Back to basics

Do you live to eat or eat to live?? Whatever your answer is, be certain that you can do it in a heart healthy way. The key to a healthy diet is variety, balance, and moderation. Keep in mind, there are NO "good" or "bad" foods. All food can fit, but some should be consumed more than others. So then what's the deal with "junk food" ? Good news is, there is no such thing! Food can either contain high nutrient density or low nutrient density compared to the amount of calories it provides. Veggies, fruits, and plant based foods tend to have higher nutrient density than animal food products. Low nutrient density foods provide mostly calories with little or no protein, vitamins, and minerals. Try to choose foods with high water and fiber content because they tend to be low in calories and high in nutrient content. Who can say no to more food and less calories?! Making wiser choices is easier than you think. Next time you're ordering at a restaurant, skip the loaded french fries and go for a loaded salad. It may not tremendously cut the calorie count, but at least you'll get max nutrient density. Once you get the hang of food substitution for food density, eating healthy will be a piece of low fat cake :)