What to Eat to Look & Feel Your Best

Find out below from our Leading Dietitian, Julie Masci.

As a busy mom, sometimes it can be very tempting to rely on quick to prepare, processed foods for meals and snacks. You may be rushing around, trying to take care of so many things in a day, grabbing a handful of potato chips or quickly zapping a frozen meal may be the only thing you think you can manage. Sometimes thinking of preparing a fresh, clean, healthy meal can seem completely overwhelming.

But, let us suggest a different approach to your daily diet. Instead of seeing healthy eating and cooking clean meals for your family as a burden, look at it as in investment in not just your health, but also your energy and mental well-being.

After all, who really feels their best and has energy to take care of little ones after a day of munching on junk food and just grabbing whatever is easiest?

Eating healthy, unprocessed, clean foods provides a myriad of benefits that with just a little prepping and planning, you can start tapping into right now.

WHAT DOES CLEAN EATING MEAN?

The term “clean” eating refers to choosing to eat unprocessed, whole, nutrient dense foods. Some people refer to it as a “real food” diet, which is based around consuming lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as opposed to a “fake” food diet, based on processed foods loaded with salt, sugar, preservatives and chemicals.

LOOK OUT FOR "FAKE FOODS"

Most processed foods, such as sugary cereals, white bread and cookies, are generally found in the middle aisles of the grocery store. These foods provide very few nutrients and definitely don’t give us sustained energy throughout the day (And energy is certainly something we need as busy moms)!

WHITE BREAD IS A "NO-NO"

Some of these foods may even be harmful to our health.  For example, white bread, although it does contain carbohydrates for energy, does not provide any fibre and any vitamins it may contain are added artificially.  The lack of fibre in the bread, allows it to be digested and absorbed quickly, sending a surge of sugar into your body. Any sugar that cannot be immediately used will be stored, usually as fat. Since the sugar from the bread is used so quickly, it leaves you hungry for more.

EAT HIGH FIBRE WHOLE GRAINS INSTEAD

On the other hand, opting for a high-fibre whole grain such as quinoa or brown rice, makes you feel full longer because the fibre takes time to digest and the sugar enters the blood stream at a slower pace. This allows you to actually use the energy from the carbohydrates in the grain and less will be stored as fat. You are also full for a longer period of time, so you end up eating less overall.

EATING CLEAN = HEALTHY WEIGHT + MORE ENERGY

The In Shape Mommy meal plans are based on the principles of clean, nutrient-dense eating to maximize energy and help achieve a healthy weight. This style of eating is not only designed to help shed extra unwanted kilos or maintain a healthy weight long-term, but is also beneficial for the whole family.  When you eat clean, everyone can eat the same diet - you don’t have to make any special diet foods for yourself or your children. Eating fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains is beneficial for everyone’s health.

HOW EATING CLEAN PREVENTS OVEREATING

Another benefit of clean eating is that when you provide your body with the nutrients it actually needs, you end up eating less overall. When you base your diet on food which doesn’t provide any real nutrition, your body sends a signal to eat more (generally for sugar!) because the need for vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients has still not been met. Eating clean will allow you to achieve a natural, healthy, ideal weight and optimal energy for those busy days - without starvation or dieting.

DO YOU NEED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT?

Although eating well prepared, nutritious meals made from whole foods is always going to be the optimal nutrition choice, sometimes moms are just too busy and this isn't always possible. The In Shape Mommy Health Shake has been designed to provide breastfeeding moms a way to supplement their nutrition needs when they don’t have the time or energy to prepare healthy meals. When combined with a balanced diet, they can provide the vitamins, minerals, fibre and protein that we need to to lose weight effectively and safely while sustaining energy levels and supporting milk supply when breastfeeding

Fast Track Your Results with the In Shape Mommy Health Shake