Healthy Food Habits Washington DC

Steps

1. Start by eliminating addicting foods from your diet one at a time. Avoid certain foods like fried foods, chocolates, other candies, cookies, ice cream, chips, dips, sweetened drinks, etc. which are addictive.
2. Cut down any food that you eat a lot, then try to eat them fewer times each week, down to a few times a month, etc. Replace those potato chips with carrot sticks or apple slices! Also, there are Veggie Chips which taste great, and have a mix of tastes so it will satisfy different taste buds, holding off hunger.
3. Tell whoever you are living with (parents, roomates, etc.) about your new eating habits. They may start eating healthier too, or help you choose good fruits, vegetables, and other good healthy food.
4. Drink healthier beverages. Soda Pop is not the best for health. Sugared drinks promote cavities, may cause gas, and may cause some bone loss. Start by drinking one few carbonated drinks... 3 cans a day, 2, 1, then eventually none! Try cold water with a little lemon, lime or try flavored teas/green teas. Try hot flavored teas for breakfast.
5. Start taking walks in the park or around your neighborhood. Walking is a great way to get in shape!
6. Get involved in a sports team, gymnastics, dance, or fitness club.

Tips

• Reward yourself! It's not bad to have things that aren't good for you every once in a while. The only way to stick with a healthy diet is if you are being rewarded with a little junk!
• If fruits and vegetables don't seem appetizing as food, think of them as medicine. You can swallow medicine even if it doesn't taste yummy.
• If you think you don't have time to exercise, think again! Replace some TV time with a walk in the park or a game of basketball with your friends.
• A trampoline in the backyard is great for getting exercise.
• When you eat out, try to find healthy meals there. Even at fast food places, there's always some healthy options, so even if you choose something unhealthy, you could get one of their salads. McDonald's has a yummy Asian Chicken Salad.
• To make a walk more fun, listen to your MP3 player, iPod, or favorite CD. Or walk with your friends!
• To make gym machines more fun, read a magazine or book. Don't allow yourself to read it unless you are exercising (it will turn into a reward).
• Its much easier to exercise if it is integrated with your daily life and you don't have to go out of your way to do it. Ditch the car and commute by walking or bike.
• Even if you don't like exercising or eating healthily, take all the junk food out of your fridge, cabinets, pantry, etc. This helps a lot.

Warnings

• If you get a trampoline, get one with the mesh fencing around. Then people jumping are less likely to fall off and get hurt. Plus it's safer with the net when you have more than one person on there, but not more than 3 jumpers at a time.
• Also remember not to develop eating disorders

Things You'll Need

• A good attitude.
• A willingness to change.
• A little bit of free time.

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