Renowned nutrition author and dietitian Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN helps people target wellness strategies that work for them, via accessible, science-backed healthy living advice. She is the author of some best-selling diet books like The New You and Improved Diet.
“Do I have a balanced diet?” “Is this ok for me to eat?” Asking yourself such questions can be the start of something truly life changing! After all, the ideals of eating right and staying in shape are regrettably shoved into the back of our minds when there’s so much more to focus on.
What most people tend to forget are the benefits of picking up a carrot instead of a candy bar, or steaming a fresh head of broccoli rather than microwaving a T.V. dinner. Having a sense of good nutrition is a crucial part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Once combined with physical activity, dieting can also help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of chronic diseases.
Sitting down and collaborating with the renowned dietitian, thought-leader, and creator of the Nutritious Life blog, Keri Glassman, we were able to devise a better perspective on mindfulness when it comes to a happier, healthier you, and how to live a fulfilling life.
Keri (wearing the Triple F.A.T. Goose Astraea) was happy to share her expert opinions on how altering your diet, what to eat and drink, as well as grocery shopping tips can help form a foundation in restructuring your daily eating and exercising habits.
Now, we don’t want to tell you that if you alter your diet and start vigorously exercising suddenly you’ll be the picture of health and your life will become fulfilled. It takes dedication and initiative. Even Keri agrees with that statement, telling us that she definitely doesn’t “think exercise and diet alone are the keys to happiness,” however, she does consent to the idea that “diet and exercise are two important parts of a healthy life,” Finding balance between remaining mindful of your health without sacrificing precious time allotted to other demands is a slippery slope to navigate. Especially when you’re not sure what to eat. Keri enthusiastically suggests a diet consisting of drinking more water, avoiding bad carbs, and eating much fresher, organic greens.
“People are definitely more aware of organic foods,” Keri agrees,
“And even more aware of eating fresh real food versus packaged and processed foods.” Without a doubt, you’ve heard the word “organic” used at least a handful of times throughout your daily comings and goings. When we consulted the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, we found that the word organic “refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, and meat. Organic farming practices encourage soil and water conservation, as well as reduce pollution.”
Over the course of the past few years, health crazes have begun to develop all across the US, and now more than ever, people are becoming aware that it’s worthwhile to know which foods to keep stored in their refrigerators and pantries. It is also useful to keep in mind that eating more green vegetables is without a doubt the best route to take while shopping at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Keri mentioned that “We should all be eating more greens,” and recommends “at least two servings a day!”
Carb Cravings
Carbs are essential to providing our bodies with the energy we require daily. Yet, if left unused due to a sedentary or mostly inactive lifestyle, they will become sugars once broken down in our systems. If carbs are overeaten, these sugars will convert to fat, leading to an extended waistline and putting one at risk for various health concerns.
Keri helps us explain this matter a little more thoroughly: “We need about a third of our calories to come from carbs. People think when they give up pasta and bread they aren’t eating “carbs” at all. When in truth, they still may be eating 50% of their calories from carbs which is a perfectly ok thing when they come in the form of vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, and fruit. You don’t need white bread to enjoy a great grass-fed burger over a salad. I help people focus on incorporating more healthy carbs and combining them with lean protein and healthy fats.”
Turning aside from what foods to eat, we were curious as to how much water a person should be drinking regularly. There are some numbers floating around out there, but Keri gives us a rough idea where to start.
“8 cups of water a day.” - Keri Glassman
“It is a little bit of a myth that this is an exact number for everyone but it is a good goal for most of us,” Keri shares. Fun fact: The average adult’s body is comprised roughly of 60% water. That may not seem like it’s a big deal, but when keeping nutrition in mind, drinking more water is your best bet for a number of health benefits.
Quoting from the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics; “a new study that examined the dietary habits of more than 18,300 U.S. adults found the majority of people who increased their consumption of plain water by 1% reduced their total daily calorie intake as well as their consumption of saturated fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol.”
Pushing The Plate Away...
Keeping nutrition in mind, especially when the temptation of so many quicker and easier alternatives are so readily available to us, may seem like too much of a hassle or an additional chore to undertake. However, as long as you follow simple steps such as drinking more water, being more selective and mindful while shopping, and doing simple exercises regularly will no doubt lead to a happier, healthier you!
As we conclude our interview with Keri, we ask her how health overall can make an impact on our lives. “I think we are all overloaded with responsibility and we end up putting ourselves last,” she says with a smile. “When you are healthy it is certainly easier to be happy and to be in healthy relationships. We will take better care of others when we take care of our ourselves too. Spending time with people you love and having fulfilling relationships is key!”
