Many times elderly seniors that live alone do not get the proper nutrition that they need. Turning towards easy to make meals can often lead to not getting the proper vitamins and proteins your body needs. This article will give you some great ideas to help balance your diet without having to cook a large meal.

Keep a healthy snack in your vehicle, your desk, and your purse. You can reach for it instead of taking that piece of cake the secretary brought into the office. You\’ll know the calorie content up front and not be so disgusted with yourself that you give up on staying on your health plan that day.

One of the best ways to keep track of what you are actually putting into your body is a food journal. There are many applications for smart phones that can help you with this. If you aren\’t tech savvy all you need is a notebook and a pen and you can start writing what you have been eating.

Stick to all-natural foods instead of those produced and refined in factories. Many times those foods add items such as extra fats, oils, greases and preservatives that can really harm your body. Try shopping from the parts of the stores where you can purchase produce, healthy protein and other \”from the earth\” products.

Vitamin B6 is an important part of a healthy diet. Vitamin B6 works to metabolize protein and carbohydrates. It is also important in helping your body maintain a healthy blood sugar level. B6 is a player in the functioning of your immune and nervous systems. It also helps to keep anemia away.

You may be thinking that substituting sugar for some other kind of sugary substance may be a good thing. While these don\’t have any direct affects to your weight, they are proven to have other damaging consequences including cancer and could possibly increase your level of hungry by not having your daily need of sugar.

You should buy and eat foods that you can still identify what they are. Foods that have been processed to oblivion are not healthy and are not good for you to eat. You should eat foods in their simplest form such as raw broccoli, bananas and rice that has not been overly processed.

High cholesterol increases your risk for dangerous heart disease. If you want to lower your cholesterol, try replacing foods with saturated fats to foods with monosaturated fats. An easy way to do this is through stocking up on avocados, olives, olive oil and almonds. These monosaturated fat-rich foods will help lower LDL cholesterol.

Rather than stressing yourself out by trying to identify things to cut from your daily diet, think about how you can add healthy and nutritious snacks and foods to your regimen. If you make a commitment to add in more vegetables or fiber-rich foods, you may find that you are satisfied with the change and don\’t even miss the unhealthy snacks.

You should not totally avoid red meat. While it is generally higher in saturated fat, you can cut this by removing its skin. Opt for leaner cuts of red meat such as beef, pork and chicken. They still contain a vast amount of protein and as long as they are skin-free, the fat is removed or reduced, and nothing unhealthy is added to them, they make healthy additions to any diet.

Increase your use of herbs and spices. Part of the reason \”eating healthy\” seems so unattractive is the perceived blandness of the food. The truth is, fat and salt are natural flavoring agents, so if you remove them you\’ve got to start experimenting with herbs and spices until you\’ve got healthy food that is full of flavor.

If you have to have coffee in the mornings, the best thing you can do is to have it black, but if you must have it sweet and creamy, you do have an option. You can put skim milk and sugar substitute in it and it will be just as satisfying.

You have made a conscious decision to eat more nutritious foods, but you really have trouble sticking to this balanced diet while at the office. It seems like the vending machine at work is calling your name to eat those sweet or salty snacks which contain too much sugar or salt. To help overcome this temptation, pack some nutritious snacks such as raw vegetables to eat when you get the urge to snack.

Enjoy a drink now and again. Countless studies have shown that a drink now and then, whether it be a glass of wine or beer, is actually good for you. A certain amount of alcohol can help to lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease. That being said, you should aim for a low-alcohol version, which is obviously, lower in calories.

Try to eat more white meat in your diet everyday. Most protein comes from animal fat and this kind provides the least amount versus red meat. You can find tasty white meat in turkey, chicken and even pork. Add these to items such as sandwiches, salads, stews, soups, etc; the possibilities are endless.

Thinking about your body and nutrition? Well, start thinking hot and spicy. Spicy foods tend to have special ingredients in them which help to jump start endorphins in your body. These are chemicals which make a person feel good and make your body feel well balanced. Think foods like chili or curry, when trying to aim for spice in your life.

Folic acid is one of the most crucial nutrients to keep in your diet, because it is important for proper growth and neural health. It is particularly important for women who are pregnant or nursing because a deficiency can lead to major birth defects. Good sources include vegetables, nuts, grain, and organ meats.

As stated at the beginning of this article, good nutrition is essential for maintaining a healthy balanced diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins and nutrients, assists your body in remaining healthy and strong. Hopefully, this article has given you some useful tips for incorporating good nutrition into your life.