Sunday, July 17, 2016

Mediterranean Eating Habits That Keep You Healthy



We have all heard of the Mediterranean diet but we can learn a lot more about good eating habits than just copying a few recipes from a popular diet book. Eating healthy foods that do not pack on the pounds is as much a mindset as anything else. You have to practice to develop good habits and always choosing healthy foods to eat is no different.

Mediterranean Eating

Nobody wants to refer to a nutrition database every time you go shopping so it is good to know a few general, and easy to understand rules about good eating habits that will supply all the vitamins and nutrients that you need to stay healthy, alert, and functioning effectively.

Here are 7 healthy eating tips that you want to make part of your lifestyle:

1. Add more fruits and vegetables to your menu.
2. Eat more whole grains instead of refined grains.
3. Grill or saute instead of deep frying.
4. Only use olive oil for everything.
5. Shop local farmers markets where food is grown locally.
6. Eat more slowly.
7. Leave the table a tiny bit hungry.




People who live in the Mediterranean countries that travel to the United States often comment on how expensive fruits and vegetables are in American grocery stores as compared to back home, and how inexpensive beef is here compared to there. "Everybody in the Mediterranean shops at local farmers markets, they are much bigger there, and everybody buys large quantities of fruits and vegetables. Americans buy a couple cucumbers, we buy them by the basket and use them all" said a recent Mediterranean visitor.

If you have a bread machine use it. If you do not have a bread machine, get one. Processed breads available at your local grocery store contain preservatives, high amounts of corn syrup, and are pumped full of air to lengthen their shelf life. You can use your bread machine to make fresh whole grain breads every day. They taste better and are better for you.

It is better to saute or grill vegetables than frying or baking them. Vegetables lose their nutrients when they get overcooked or cooked on high heat. Shorter cooking times retain more vitamins and fiber. Raw is even better. Tomatoes are the exception. When you add fresh tomatoes to a sauce a longer cooking time brings out the more desirable antioxidants.

They say that the French know how to eat - very slowly and savoring each bite. That can be difficult to do sometimes with our busy schedules but it is something worth striving towards. If every bite is satisfying then you will almost automatically eat smaller portions.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Peter_Boston/37814

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