Spring Clean Your Diet for Ultimate Health
“Spring is a really good time to reevaluate. That includes giving your health and wellness routines a once over.” – Katerina Nicole Christiansen, MD
It’s getting hot out there, and that means that bathing suit season has officially begun! With that in mind, now is the perfect time to give your diet a refresh. Ready to pay your health and well-being a little extra attention this spring? Check out these “Driven Fit-approved” strategies to clean up your diet.
Eat lots (and lots) of seasonal fruits and vegetables. There are tons of amazing fruits and vegetables available during spring and summer, so why not take advantage?? Warm weather produce, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and berries are packed full of micronutrients that does a body good. Have fun with it and visit a local farmer’s market, and when possible, shop for organics (especially for fruits and vegetables that you eat whole such as apples or cherries). We also recommend that you focus on getting your healthy fats from produce and whole foods such as avocados, nuts, and seeds.
Be mindful of opportunities to overindulge. Because we live in Florida, there’s practically a pool party every weekend. Along with that comes the temptation to overindulge in both unhealthy foods and alcohol. While you don’t have to forgo these foods and drinks altogether, we recommend that you seek out leaner meat and poultry options, avoid fried snacks and fatty dips, and watch your alcohol intake. Just remember that moderation is key!
Stay hydrated. When it’s crazy hot outside, your body can lose moisture through sweat, even when you don’t feel as if you’re getting sweaty. Even mild dehydration can pose health risks and cause fatigue, low energy, and headaches. To prevent dehydration, make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. This is also a good trick to keep from over-eating.
Avoid detoxes or cleanses. Yes, they’re all the rage, but there’s really no scientific evidence that juicing and detox diets actually work. In fact, they may even lead to trouble with managing your weight and maintaining a healthy relationship with food. The most effective way to help your body function is by fueling it with nutrient-dense foods, keeping it hydrated, and getting enough exercise.
Read the labels. When purchasing packaged foods, it is incredibly important to look at the labels and avoid heavily processed foods with added sugars, refined grains, and additives (frozen pizzas, desserts, snacks, etc.). If the list of ingredients is super long and full of items that you can’t pronounce, move on. If you’re looking for “processed” items such as plain Greek yogurt or frozen veggies, you should be good to go.
Prioritize healthy food options. Instead of completely cutting out certain foods from your diet, just prioritize healthier food options. A great way to do this is to focus your grocery shopping on the outer aisles, i.e., produce and meats. Then, if needed, pop into the inner aisles for packaged foods. Just try to keep this list of items short!
Cook at home. When life gets busy, take-out is a game-changer. However, because most take-out meals are higher in calories and come in large portions, you will likely consume a lot more calories than you should. At Driven Fit, we highly recommend making home-cooked meals the foundation of your diet (when possible!). Food prepping is a big help for busy weeknights, so if the weekend allows it, spend a few hours preparing fruits, veggies, and meats that will get you through the week.
Get in shape this spring at Driven Fit + SWS!
Need to shed a few extra pounds? Want to tighten up a little for bathing suit season? We can help! To learn more about our health, fitness, and wellness programs, please call or text Driven Fit + SWS at (813) 440-3016!
