Losing weight would be so much easier if diet food tasted better. But did you know that it is actually possible to train your taste buds to like food that is good for you? Not only will you improve your health and shed a few pounds but you'll probably save money in the process. Here's how: eat whole foods.
Why Whole Foods are Better
You've probably heard whole food advocates, health experts and diet trend-setters talk about the importance of eating whole foods. They assume that when you eat more whole foods, you decrease the number of processed foods that you eat. What's the matter with processed foods? They generally contain additives that train your taste buds to crave more sugar and more salt. For example, if you drinkdiet soda instead of water during the day, you might not consume extra calories, but you are training your taste buds to like and crave an artificially enhanced level of sweetness. That might not seem like a bad thing, but it can become a problem when you try to eat foods that are not highly sweetened or heavily salted - like whole fruits and vegetables.
Learning to Like Healthy Food
When your tastebuds are not affected by artificially enhanced sweeteners, added sugars, corn syrup or salt you are more likely to be satisfied by simple, whole, low-calorie foods that are richer in vitamins and minerals and better for your body. At lunch, you might choose a side of veggies instead of chips, and like it. After dinner, you might crave a bowl of fruit instead of the pre-packaged cookies. Just think of the calories you could save!
Buyer Beware
Remember, just because a food is organic doesn't mean that it is not processed. Just because a food says "healthy" on the label doesn't mean it's good for you. When you shop for whole foods, before you put the food in your cart, ask yourself where it came from. If the answer isn't a farm, a field, or a body of water, it's probably not a whole food. Of course, you may not be able to rid your kitchen of every processed food, but if you can replace a few, you might notice a difference.
