What to Count Other Than Calories

Have you ever sat down to eat a meal and found yourself unintentionally counting your calories? Rather than doing meal math at every meal, you should start counting what really matters such as: water intake, protein, fruits & veggies, sodium, fiber and sugar. When it comes to choosing foods, these are key-elements to a balanced diet. Counting calories can cause an unhealthy mindset. Choosing foods based on the quality rather than the quantity is a great way to fuel your body with the nutrients that it needs.

Water intake is VERY important, especially in the summer time! Even when you aren’t sweating your body looses water by breathing and through digestion. Drinking fluids is one way to stay hydrated, but you also can eat foods containing water such as: celery, watermelon, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers! Lack of water can cause us to become dehydrated and to feel lethargic. Adequate water intake per day for women is about 11 cups and for men its about 15 cups. If you are very overweight or are trying to lose weight, you might need to drink even more water.