Ask the Experts Blog

Eat your way to health in 2016! Lakeland Registered Dietitian, Christina Sheldon, will help you conquer your weight loss resolutions using simple, but effective techniques.

• Cook Socially: Getting your family members and friends involved with cooking healthy meals and treats can help you stay on track with your nutritional goals. Loved ones serve as a great support system and can hold you accountable for what you eat.
• Create an Ideal Plate of Food: Strive to include fruits, grains, protein, and vegetables in every meal. The ChooseMyPlate.gov icon is great visual illustration of what an ideal plate should feature. Half of the plate should include non-starchy fruits and vegetables. A quarter of the plate should consist of lean proteins (about the size of a woman’s palm), and the remaining quarter should be a whole grain or starchy vegetable, like brown rice or sweet potatoes. MyPlate recommends three servings of low-fat dairy each day.
• Develop a Healthy Mindset: Mindset is a powerful tool when it comes to accomplishing any goal. Make a commitment to eating healthier, and hold yourself accountable. Create a mindset to make healthier choices when it comes to what you eat. Remember, making small changes to your daily routine, can lead to big differences in improving your overall health. For example, bring your lunch to work versus eating out, cook at home more, practice portion control, and replace pop with fruit-infused water.
• Eat Breakfast: Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, as eating a healthy and filling meal in the morning helps boost metabolism and control the amount of calories consumed throughout the day. Try eating oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or whole grain toast spread with peanut butter and flaxseed.

• Record what You Eat Daily: Food journaling apps help track daily caloric intakes and determine the nutritional value of the foods you eat. Logging what you eat can be one of the best ways to achieve weight loss because it helps you be accountable for what and how much you eat every day. Be specific about the amount and kind of food items you eat. Some apps will allow you to scan food products, provide recommended caloric and protein requirements, track steps, and even rate how healthy food items are. View our Top 10 Health Apps Here

Watch the video below to learn more about how you can conquer the grocery store!