Importance of a Balanced Diet to Start 2023!

It is that time of the year again and you know what that means, diet, diet, diet!
SAIF released an image a few years back explaining some of the details of nutrition, which I have included with this issue of the Chaser.

One of my biggest challenges in the past, has been getting the right foods in my diet and the wrong foods out! My son was studying for his Cooking Merit Badge and he had to analyze the USDA’s balanced plate and serving proportions for what a healthy diet looks like myplate.gov. Needless to say, that is not what our diet had looked like at that time.

When a then 12-year-old boy, says “hey Dad we need to change our eating habits,” I listened. My morning muffin/doughnut and coffee (most of the time, just coffee) was replaced with hard-boiled eggs and granola with some green tea and an occasional coffee. Burgers and sandwiches got replaced by grilled chicken/salmon and surimi Asian salads with lots of water throughout the day. My chips and crackers got replaced by veggies, mixed nuts, hummus, and protein bars. My dinners became more planned and healthier, but I also had to find more time to go shopping and get organized. 

At first, there was no benefit, I think I even gained a few pounds. Then, I started feeling healthier and lighter, clearer thoughts and better comprehension, more energy and it made the little things in life more enjoyable. I ran out of time to watch TV and started looking into dynamic foods and combinations while studying recipes and enjoying cooking time with the kiddos. What I didn’t realize, is that I had unconsciously made a lifestyle change to be healthier and to live better and longer! 

This change may not work for everyone, but I would like to challenge you to starting your new year with some healthier decisions one meal at a time! At the end of the day, there is no reason to work so incredible hard and not give yourself the proper fuel to live out a healthy life!