5 Reasons for Eating Right
Mar 22, 2016 04:36AM ● By Family Features
Eating right is not about adhering to a strict diet, losing weight or depriving yourself of your favorite foods. While maintaining a diet that is good for you can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid certain health problems, it can also have a positive impact on your mood, energy level and outlook.
From living a longer, more active life with loved ones to simply feeling good, everyone has a different reason for eating right. Sunsweet, through its #IEatRightBecause social media contest – which runs through March 31 – has given consumers the chance to weigh in on what keeps them “eating right” year-round.
Here are some of the top reasons from the contest on why people choose to eat right:
Family
Cheryl in North Branford, Connecticut said “I eat right and take care of myself for [my] little guy… I want to be there to watch him grow... it's not about me, it's all about him. He's my reason... he's my everything.”
As children grow, help them choose healthy meals and snacks, such as Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes, which are about 100 calories per serving and include no fat, added sugar or preservatives. Toss them in cereal, oatmeal, salad or your favorite recipes for added flavor and fiber. Kids love them, too, because they are bite size and chewy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eating right can help provide the nutrients needed for energy, to build strong bones and to help fight diseases and conditions.
Health
Suzanne in Elma, New York, said “#IEatRightBecause I'm training for my first half marathon and need to survive my runs.”
An active lifestyle is about making small changes to your current routines that are fun for you. Activities such as running, tennis, hiking, golf, yoga or biking ensure that regardless of the weather or time limitations you can always find a way to be active indoors or out.
Travel
Amy in Franklin, Pennsylvania, said “#IEatRightBecause I want my children and I to be healthy because we have many more states we want to travel to and explore.”
Whether you're traveling by car, bus, plane or train, try healthy and simple snacks such as individually wrapped Sunsweet Ones, which compared with other snack foods, may help to lower blood glucose levels, increase satiety and suppress hunger, according to a recent study. Prunes and other snacks, like granola bars and string cheese, are also easy to store and carry in your car, purse or lunchbox and are packed with healthy nutrients.
Weight Management
Tasha in Memphis, Tennessee, said “My goal is to stay focused on my new health journey.”
The body only uses as many calories as it needs for energy, leaving any additional calories consumed to be stored in the body as fat. One key to losing weight is using up more calories than you take in. Combined with a program of healthy eating, exercise can help you effectively manage your weight.
Pregnancy
Heather in Crown Point, Indiana, said “#IEatRightBecause My baby depends on me for the best!”
Good nutrition during pregnancy, and enough of it, is very important for your baby’s growth and development. Experts recommend consuming about 300 more calories per day during your pregnancy than you did before becoming pregnant and eating a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and nutrients you need. Choosing foods high in fiber, such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta and rice, as well as fruits, like prunes, and vegetables is one part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Everyone has a reason for eating right, and through March 31, you can share yours as part of Sunsweet’s #IEatRightBecause contest for a chance to win $1,500 and a personal session with a nationally recognized nutritionist. Upload a picture and the reason you eat right to Facebook, or by using the hashtag #IEatRightBecause on Twitter, and the reasons that receive the most votes win weekly and monthly prizes with the grand prize drawing on March 31. Find the full contest details, including rules, at Facebook.com/Sunsweet.
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