Guest Blogger - Healthy Meal Plans: Good for You, Good for Your Taste Buds

Today I'm stepping away from my usual Photo Friday post - instead, I am featuring a new guest blogger.  Say hello to Sean.  Sean contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in featuring a post from him.  He talked about healthy eating and how important it is and how "not so boring" it can truly be.  Because I believe in a lot of what he is writing about, and because I think this is a reminder we all need... I immediately agreed to post his writings.  So, without further ado, Sean - take it away:

Healthy Meal Plans: Good for You, Good for Your Taste Buds

Often, it's hard to shake a first impression.  For many people, their first introduction to health food was something like a wilted celery stick, a bland rice cake, or an unappetizing iceberg lettuce salad.  So, for them, healthy meal plans conjure up the simple "do not want," a completely understandable instinct.  But you can alter your first impression.  Eating well does not require a diet devoid of flavor.  Once you decide to try healthy eating, you'll soon realize that "delicious" and "healthful" can coexist.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

1.  Share, Share, Share

One simple way to start on the road to healthy meal plans is to eat less.  You do not have to worry about adding or subtracting foods from your diet, just notice how much you are eating.  Divide dessert with a friend.  Share you entree with your date.  Split popcorn with your movie companion.  As you do this, you begin to appreciate that you don't need to eat as much as you thought you did.  Where before you'd finish that entire dessert, now you get the same enjoyment from the smaller portion.

2.  Monitor Portion Sizes

You have proven to yourself that you can survive on less food.  Now it is time to get more specific about portion size.  The best way to monitor portion size is a food scale.  But sometimes it is not feasible to measure your food that way.  It is helpful to learn some quick comparisons for portion size: a serving of meat is equivalent to a deck of cards, a serving of pasta is like a tennis ball, and a tablespoon is about a poker chip.

3.  Fill up the Extra Space on your Plate with Healthy Foods

As you implement these changes, you will start to notice that your plate is beginning to change.  Where before a large slab of fatty meat took up the entire space, now you have an appropriate portion and plenty of blank space.  Great!  Fill that blank space up the right way.  Add some vegetables, a scoop of rice or potatoes, and a fruit salad.

Look at your new plate - so many colors and textures and tastes!  Without really trying to, you have managed to create a meal that includes various nutrients and vitamins.  Just by trying out these three tips, you are well on your way to a lifetime of healthy eating.  You've learned to be more mindful of how much you eat and about the importance of variety.  Use these lessons as a foundation as you explore the delicious world of healthy meal plans.
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Thanks so much to Sean - Hope you all enjoyed the little tid bits about healthy eating!  I know we can all use the reminders every now and again!

Oh.. and speaking of not so healthy :) - don't forget to check out what's cookin' over at Fire Day Friday - It's another spin on my favorite sandwich:

BLT Chicken Sandwich with Rosemary Mayo

One Year Ago:  Chipotle Cheddar Corn Bread