The Importance of Healthy Eating: Celebrating National Wellness Month

August is National Wellness Month, so we’d like to use this week’s blog to share some healthy eating tips with all of you. Healthy eating isn’t all about never eating at restaurants and only eating vegetables. It’s about doing all things in moderation and in a sustainable way. We are firm believers that you can have your cake and eat it too– all while still being healthy– so long as you also incorporate plenty of veggies and fruits in your diet.

Healthy Snacks: They Really Do Exist!

When people go on diets, they most often try to cut calories to lose weight. This often includes cutting out snacks entirely. While this will lower a person’s daily calorie count in the short-term, it’s not entirely sustainable. After all, what are you supposed to do if you get hungry in between meals? What happens if you skip having a snack and dinner time rolls around? It’s possible that you’ll end up overeating and taking in more calories than you would have if you had just eaten the snack in the first place.

When it comes to snacking, it matters what you eat, more so than the fact that you are eating between meals. When choosing a snack, try to pick something filling, but not calorie-dense. Good examples of snacks are fruits and vegetables. You can also do the protein route by trying energy bars, nuts, and seeds.

Our Snack Lover’s Box is perfect for Oklahomans who love to indulge in delicious snacks.

Health Benefits of Spices (and Herbs)

Did you know that spices have health benefits, even in small “doses”? Spices like ginger and garlic can both help prevent and treat inflammation. Mint can help to ease stomach aches and nausea. Cinnamon can help to lower blood pressure! It’s truly miraculous what all of these natural foods can do to help your body.

As an added bonus, most spices, herbs, and spice mixes have little to no calories in them. That means that you can add all sorts of flavor to your meals without making them take up more of your caloric budget for the day. Using spices is a great alternative to using sauces, which are usually calorie-heavy, even when just using a small amount. So, next time you cook up dinner, try to add a little garlic.

Benefits Beyond Weight Loss/Control

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are so many different health benefits a person can get from eating a well-balanced diet. This includes benefits for both adults and children! Some of the general health benefits include having a healthier immune system, a better-running digestive system, and even stronger bones!

Rember, a healthy diet can look different for everyone depending on all their dietary needs. A person should take their age and activity level into consideration when trying to find the best things to eat. A person who exercises more will likely need a higher calorie budget. However, most everyone can get something good out of eating more fruits and veggies!

Do you have any fun and healthy recipes to share? If so, comment below!