STRONG IDEA: A Positive Approach to Nutrition – Part 3 of 5
By Emily Stapleton on April 29, 2013 from Strong Ideas via Connect-Bridgeport.com
This is the third post in a 5-week series on nutrition. As a reminder, I’m not a nutrition expert; just a regular Jane, trying to make today a little healthier than yesterday. This is a positive approach to nutrition. You won’t read about eliminating anything. So read on, and stay tuned over the next few weeks to discover some simple, positive steps to better nutrition.
Week 1 was all about water and hydration. Didn’t read the first post? Click here to read. I urge you to take this one step at a time. So, if you haven’t increased your water consumption, start there and come back next week to move forward.
Week 2: Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Last week the focus was on fruits and vegetables. If you missed last week’s post, click here to get up to speed. If you’re still reading and haven’t read the first two posts, you may just want a quick summary, so…here it is. Fruits and vegetables contain vital nutrients and most of us are not getting enough. Most people need approximately 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day. I don’t recommend measuring every portion that you consume. Keep it simple. The idea is to consume a fair amount of fruits and vegetables.
Why do we need protein? Proteins are a part of every cell, tissue, and organ in the human body. These proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced through protein that we eat (after it is broken down into amino acids).
While researching for this post, I repeatedly came across one fact: most American adults get plenty of protein. In recent years, many diets have been introduced that encourage a high protein diet. People who lose weight while following these diets, like do so because they eliminate other foods, not necessarily because they increase protein. They were likely already getting enough protein.
Here are some examples of foods that contain protein:
• Meats, poultry, and fish
• Beans and peas
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Milk and other dairy products
As you will notice, the traditional American diet already contains some or all of these foods. Since most of us are already getting the protein that we need, this week is going to be super easy. Just make sure you are consuming one of the above foods three or four times per day. You don’t need a large portion size to get what you need, so keep the portion sizes reasonable.
Write it down. Continue to log your water consumption, as well as your fruit and vegetable consumption. This week, add protein to your log. Keep this really simple. Just make a mark each time you consume a protein source. In my experience, writing down what you eat keeps you focused and leads to better overall compliance to a plan. So if you’re serious about improving your eating habits, write it down!
Until next week,
Emily Stapleton
Emily Stapleton
