LET'S EAT CARBS~
Carbs have gotten a bad reputation for years…want to lose weight? Don’t eat carbs. Think you need smaller thighs? Skip the carbs. We’ve been taught that skimping on carbohydrate foods will solve all your problems, but in reality it just makes things more difficult! I’m here to tell you to please eat carbs, if you don’t you’ll literally have almost nothing to eat. Carbs are in a plethora of foods…fruit, vegetables, oats, popcorn, etc. Carbs also give our bodies the energy they need to keep going! Have you ever tried to give up carbs/eat less of them and notice how fatigued and grumpy you were that day? That’s because carbs are energizing our bodies, especially for workouts! Now there are two different kinds of carbohydrates, one more nutritious than the other. Which ones are going to provide you the most energy and nutrients? Read along to find out.
Fruit: yep fruit is full of carbohydrates, some more than others. The fruit with the highest amount of carbs are bananas, dates, mango, and dried fruit-it’s best to pair these with a healthy fat for blood sugar stabilization.
Vegetables: this always shocks people, but yes veggies have carbs in them! Some being sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, and more.
Whole Grains: as opposed to just white grains that are stripped of their nutrients, try these whole grain foods out instead! Quinoa, whole wheat bread/pasta, oats, brown rice, & farro.
Beans: a great source of protein as well~black, kidney, chickpea, lentil(a legume), pinto, etc.
So, why fear carbs when they are in all of these nutritious and delicious foods? Of course carbs are best consumed when paired with a healthy fat and protein in order to help balance out your blood sugar. Some examples: whole wheat toast with peanut butter and blueberries, brown rice with salmon and avocado, lentil pasta with pesto and chicken, an apple with almond butter, etc.
If you’re looking to maintain your weight or even lose a few pounds(because there is nothing wrong with trying be healthier), then I would try sticking to the more nutritious carb foods and pair them with healthy fats and protein~along with balancing your blood sugar it will also help keep you satisfied after your meals.
So, let your body receive energy from carbs, don’t fear them, and enjoy getting creative with different ways to eat them! Happy Eating!
*Pictures below show examples of a carb, protein, and healthy fat filled meal.
Eggs with avocado and sweet potato
Cauliflower Gnocchi with pesto and turkey meat
Whole wheat toast with almond butter and figs