Healthy Eating for Activity

Why do we eat food in the first place?

I think many people forget there is a reason we eat food every day. We need food to acquire the essential nutrients so that our bodies can work efficiently and effectively.

When we give our body the proper amounts and the best sources of fuel, we can feel and see a difference in our energy level on a daily basis. It goes back to that old saying “You are what you eat!”

In order to keep your energy level up throughout the day, you should be eating small amounts of food throughout the day rather than three big meals. This is especially important if you are looking to lose some excess weight. By eating every 2-3 hours, your metabolic rate helps you burn fat and makes you feel more energetic and motivated. This is also really important if you are physically active because you will need the glycogen that is stored in your muscles in order to perform at your best level during prolonged exercise. Also, if you are physically active your metabolism will be even faster and will need small amounts of food consistently to burn fuel efficiently.

As important as it is to fuel yourself consistently throughout the day, it is even more important that you eat the RIGHT food as fuel. Your food needs a balance of the “good” carbohydrates, protein and fat. I say “good” because there are definitely GOOD and BAD versions of the major or macro nutrients that our body needs. Here are some examples:

GOOD CARBS: Fresh Vegetables and Fruit, Whole Grains (Whole wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and quinoa) and Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
GOOD PROTEIN: very lean meats, fish, eggs, soy and whey protein, nuts and beans
GOOD FATS: olive oil, canola oil, nuts, avocados

BAD CARBS: Foods high in sugar and starches such as white bread and pasta, white flour and white rice. These foods are highly processed and have little to no nutritional value.
BAD PROTEIN: Full fat meats, processed meat
BAD FATS: any food with trans fat or high levels of saturated fats!

These are just a few example of some of the good and bad macro-nutrients found in our food. For more information, there are endless sources in books and on the Internet. However, the most important thing to remember is that food is what keeps our bodies healthy and working efficiently. So pay attention to what you are eating and make the choices that will allow your body to be at it’s best!