Healthy Eating Habits

There are many reasons as to why one should stay healthy and maintain a nutritious diet. One reason is because 63.1% of America was overweight in 2009. Also, staying healthy protects us from diseases and gives more energy for daily tasks.
Weight problems are caused by the following:
• Hormonal imbalance
• Unhealthy dieting
• Eating too many high carbohydrate foods
• Not enough exercise
What is the most common cause of weight problems? Processed carbohydrates! Baked goods, white breads, pastas, snack foods, candies, and non-diet soft drinks are all processed carbs. By creating a diet of these foods, it can lead to shorter life span, diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease and more.
To avoid becoming unhealthy or overweight, you need to exercise! Temple Running doesn’t count. Go outside, run, walk, or even bicycle. Senior Alyanna Balanay says “Exercising keeps you fit, gives you your ideal body shape and peace of mind.”
Start chewing sugar-free gum in between meals to avoid unnecessary snacking. Chewing gum will reduce the amount of junk food you consume, therefore lowering the amounts of processed carbohydrates.
If you tend to be an emotional eater, tame your stress, have a hunger reality check, and fight boredom. Food may be a source of comfort, distraction, or just a way of keeping yourself occupied. Being an emotional eater often leads to eating too much, especially high-calorie, sweet, and fatty foods, also attributing to obesity.
Tips for leading a healthier diet are:
• Don’t think of food as portion sizes and calorie content, but rather as color, variety, and freshness.
• Make changes to your diet over time; be realistic about your diet.
• Eat with others more often, it allows you to model your eating habits.
• Listen to your body; try drinking a glass of water before you go through the pantry.
• Eat breakfast!
• Eat fruits, sweet vegetables and greens.
• Put protein into perspective: beans, nuts, and soy products.
By following these tips, your diet will be incredibly healthier and you will feel better also.
Junior Liliana Yepez-Connors states “healthy eating and exercise keeps you in shape, you also have improved confidence. And there’s nothing better than feeling good about yourself and who you are.”