Balance

Often times I am asked if I eat desserts or "junk food". Heck yeah, I do! Here's the thing, eating healthy doesn't mean you can't have an occasional treat. In fact, having treats is a crucial part of any well rounded diet. The key is to find a balance and to not be overly restrictive about the foods you eat. If you like cake, have it! Want loaded cheese fries with a side of ranch? Have them! Does this mean have these foods everyday? No, but they're not off the table if you enjoy them. There's a difference between enjoying your favorite foods occasionally and eating everything you want. How do you incorporate treats into your diet without sabotaging your health?

Try this

1. Incorporate treats one to two times a week.

One to two small treats throughout the week compared to the entire week of eating really healthy and nutrient-dense food is really not going to make a dent in your progress as long as you don't go overboard.

2. Keep it to one serving. Don’t use treats as an excuse to overindulge, especially if you are trying to lose weight. One serving is enough to temper your cravings and learn portion control in the process.

3. Only buy or make a portion size. If you have treats lingering in house it will only tempt you to eat them.

4. When it comes to meals, focus on quality over quantity. Your regular meals should center around protein, non processed carbs and vegetables, and good sources of fat. Your plate should look like this

Palm size of protein (meat, seafood, chicken, eggs)

One fist for carbs (sweet potato, baked potato, roasted potato, rice, and yes pasta!)

Fat: size of your thumb

Non Starchy Veggies: two fists size. Any veggies you like.