Improving My Diet - Part 1 (Meal Planning)

While working on a presentation for an upcoming event, I realized that I had questions about the topic I was covering.  What is healthy?  With the expansion of the internet and social media, there is so much information about health, it’s sometimes hard to keep it all straight.  I decided to look at it from a basic standpoint and address issues that are within my control.  Over the next few weeks, I will address different ways to improve my diet.  Maybe some of these tips will help you improve your diet.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”  Health is more than simply limited doctor visits, it’s an overall well-being.  There are so many things that influence our health, including but not limited to age, family history, diet, activity level, and environment. If I want to improve my health, I can address the factors that are within my control, diet and activity level.  

I’ve never really liked the word “diet.” It has such a negative connotation.  So first I think I must reprogram what I think of when I think of the word diet.  It is not just about losing weight (or for the lucky few that need to gain).  Our diet is, in general, the food we consume, both good and bad.  If I want to improve my diet, I need to take steps to intake more good food than bad food. 

This week I will address meal planning.  A good first step in addressing any diet issue is to create a meal plan.  Meal plans highlight problem areas and enable you to avoid them.  Meal plans are great help at the store, if you know all of your meals for the week, you can purchase only the items you need and save money.  Also, meal plans help create a diet full of variety.  Planning out each meal in advance provides you with a layout of your food intake and can help you break away from food ruts that you may be stuck in currently.   

To help you start meal planning, I have a uploaded great template available for download (click here to download).  This template has both a daily meal plan and a shopping list.  I will also have some available for pick up at the Hunt County AgriLife Extension Office.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or just want to chat, please feel free to come by the Hunt County AgriLife Extension office, 2217 Washington Street, Greenville, Texas, 75401, call (903) 455-9885, or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu.