What's Your Excuse?

So many people have so many excuses for not eating right. What's yours? And honestly, do you think you're the only one out there facing obstacles?

• Vegetables are so boring! The biggest mistake people make when preparing vegetables is overcooking and underseasoning. Veggies should not be soggy when you serve them. Cut back on your cooking time, no matter how you are preparing them…on the grill, steaming, sautee. And don't be afraid of spices. Spices have zero calories, and you can dress up your vegetables with some dijon mustard, curry powder, horseradish, herbes de provence, etc.
• I am too busy to cook, so I'll take the Number Three with a Diet Coke. There are ways to make cooking at home wirk with your "insane schedule". We all have jobs and are short on time. I take Sunday evening and spend about an hour in the kitchen preparing easy foods to go for the week. I cut up and individually bag snacks, I cook up a bunch of chicken at once so that I can grab it and make a quick salad, this past week I seeded a pomegranete so I can toss the seeds into salads all week. It can get in the way if you have to "cook" every day, but if you set aside time to prep for a whole week, it's easy. Running through the drive-thru instead will really derail your diet. Even when you order the best thing on the menu, it's going to be higher in fat, calories and sodium than most anything you make at home. If you do have to eat out, try a deli for something fresh, or grab a pack of sushi rolls at the market.
• It's too hard to say no to candy and chips, I have them in the house for the kids. When I was little, it was a big deal for us to get Wheat Thins, because they had salt on them. We did not ever have candy in the house. My Dad had health problems, so as a family we were supportive of his dietary requirements and none of us ate white flour, sugar and many processed foods. My Mom just decided that we were ALL going to be healthy, if we had to or not. So, if you have kids and keep junk food around for them, and then you snack on it too…just stop it! Don't buy junk for your kids, you are doing them a disservice anyway, and yourself. If it's not in the house, you (and your kids) can't eat it. Problem solved. And you'll save money at the store too. Junk foods cost more money.
• The vegetables I buy always go bad before I get a chance to eat them. Well, you are probably buying too much. I know the grapes look plump and juicy, so you buy 2 bags with every intention of eating them every day, but you get sick of them and then they go bad. Buy just what you need for one week…fruits and vegetables don't last much longer than that. And put them in a more prominent place in the fridge. If you hide them away in the crisper drawer, you may not see them and forget about them. Anything that does not have to be refrigerated, like bananas and tomatoes, put them in a fruit basket on the counter so that you can easily see and grab a piece.
• I crave sweets! If you really can't survive with out sweets, go ahead, but be smart about it. Have a rich piece of dark chocolate, but not the whole bar. Choose dark chocolate over any other sweets, because it packs a big punch with anti-oxidants. You are getting your sweet tooth indulgence, and a health kick! Now, that doesn't mean a brownie with dark chocolate chips in it. Loaded with sugar and butter, not such a great choice. Dark chocolate with at least 60% cacao is your best bet.
• I just don't like fish. Ok, if you are afraid of the "fishy taste" then don't go for salmon, there are plenty of milder fish and shellfish options out there. And, seafood is one of the most waistline-friendly foods. With 150 calories in a 4 ounce piece (generally), you also get more protein than a peice of red meat and more potassium than an banana, and also one of the only sources of Omega 3 acids. Try mild fish like Mahi Mahi, Flounder, or Orange Roughy. Shrimp and scallops are great for dieters, but beware of scallops if you don't like a stronger seafood taste.
• I am too rushed in the morning to eat breakfast. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There are plenty of ways to make time for breakfast. When I am on the way to the gym, I have to eat, or else I feel weak and sick while working out with my personal fitness trainer. So, there I am, driving and eating a peice of Peanut Butter Toast, sometimes a yogurt too. If I have more time, I take the leftover vegetables from last night's dinner, and toss them into some egg whites. That takes less than 3 minutes to make. If you truly don't have time, then bump up your lunch bag and have some food in there, like a granola bar that you can munch on when you get to work. Speaking of granola bars, it is easy enough to stock your glove compartment in the car with breakfast bars, then you always have a breakfast bite on hand.

So, seriously, what's your excuse?

Be eXcellent!

Ms. X - a socalworkout.com contributing writer