5 Swaps for Better Health

It's so easy to make simple swaps in your diet to get the most out of every meal without eating things that might not be the healthiest for you. I've got some wonderfully simple swaps to help you enjoy all of the meals you love but with some added health benefits :)

DITCH WHITE RICE

White rice is devoid of any nutritional value whatsoever so it's time you kick it to the curb. Every meal you would use white rice in, you can easily swap for more nutritious rices / grains and you really won't notice the difference. For example, brown rice and wild rices both contain nutrients not found in white rice and are easy to swap in. You can also play with other grains like barley, quinoa, and couscous because all of these are delicious and easy to substitute. You can truly enjoy any meal that you'd typically enjoy with white rice by swapping in any of these other options and you won't notice the difference!

KEEP FRUIT HANDY WHEN SWEETS CRAVINGS KICK IN

I'm guilty of taking up anyone who offers me a sweet treat at work but I really do try to avoid processed white sugars at all costs. The easiest thing I've found for tackling that craving for candy, pastries, or chocolate, is to snack on sweet fruits. Not all fruits have worked but fruits like watermelon, apples, blueberries, and pineapple, all offer up that delicious sweetness I crave without any of the empty, sugary calories. Fruit still contains sugars but they're all natural and you also get the added benefit of nutrients and antioxidants. trust me, it might take a little while to get into the habit of eating fruit when the craving strikes but I can guarantee it will work. Also, if that craving is just too hard to beat, snack on a couple squares of dark chocolate with your fruit for an antioxidant boost

AVOID A BROWN PLATE

Look, fried food is life, we all know this, but there has to be a compromise. If you're at a restaurant or even at home and your plate has brown syndrome, chances are it's also lacking in any nutritional value which is not good for your body. Make sure to try and always have a fresh salad on the side of any naughty food you're eating to get the best of both worlds.  Keep a salad in the fridge and serve yourself up half a plate of the greens to balance out the other half of the plate that is brown, naughty, and delicious.

ALWAYS ROOM FOR A PLUS 1 WHEN IT COMES TO VEG

In almost every case, your meal can handle one more veg. When it comes to salads, you can always add something extra like cabbage for crunch or shredded carrots. Blending your tomato sauce? Try blending in a couple cups of fresh spinach for a boost of nutrients. Eating a burger or sandwich? Load up on fresh veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Making mashed taters? Try adding some boiled or steamed veggies like carrots, cauliflower, or sweet potato to amp up the nutrition factor. Like I said, there's always room for one more veg in any meal you make!

KEEP WATER CLOSE AT ALL TIMES

Up until about 4 years ago, I was guilty of drinking almost no water in a day. Instead, I was drowning myself in drinks like cappuccinos, pop, juices, and other sugary crap. I started keeping water with me at all times and now people are constantly telling me I drink a lot of water and I've stopped noticing it myself. After a week or two, you won't even notice that you've added water to your daily routine. I keep a glass or refillable bottle of water with me at all times to avoid being caught in a situation where I'm thirsty and decide to snatch up something that isn't really good for me. The fact is, drinking enough water has SO MANY benefits for our bodies including proper hydration, preventing irregularity in our bowels, and keeping our skin looking flawless.

I'm not a nutritionist by any means but these are simple things you can do in your every day life to amp up your nutritional values in a day. it doesn't take a nutritionist to know that sweets like candy and milk chocolate are nasty for us or that white rice is a nutritional disaster. By making these simple swaps part of your everyday routine, you're doing wondrous things for your body and overall health :)

HAPPY VEG