Eat well.

Today it is easier than ever to eat. In fact, there are over 1,000 options of cereal and 24 types of milk to choose from! We can conveniently eat in restaurants, fast food establishments and coffee shops, spending hours each day consuming food and beverages without having to prepare anything.

Additionally, portion sizes have increased significantly. Since the 1970’s, the size of a dinner plate increased by 1.5 inches to accommodate all that extra food. A breakfast muffin that used to be 1 ½ ounces now averages 4 ounces and an additional 290 calories. A turkey sandwich at lunch is 500 calories more than it was previously, and pasta with meatballs has added another 525 calories! These additional calories account for 2/3 of the 2000 total recommend caloric intake for the average adult. Factor in all the drinks, snacks and desserts we consume on top of that and it is no surprise that losing weight is consistently one of our top New Year’s resolutions.

Having a poor diet can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, which are leading causes of death in the world. In fact, the US spends almost $173 BILLION each year in health care costs as a result of obesity.

The good news is adjusting your diet can have very positive impacts on your health.

Some of these benefits include:

• ·May help you live longer

• Keeps skin, teeth, and eyes healthy

• Supports muscles and strengthens bones

• Boosts immunity

• Lowers risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers

• Helps achieve and maintain a healthy weight

Taking the time to pause, eat mindfully and enjoy what we are consuming makes it more fulfilling. Making small adjustments (i.e. try replacing other drinks you enjoy throughout the day with water, replacing a packaged snack with a fruit or vegetable) can have a big impact on your overall caloric intake and your health.

Source:clevelandclinic.org and cdc.gov, nutritionadvance.com, nourishinteractive.com, creditdonkey.com