Healthy New Year | Cottage Grove Sentinel | January 25, 2017 -5
YELLOW BLACK
HEALTHY NEW YEAR | DIET
Y
ou have surely heard the negative effects that fast food can have on your overall health.
Sometimes, you may ignore these in exchange for convenience. Learn proper planning during
the downtime you have available throughout the week to help you get back on a healthy diet.
After ditching fast food, you will
quickly notice significant changes in
how you feel overall. It tends to be
highly processed and contain high lev-
els of carbohydrates, unhealthy fats
and salt.
High numbers of calories also come
with the fast-food territory. These cal-
orie levels are often met with little or
no nutritional value for your body.
PLAN AHEAD A WEEK’S MEALS
advantage of your weekend by picking
a few hours to create healthy, low-fat
meals that can be easily prepared.
A slow cooker can be your best
friend when it comes to completing
this task. You also can prepare a dish
that will hold up well in the freezer
and portion it out for meals through-
out the week.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
TO CURB HUNGER
A busy workweek can throw you off
Another healthy eating tip is to
when it comes to eating healthier. Take always have pre-cut vegetables and
fruit at the ready. When the urge for a
quick snack arises, having these
options already prepared will reduce
the likeliness of going to a drive-
through for a quick fix.
In addition to fruits and vegetables,
invest in healthy nuts, such as
almonds. Almonds are packed with
healthy unsaturated fats that will leave
you feeling fuller longer, while pro-
moting cardiovascular health.
Another easy snack to have around
is easy-open cans or pouches of tuna.
A can of tuna’s shelf life is about three
years and is packed with omega-3 fats
that can reduce cholesterol.
WHY AVOID FAST FOOD?
The American Diabetes Association
reports that an average fast-food meal
contains more than 1,000 calories and
may increase your blood sugar above
your target range.
In addition to increasing your
chances for diabetes, fast food con-
tains high levels of sodium that will
heighten your risk factor for blood
pressure issues.
CYAN
Forget Fast Food
MAGENTA
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