Fridge Do's & Don'ts

Is your fridge making you fat? You may be leading a conscious and healthy lifestyle, but it's the little things we do, or are unaware of that may getting the best of us!

These expert tricks - via Glamour magazine - and nutrition experts such as Rachel Beller, R.D. and Brian Wansink, Ph.D

DON'T: keep fatty foods in clear containers

you'll be more tempted and likely to pick that up

Also avoid storing family style. i.e. big portions. If 

you were to eat that meal, you would put more than

you should on your plate. Keep your storage to small

portion sizes!

DON'T: keep peanut butter in easy reach

Beller says, "Women end up eating spoonfuls straight

from the jar". While it may be okay for a protein addition

in your snack, more than needed can be high in sugars (especially most conventional PBs), & can be high in fat!

DON'T: switch bread for wraps - thin maybe, but they

can equal the portions of 3 - 4 slices of bread

stick to slices of (brown) bread!

Now for what you SHOULD DO...

 

DO:  switch out for almond butter & use only in snack portions, in snacks!

DO: stock up on healthy protein options such as tuna, egg, almond/peanut butter to have on slices of apples/cucumbers (NOT in tablespoons for a eating!)

DO: Have cut up veggies in small clear containers for easy access and great delicious, nutritious snacks. It'll be the first thing you pick up. Plus they might even help you when you're cooking!

DO: swap regular yogurt for greek yogurt (Read this post about the benefits of greek yogurt here )

Text & Advice: adapted from Glamour Magazine, Jan 2012 edition

Photos: via Pinterest and Google Images

Oh Sugar!

Health Tip:

Sugar...It's one of those things that we all have a love/hate relationship.

Actually, wait, no, its not a hate relationship at all! We absolutely love

it, we simply just try to stay away from it at times!

LVP is all about a balanced life, and that definitely includes having

a balanced diet. So the way we see it. There's no cutting out sugar in

one's life (especially not in mine!)

{via}

However, if you are trying to drop a couple or so pounds, or looking

to turn to a healthier lifestyle... first of all - Yay! I'm so proud of and

happy for you, and second and most importantly, I should warn you

about HIDDEN SUGAR!

The average American woman puts on 70% of her current weight's

worth, by sugar alone. Although this statistic is not culturally diverse, it

definitely is enough to open our eyes and make us realize that these days,

sugar (being readily available and cheap) is pumped into everything and

makes other food items more appealing.

Main point: Beware of what you buy. Again the obvious things: 

- Stay away from processed foods (I can't ever stress this enough!!) - of

course the occasional indulgence is okay

- Check the ingredients' label before purchasing

- Foods such as Honey & Juices often have hidden high contents of sugar

- Stay away from soda/fizzy drinks!! I'm serious!

[especially Mountain Dew - has the highest content of sugar]

- Look out for alternate names of sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup

Especially us women, by consuming just 20% more sugar, our BMI can go

up by 2 - 3 points, which can easily take you from normal to overweight,

overweight to obese. (statistic via SELF.com)

Remember: 

Just be smart about what you buy/consume, and It's all about balance!