Conditions linked to a
poor diet caused 11 million deaths (1 in 5 globally) in adults in 2017, according to a new study. Eating right is not
complicated but it does take some planning. If you are struggling with where to
begin, CHS’s St.Charles Hospital’s Nutrition Manager Gwen Degnan, RD, CDN, CDE, offers you tips on
what healthy foods and beverages you should incorporate into your diet.
1.
Eat
More Vegetables
Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium,
dietary fiber, folate (folic acid), Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Most vegetables
are naturally low in fat and calories. To start, add vegetables such as
broccoli and spinach to soups, casseroles, omelets, sauces, etc. With summer
months approaching, you can also grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with
red, green and yellow peppers, mushrooms and onions. For a heartier meal,
shred carrots
or zucchini into meatloaf, casseroles, quick breads and muffins. When you have
the urge to snack, keep precut vegetables
handy to add to side dishes or as lunch box additions. Ready-to-eat favorites
to keep on hand include red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli and cauliflower
florets, carrots, celery sticks or snap peas.
2. Focus on Whole Fruits
Fruits are sources of many essential nutrients, including potassium, dietary
fiber, Vitamin C and folate. As an added bonus, most fruits are naturally low
in calories and fat. Make a fresh fruit salad by mixing apples, bananas or
pears with acidic fruits like oranges, pineapple or lemon juice to keep them
from turning brown. Fruit also tastes great with a dip or dressing. Try
fat-free or low-fat yogurt as a dip for fruits like strawberries or melons. For
fun, this spring and summer make fruit kabobs using pineapple chunks, bananas,
grapes and berries. Also, fruit can double as a dessert option. Have a baked
apple or pear with no sugar added for a sweet treat.
3. Eat Whole Grains More Often
Whole grains pack nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, B vitamins and fiber.
Choose whole grains like brown rice, whole grain pastas, breads and cereals.
Look for foods that list whole-grain on the packaging including whole wheat,
whole oats, whole-grain barley, brown rice and oatmeal. However, be aware of
foods labeled with the words “multi-grain,” “100 percent wheat,” “seven-grain”,
or are brown in color which are not whole-grain products.
4. Go Lean with Protein
Protein functions as building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and
blood. They are also building blocks for enzymes, hormones and vitamins. The
leanest beef cuts include round steak and roasts (eye of round, top round,
bottom round, round tip), top loin, top sirloin and chuck shoulder and arm
roasts. Choose lean ground beef. To be “lean”, the product has to be at
least 92 percent lean and 8 percent fat. The leanest pork choices include pork
loin, tenderloin and center loin.
5. Choose Seafood at Least Twice a Week
Seafood contains omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA). EPA supports the healthy regulation
of cellular inflammation, while DHA is important for maintaining
nerve cell structure and function. Seafood rich in omega-3
fatty acids include salmon, trout and herring. Consuming two, four-ounce
servings of oily fish per a week can contribute to the prevention of heart
disease. These fish can be cooked a variety of ways to keep it interesting. Try
poaching fish in an orange juice and herb mixture, or bake fish with vegetables
wrapped in foil.
6. Reduce Sodium Intake
Many already prepared foods and meals you consume at restaurants and
grab-and-go items at the grocery store have sodium because it’s an inexpensive
way to add flavor and is an effective way to preserve foods. However, high sodium intake can result in high blood
pressure and can lead to stroke, heart disease and heart failure. One
trick is to remove the salt shaker from the dinner table and cooking. While
cooking, substitute salt with herbs such as basil, bay leaf, dill, rosemary,
parsley, sage, dry mustard, nutmeg, thyme and paprika for additional flavor.
Pepper, red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper can also add spice to your meals
without adding sodium.
7. Keep Bones Strong
Calcium is important as it builds bone and teeth strength. The best way to
include calcium in your diet is to consume three cups of dairy products, per
day. If you’re a milk drinker, drink fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%)
milk. If you currently drink whole milk, gradually switch to lower
fat versions as the change will reduce the saturated fat and calories consumed
but does not reduce the amount of calcium. For cheese lovers, choose a cheese
with low in fat. Look for “reduced fat” or “low fat” on the label; however,
consume cheese in moderation. When recipes such as dips call for
sour cream, substitute it with plain yogurt. You can also use
fat-free evaporated milk instead of cream, and low-fat or fat-free ricotta
cheese as a substitute for cream cheese.
8. Add Fiber to Your Meal Plan
Soluble (viscous) fiber helps lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol —
or the “bad” cholesterol” that, if high, can lead to a buildup of cholesterol
in your arteries. Insoluble fiber aids in laxation and prevents constipation.
Try to eat 2-30 grams of total fiber each day, and 5 -10 grams of soluble fiber
each day for optimal health. Add fiber to the foods you already eat by adding
almonds to your salad or oat bran on cereal. You can find soluble fiber in
brussels sprouts, acorn squash, broccoli, cabbage and carrots.
9. Stay Hydrated
Drinking water maintains the function of every system in your body. Therefore,
it’s very important to stay hydrated and to drink approximately 64 ounces of
water, per a day (8, 8 ounce cups). If water is too boring, you can add a little bit of
excitement and flavor by steeping fresh fruit (grapefruit, strawberries,
lemon), veggie slices (cucumber, ginger, celery), and herbs (basil, mint,
lavender) in your carafe. The longer you let it steep, the tastier each cup
will be. A trick to staying on track is that every time your glass or bottle is
empty fill it back up. You're more likely to keep drinking if the glass
is full.
10. Preplan Meals
Planning ahead will most definitely help you stay on track. To prepare, sit
down once a week and plan a menu for the coming days. This will help
you avoid stress by knowing what’s for dinner each night. It will
also help you stick to a grocery list and avoid purchasing unhealthy food
products. Plus, as an added bonus, you can start to build a recipe book of
healthy meal options that can be shared with friends and family too.
For more information
about CHS, call 1-855-CHS-4500/1-855-247-4500.