: Instead of just eating when hungry, many of us grab food when we’re bored, tired, stressed, happy or sad.
6. Not eating together: Along the same lines as eating mindlessly comes eating while distracted, over-scheduled and in multiple shifts.
7. Eating on the run: Leaving the house for a busy day without packed snacks or meals sets the stage for diet disaster.
8. Giant portion sizes: You think you can eyeball portions, but have you ever really measured out your morning cereal, spoonfuls of peanut butter or olive oil for cooking? Just do it a few times to give yourself some perspective.
9. Too many liquid calories: Sip on calorie-free beverages like water, unsweetened teas and seltzers in place of high-calorie drinks.
10. Not eating enough throughout the day: Avoid stuffing yourself in the afternoon and evening by spreading out calories, starting with a healthy breakfast.
Dana Angelo White
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