Ignore The Doomsayers

Since warmer weather is coming, it means that soon there will be plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep us healthy and our appetites happy, without indulging in too much meat, alcohol and junk food.  Unhealthy fat comes from a diet of high fat, high sugar and high salt intake that can bring about bad cholesterol levels, bad blood sugar and blood pressure, along with overeating and a lack of physical exercise.  Only a certain percentage of people live by this unhealthy diet, while others attempt day in and day out to eat healthy food from all four food groups.  The pounds you gain or lose are only half of the battle, because the most important half comes from the diet you are nourished by.

Enjoy What’s Available

Taking advantage of the local produce that is in groceries and farmers markets can go a long way towards a healthier diet even if you have difficulty dropping a pound or two.  In Ontario, an abundance of delicious and refreshing vegetables are already available in March, and as the spring and summer months arrive, fresh and vibrant greens will be available to enjoy.

Notwithstanding the availability of meats throughout the year, the selection of produce in March is great for keeping one’s diet in good shape.  Potatoes and sweet potatoes are a great carbohydrate source and are also rich in vitamin C and fibre, while many great varieties of squash are colourful and contain high amounts of carotenoids, B vitamins, vitamin C, fibre and potassium.  Tomatoes greatly reduce the risk of many cancers, including lung, stomach, breast, colon and prostate cancers.  Mung bean sprouts, peppers, cucumbers and mushrooms all combine very well in salads if you’re looking for a crunch that’s really low in calories and extremely high in vitamin C.  Mushrooms are also a great replacement for meat products, since many varieties of mushroom also replicate the ‘umami’ sensation of fullness that meat contains.  Mushroom varieties grown in Ontario include button, crimini, portabella, oyster and shiitake mushrooms, which are great sources of fibre, vitamin C, niacin and riboflavin.

Eat Your Vegetables

Paying attention to your diet is as simple as going to the grocery store most days, paying attention to the available produce and looking for some kind of bargain.  But sometimes local produce is worth scouring for in our spare time because being labelled as overweight or obese doesn’t mean one is incapable of maintaining a healthy diet.


Sources:
The Lancet
CTV
Canada.com