Add "Color" To Your Plate To Lose Weight

It's time to mix it up.  It's time to shake things up a bit.  It is time to add color to every meal.  I have found on my journey to a new me that you need to eat red, yellow, orange, green, or purple food. It is time to pack your meals with fruits and vegetables. They're low-calorie and loaded with vitamins and minerals your body needs to function, keep your immune system up, and maintain strong bones and muscles. Fruits and vegetables are also rich in fiber, which is key for slimming down. Tufts University researchers have found that people who eat high-fiber diets are less hungry and lose more weight than people who eat less fiber. "It takes longer to process fiber,"  "so you're full longer."

Many people have good intentions and buy a bunch of fresh produce, but then they forget to use it, and find it later rotting in the bottom of their fridge.  While fresh is great, it's not the only way to work in fruits and vegetables. Don't forget our super markets offer frozen, canned, dried, jarred as well as fresh produce.  All of these are great choices.  It is recommended that you should fill at least one-third of your plate with vegetables. Use these ideas to color every meal, and you'll be on the path toward good health and weight loss.

Breakfast
Add a sliced banana or a half cup of sliced strawberries  to cereal.
Add frozen, defrosted berries to yogurt.
Have a glass of tomato juice.
Add jarred salsa to scrambled eggs.
Top a waffle with canned peaches in water or light syrup.

Lunch
Put extra vegetables like cucumber or shredded carrots on sandwiches.
Use hummus or refried beans as a spread, instead of mayo or mustard.
Have raw vegetables in place of chips or pretzels.
Blend frozen fruit with seltzer for a peppy drink.

Dinner
Grill vegetable kebabs as well as lean meat.
Add dried apricots or golden raisins to rice pilaf.
Roast vegetables on the weekend and add to salads all week.
Add frozen vegetables or canned white beans to spaghetti sauce

One tip that my husband is good about sharing is that he cooks enough chicken breast for at least three meals at one time.  The first evening we might enjoy grilled chicken, baked potatoes, and salad.  The second night he slices all of the left over chicken and adds fajita seasoning and we have chicken fajitas.  The third night he cubes the remainging chicken that was seasoned with fajita seasoning and adds his homemade BBQ sauce and reheats the meat.  We have then dined on chicken prepared three ways and it really cuts the amount of time that is spent cooking in the kitchen!

Try it you may find that it works well for you and your family.  I will post most of our cooking to be healthy strategies in a later post.  Until then, remember to add more "color" to your plate and you to will lose weight!