3 Ways to Easily Add More Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet

Ants on a Log All of us know that we need to start eating healthier and get more fruits and vegetables into our diets. The hard part is actually doing it. For many people, it's just hard to get past the taste. However, there are ways that you can easily add more servings of fruit or vegetables to your diet with little effort. We'll show you ways to cheat and still enjoy your food.

1. Start with salsa substitution.

If you eat a lot of dips, you're adding a whole bunch of useless calories into your daily rotation. Put away that dip and bring out the salsa. It contains numerous vegetables and fruit and the taste is terrific. Better yet, it's fat free and extremely low calorie. You can use salsa on just about anything to make it taste better and you're getting the benefit of adding more servings of these important foods to your diet with little effort.

You can use it with chips, or tortillas, on eggs or pretty much anything. If salsa is not really your thing, try experimenting with a couple of different brands or you can even try to make your own with vegetables you like. Fruit salsa is surprisingly good when combined with cottage cheese or other low fat dairy products. This is probably the easiest way to get more fruit and vegetables into your diet with little effort.

2. Add one more serving of vegetables or fruits with every meal.

At breakfast, have some low sodium tomato juice or a sliced apple. At lunch, you can add in some delicious corn or a pear. With dinner, try experimenting with a tossed salad with low fat dressing. This makes it easy to get at least three more servings of fruits or vegetables into your diet without any effort at all. What's more, these servings will help you fill up faster and avoid overeating other foods that are less healthy.

3. Retrain your palate.

Some of us simply just don't like fresh fruits or vegetables. The key here is to retrain your palate and make your brain think that you actually enjoy them. Start small and add low fat sauces or little things to make the vegetables taste better. For example, you can spread a little bit of peanut butter inside a stalk of celery. Suddenly, that tasteless stalk actually tastes good and you're getting the added benefit of more protein. This makes a great afternoon snack. Just don't overdo it on the peanut butter or you won't be getting any benefit.

Simple things can make vegetables and fruits a lot better. However, you can also try experimenting a little. Just because you don't like one fruit or vegetable doesn't mean you may not love another. Get creative and go outside your usual routine with new vegetables you've never tasted before. You can actually have a lot of fun by trying out all sorts of new foods and seeing which ones you enjoy.

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6 Foods To Speed Your Metabolism

Oatmeal When it comes to losing weight, your metabolism is a very important component as to how quickly you will see results and how long they will last. Years of yo-yo diets and bad eating habits can have a negative impact on your metabolism. Simple genetics can also determine the state of your metabolism and it can be frustrating to try fix this type of problem. However, there are foods out there that can assist your metabolism and help you get on the path towards losing weight more efficiently. Let's take a look at just a few of them.

Apples -

This is a little wonder fruit that does more than just keep the doctor away. By eating an apple you are helping your body regulate its own blood sugar. When you have the right balance of blood sugar, your metabolism is freed up to start burning calories, instead of being forced to horde them.

Oatmeal -

This food not only speeds up your metabolism but it can also reduce cholesterol and lower your blood pressure naturally. Try to have at least one serving of oatmeal a day. Cookies don't count!

Lean Meats -

Your body needs the right balance of protein, carbs and fats to keep working correctly. Lean meats actually help your body balance itself and its metabolism. Again, when you're not fighting blood sugar levels that are all over the charts, your metabolism has a chance to work.

Vegetables -

Non-starchy vegetables are the perfect food for your metabolism. They're filling and balanced and help keep everything in good working order. Stay away from corn and potatoes, focusing instead on green, leafy vegetables.

Skim Milk -

Dairy should usually be avoided, but skim milk in small quantities can actually help speed up your weight loss. Dairy products help balance your blood sugar levels, when used in moderation. Skim milk cheeses can also be eaten in small amounts for this same purpose.

Whole Grains -

While many people try to eliminate all carbs from their diet, but if you must have your bread... Pick good whole grains in small amounts to find that right balance for your body. Rye bread is actually very effective at speeding up the metabolism since it once again helps balance your blood sugar.

There is a recurrent theme with all of these foods. Each one helps your body regulate blood sugar levels. This is the key to speeding up your metabolism properly. When you have the right balance, you can look at your metabolism as a smoothly functioning machine. When you put the wrong kind of fuel into the machine, it cannot function properly.

The best way to determine which balance of proteins, carbs and fats are right for you is to speak with your doctor. The standard recommendation is the 30/40/30 rule, but not everyone is the same. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist to help find your correct balance. With Jumpstart medicine I have 14 protein, 6 carb, and 1 dairy (and it is suggested to get 2 additional dairies via a protein exchange such as non fat cottage cheese or non fat cheese.)

I highly recommed Jumpstart. I have a special offer for anyone in wanting to try Jumpstart in Redwood City or Mountain View: $25 off your first visit (just print it and bring it to your appointment).

 

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