Quick & Healthy Eating Swaps  

From our partners: Pilates Platinum
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When it comes to eating healthy there are always quick fixes you can do to improve the food going into your body. Not only will you be eating healthier but your body will feel more energetic due to being able to utilize the food more efficiently for energy! Some of you may know some of these swaps already and some of us need another reminder while others may have never tried these swaps before. Wherever you fall the more you practice these habit the more they will seem as second nature and you won’t miss the unhealthier option. There are so many things you can swap, so today I will share with you a few ideas from each meal category. Check back in and there will be more versions released in the future with more ideas!
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Breakfast:

Swap your sugar filled cereal for some hearty oatmeal. Even if you think your cereal isn’t sugary, you could be unpleasantly surprised. Take a look at your nutrition label and see how many grams of sugar is in each serving as well as if there is added sugar listed in the ingredients list.

Make sure you eat protein! Whip up some eggs. Don’t skip out on the yoke entirely. I like to have one whole egg plus three additional egg whites. The fat in the yokes are great for you but everything in moderation!

Swap out your jelly. Chances are it is not natural and sugar is added into it. I suggest just mashing up your own berries to create some jelly for your toast. If you want to achieve more of a texture like that of a jelly or jam then mix your mashed berries together with chia seeds. Add a little liquid and let soak, you will notice that the chia seeds to absorb the water and expand. The texture will be like that of the berry seeds in a store bought jam.

Step away from peanut butter brands that we all know too well from advertisements. Those peanut butters typically have added sugar and high fructose corn syrup added to them. Find peanut butters or any other nut butter that has one if not just two ingredients. The nut and possibly a little salt if you like it a little salty. Any other nut butters with more ingredients than that, please step away. I guarantee and you may hate me later for how delicious they are but try almond butter or cashew butter! You are welcome!

No cereal bars or ready to drink protein shakes. There is nothing else to really say, they are processed and not good for you. The only swap I can recommend for those is making your own. That way you have complete control over the ingredients, how they are made, etc.

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Lunch:

Want to make a sandwich for lunch? Are you going to add Mayo? No offense but the word itself makes me gag. Try spreading avocado on your bread instead. It will give you that creaminess you are looking for as well as a mouth full of flavor. Skip sauces, stick to mustard instead.

Going to order a salad? Ask for the dressing on the side or not at all. I typically don’t get the dressing at all. I used to ask for it on the side but then as time went by I started to notice that I wasn’t even putting it on my salad. There are tons of calories in dressing, also it completely blankets your salad and you are missing out on the flavors of the other components in your salad! Depending on the salad, I will use mustard here as well. Mustard is a great way to add lots of flavor and zero calories to a meal. Also vinegar works well with salad too!

Avoid any soup that says creamy in the title. Creamy means a lot of added fat and calories. Also soups are typically really really high in sodium.

Next time I will touch on Dinner and Dessert! Stay tuned!

Heather Dorak

Heather Dorak

Pilates Platinum began shortly after I experienced my first workout on a Megaformer, which is the revolutionary version of the Pilates machine, the reformer. Like many of my current clients, I fell in love with the workout and experienced amazing results after just a short amount of time. It was a combined passion for health and fitness with my new found favorite workout that led me to open my first studio in Hollywood in 2006 which eventually expanded to three additional facilities. I absolutely love life, spending as much time as I can with family, dancing, running, trying new fitness crazes, being outdoors, drinking green juice and laughing with my friends. I am a Texas girl residing in West Hollywood, CA! Learn more about Heather and Pilates Platinum by visiting: http://www.pilatesplatinum.com