Recently, I have been thinking about how big of a difference eating certain foods helps me to feel better. Vegetables and fruit especially make me feel good. Physically I feel good after, as well as mentally. Sometimes you get a little kick of happiness when you feel proud of your choice, because it isn’t always easy. You definitely feel better overall when you are happy with how your food intake went for the day.
When you eat certain foods that you crave, that are not necessarily nutritious, it can be awesome while eating it, but afterwards it doesn’t have the best effect on you. Like most people, I go in and out of keeping my diet mostly healthy, and there are times I need motivation and to be reminded. This is great about the blog. I can go back and re-read what I already know but sometimes lose track of.
Vegetables especially make me happy in the long run, and I have a few ways that work for me to make sure I get enough of them in my diet. Although I try to eat vegetables or fruit with every meal, I find if I dedicate one main meal to being mostly all vegetables it really helps me to get my servings in. For me that meal is lunch. I love to have big salads at lunch. Often times with leftover veggies on top from dinner the night before. When I have pre-made hard boiled eggs in the fridge I love to add that to my salad for some protein with staying power. Days that I am hungrier I will add some left over pasta noodles or a side of bread. But the large meal that I eat at lunch consists mostly of veggies.
Now I find if I miss a day of having a big veggie packed salad for lunch, I actually miss it and don’t feel as good. It works well for me to do it this way. Even though I eat vegetables at dinner, I feel good having had a big healthy dose of them at lunch. Also eating a large meal of vegetables helps me with my weakest time of the day, late afternoon! When I have a sugar craving that is usually when it happens for me. Eating a large meal in the middle of the day is definitely not the best option for everyone, but it really helps me push through that late afternoon crash.
Another good way to sneak more veggies into your kid’s diets is with smoothies. I used to do this all the time with my son. He had no idea. Now he is old enough to be on to me. The last time he caught me putting spinach in his smoothie, he said “Mom leaves don’t go in smoothes!” However, you can at the very least get lots of fruit in. The smoothies I make for my kids usually consist of fruits, yogurt, and milk. It is great on the go too if you know they are going to get hungry. If you put it in a straw Sippy cup than it is not as messy as some other foods are in the car or stroller.
Muesli is a food I just added into my diet for breakfast. I decided to try it out when I saw Jen say that it scored higher on the NuVal scale than oatmeal. As it turns out, I like it a lot better than oatmeal.
When you eat certain foods that you crave, that are not necessarily nutritious, it can be awesome while eating it, but afterwards it doesn’t have the best effect on you. Like most people, I go in and out of keeping my diet mostly healthy, and there are times I need motivation and to be reminded. This is great about the blog. I can go back and re-read what I already know but sometimes lose track of.
Vegetables especially make me happy in the long run, and I have a few ways that work for me to make sure I get enough of them in my diet. Although I try to eat vegetables or fruit with every meal, I find if I dedicate one main meal to being mostly all vegetables it really helps me to get my servings in. For me that meal is lunch. I love to have big salads at lunch. Often times with leftover veggies on top from dinner the night before. When I have pre-made hard boiled eggs in the fridge I love to add that to my salad for some protein with staying power. Days that I am hungrier I will add some left over pasta noodles or a side of bread. But the large meal that I eat at lunch consists mostly of veggies.
Now I find if I miss a day of having a big veggie packed salad for lunch, I actually miss it and don’t feel as good. It works well for me to do it this way. Even though I eat vegetables at dinner, I feel good having had a big healthy dose of them at lunch. Also eating a large meal of vegetables helps me with my weakest time of the day, late afternoon! When I have a sugar craving that is usually when it happens for me. Eating a large meal in the middle of the day is definitely not the best option for everyone, but it really helps me push through that late afternoon crash.
Another good way to sneak more veggies into your kid’s diets is with smoothies. I used to do this all the time with my son. He had no idea. Now he is old enough to be on to me. The last time he caught me putting spinach in his smoothie, he said “Mom leaves don’t go in smoothes!” However, you can at the very least get lots of fruit in. The smoothies I make for my kids usually consist of fruits, yogurt, and milk. It is great on the go too if you know they are going to get hungry. If you put it in a straw Sippy cup than it is not as messy as some other foods are in the car or stroller.
Muesli is a food I just added into my diet for breakfast. I decided to try it out when I saw Jen say that it scored higher on the NuVal scale than oatmeal. As it turns out, I like it a lot better than oatmeal.
Here is my favorite way to make it:
Muesli Breakfast
Ingredients:
½ cup Muesli (the one I have tried and like is Bob’s Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli)
½ banana sliced
¼ cup frozen mixed berries (you could definitely use fresh, but I keep a stock of frozen in the freezer for winter)
½ cup water
1 heaping Tablespoon natural peanut butter
Directions:
In a bowl mix all of the ingredients, except peanut butter.
Cook on stove top until water is absorbed, or microwave for 3 minutes.
While still hot stir in the scoop of peanut butter so it melts into the mixture.
Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
The protein in the natural peanut butter is what I believe keeps me full longer. When I don’t add it I get hungry much faster. You could replace the peanut butter with other nut butters, eggs, or sources of protein as well and still accomplish the staying power. I love how this breakfast is a great way to get healthy carbs, fruit, and protein all in one quick meal that is filling.
Do you have any food suggestions that make you feel particularly good after eating?
Muesli Breakfast
Ingredients:
½ cup Muesli (the one I have tried and like is Bob’s Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli)
½ banana sliced
¼ cup frozen mixed berries (you could definitely use fresh, but I keep a stock of frozen in the freezer for winter)
½ cup water
1 heaping Tablespoon natural peanut butter
Directions:
In a bowl mix all of the ingredients, except peanut butter.
Cook on stove top until water is absorbed, or microwave for 3 minutes.
While still hot stir in the scoop of peanut butter so it melts into the mixture.
Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
The protein in the natural peanut butter is what I believe keeps me full longer. When I don’t add it I get hungry much faster. You could replace the peanut butter with other nut butters, eggs, or sources of protein as well and still accomplish the staying power. I love how this breakfast is a great way to get healthy carbs, fruit, and protein all in one quick meal that is filling.
Do you have any food suggestions that make you feel particularly good after eating?
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