Pure Foundations: The Pure Four of a Balanced Meal
Our understanding of what makes a balanced diet has evolved quite a bit over the last 20 years. Research has brought to light new ways the foods we eat affects our bodies both positively and negatively. As a Dietitian, my goal is to always give you accurate, science based information and advice when it comes to how you fuel your body. This ‘Pure Foundations’ series will inform you on what your body needs and why it is key to a healthy lifestyle.
So, let’s start with the ‘Pure Foundations of a Balanced Meal’.
What Balanced Meals Can Do For Your Body
Each meal you eat should be providing everything you need to energize you throughout your busy day. Fueling your body properly with the nutrients it needs can have a direct impact on you in more ways than one, including:
managing blood sugar spikes
balancing your hormones
keeping you full
Every meal we eat we want to be getting the most bang for our buck, creating meals that are as nutrient dense as possible by including the Pure Four.
Pure Foundations: The Pure Four of A Balanced Meal
A balanced meal needs to include each of the following...
Greens/Veggies: Packed with vitamins and minerals, leafy greens and vegetables have the nutrients that go above and beyond to prevent and heal diseases in your body.
Fiber: Found in a whole range of foods, like whole grains, legumes, fruits, veggies, and all of our favorites, Avocado! Fiber keeps you regular, keeps you full, keeps your heart in check, has been shown to help decrease depression, and helps keep your gut working properly.
Protein: The building block of our body. Protein is essential for your body to function, playing a major part in building and repairing tissue along side helping you feel full and going throughout the day.
Fat: Responsible for making your skin glow and keeping your heart happy, but it’s most important role in your diet is to keep you full until your next meal while helping balance hormones.
So how much of each should you be including in your balanced meals? Stay tuned for my post on ‘What a Balanced Meal Looks Like’ to learn more about how much of the Pure Four we should be including in each meal.
