4 Healthy Lunch Habits - Drtohelp.com
Making the necessary changes to lead a healthier, happier lifestyle can be difficult. It is often challenging to know where to start and what aspects of your life will have the biggest impact on your overall health and wellness. When making changes to improve how you look and feel, there are many factors to consider. For most of us, making changes that are convenient are most important. We tend to not want to go out of our way to take drastic measures that will not stick.
That’s why changing some eating habits to reflect more nutritious choices is important. Eating right can make all of the difference when it comes to giving your body the fuel it needs. If you recently started a weight loss regimen and are currently making over your diet and exercise habits, remember to take a long, hard look at what you do for lunch every day. Help yourself enjoy the healthiest lunch breaks possible by keeping the following tips in mind:
Take A Few Steps
Use lunchtime to step away from your desk and take a quick walk. Many times, we get stuck behind our desks or in our offices for hours on end. This trap is easy to fall into, but can decrease the effectiveness of your weight loss journey. Whether or not you are making changes to your lunchtime diet, sitting still can reverse the progress that your healthy eating may be kickstarting. Just taking a few extra steps a day can significantly reduce your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other unpleasant conditions. Short walks can also reduce daily stress and improve your mood throughout the workday. Another reason to avoid sitting for too long is the many health hazards that come with not moving around. These include, poor blood circulation, sore shoulders, back and neck, and muscle degeneration to name a few. All of these risks can have a significant impact on your overall health and negatively impact weight loss.
Even if you are just walking to a bench outside or a nearby park, it is still better than remaining glued to your desk all day long. Give your body what it needs to sidestep the many health pitfalls of sitting. Your mind and body will thank you for walking around, no matter how quick the trip might be.
Bring Your Lunch
Pack your lunch every day to save serious calories. This may sound incredibly obvious, but too many people still rely on the local fast food joint for lunch, which adds up to major calories…and money wasted. On average, eating out instead of at home over doubles your intake of calories, significantly increases sodium and sugar intake and has a tremendous amount of carbohydrates. Although all of these nutrient groups are necessary for every balanced meal, restaurants add an excessive amount that will not help contribute to your weight loss. Even restaurants who advertise a healthy menu can’t compare to the delicious, healthy food that you can make at home. Not to mention how much money you’ll save in the long run when you skip out on spending on food once or twice a day.
Use part of your weekend to prep your lunches so you can easily grab something and go. Meal prepping involves preparing your meals for the entire week ahead of time, so that you don’t have to think about what to take as your head out the door in the morning. Just grab your breakfast and lunch from a container in the refrigerator and you are on your way without having to make a stop at your favorite fast food chain.
Be Smart When You Do Eat Out
Stay smart about eating out, and make it a treat instead of something that you do all the time. It isn’t realistic to say that you’ll never eat at a restaurant again. There really is nothing better than enjoying a meal out, just do it in moderation. Instead of everyday, pick one or two nights a week and make it a special occasion. When looking at the menu, change up what you would normally order for a more health conscious meal. Go for broiled rather than grilled or fried items, and order sides such as salad, soup, fresh fruit or steamed vegetables. Once again, it is important to avoid fried sides such as French fries, onion rings and potato chips. Another great tip is to eat about half of the meal that you order at the time and save the rest for dinner or lunch tomorrow. Restaurant portions are almost always much larger than what a serving size would call for. Try to turn your order into tomorrow’s leftover treat!
Drink Plenty Of Water
Remember to drink water throughout the day, every day to avoid confusing thirst with hunger. When we are dehydrated, our bodies produce the sensation of hunger instead of thirst. This miscommunication between the brain and body can have lasting consequences as we eat more than is necessary. This sense of hunger can also lead us to make poor food choices as a result. Instead of drinking water and eating the homecooked meal that you had prepared, you may find yourself heading back to your routine fast food spot for a quick fix. Water also helps flush out toxins and other waste products, promoting weight loss.
One way to stay hydrated throughout the day is to keep a glass or bottle of water by your desk and refill it as needed. With water nearby, there’s no excuse to not drink up. You’ll also be more likely to remember to take a sip with the water right in front of you. This simple change can make all the difference in your healthy lunch habits.
For more on living a healthy lifestyle, please contact DrToHelp.com today.
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