Healthy Eating For The Couch Potato
Contributed by: News Canada
(NC) - Cold Canadian winters make it particularly easy for people to camp out on their couch until the warmer months arrive. But, hibernating indoors can be a recipe for disaster if a lot of that time is spent snacking in front of the television set.
For this reason, the Centrum News Bureau is providing nutrition advice to promote better health and nutrition for the coach potato. Here are five popular 'couch potato' snacks and suggestions for healthier alternatives.
Potato chips are loaded with saturated and trans fats and are high in sodium. Choose pretzels or air popped popcorn, instead. Popcorn is whole grain, high in fibre and contains B-vitamins. You can even add parmesan cheese for flavor, instead of butter.
Chocolate contains sugar, fats and caffeine. Try a lite hot chocolate or chocolate soymilk to cure the chocolate craving. A tablespoon of chocolate sauce can be wonderful on a bowl of fresh berries or pears.
Ice Cream contains calcium, but also extra saturated fats, sugar and calories. Choose frozen yogurt or sorbets instead, as low-fat alternatives. Try lite ice cream treats such as diet creamsicles or fudgesicles. Have only a 1/2 cup of icecream with a cup of fruit for a healthy dessert.
Carbonated beverages are loaded with sugar and contain no nutritional value. Replace pop with milk or soymilk for a calcium boost. Try unsweetened juices, diluted with water for a vitamin C fix and do your best to drink more water throughout the day.
Pizza is generally high in calories and fat. Order vegetarian pizza and eat a salad to help fill you up and prevent overeating. You can also try making a homemade pizza with low fat cheese and vegetables.
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