How to Eat Healthy in America
The American diet and attitude towards food is a major contributing factor to the obesity epidemic that has taken over the country. Although fast food restaurants line the streets of every major town and city in the country and chemical-laden processed food is just an arm's length away at every gas station and convenience store around, it is possible to live in the fast food culture of America without succumbing to it. Though it takes discipline and self control, it is completely possible to eat healthy in America.
Instructions
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Watch your portion sizes at home and in restaurants. Most meals ordered at American restaurants are more than twice the amount of food that you should be eating at one meal. When you eat out or at home, be aware of how much food is on your plate and eat intuitively with your stomach, not your eyes. As a general rule, at restaurants, divide your meal in half and take the rest of it home to eat for another meal.
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Stop regularly eating out. Convenience has taken over when it comes to eating in America, which is why fast food restaurants are such popular options. Only eat out when you have to, or limit it to special occasions. When you do eat out, avoid fast food restaurants where the majority of the food contains excess saturated and trans fats, sugars, and processed foods. Choose instead restaurants that offer healthier options.
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Cook your own food at home. When you cook food at home, you control not only your portion sizes, but exactly what is going into the meals you are making. Although it may take more time, preparing food at home will help you achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Avoid the standard American meals. When you do eat at home, avoid ordering in from take-out restaurants. Use fresh, natural and unprocessed foods and ingredients. Avoid using too many canned products, which are often high in sodium, and completely avoid processed prepared meals, such as frozen pizzas and microwave dinners. When you do need a fast meal, choose healthy instant meals and healthy, natural pizzas.
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Stop eating processed foods. Incorporate healthy foods into your diet while avoiding all refined grains and sugars, artificial ingredients, chemicals, and processed foods. Eat a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins such as chicken breast, fish, lean beef, and pork, healthy fats, and whole grains.
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Cut out soda from your diet. Soda is an American diet staple, yet soda is full of empty calories. Even the diet varieties pose health issues, as they are loaded with artificial sweeteners and chemicals. Swap soda for water, low-fat or skim milk, or natural fruit juices.
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References
Resources
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