Nutrition is important for healthy family meals, but don’t forget to add a flavorful dash of fun. To celebrate National Family Fun Month, Weight Success Centers is offering four ideas for enjoying healthier breakfasts, lunches, and dinners together with family and friends.
Nutritious Diet and Meal Planning for Pleasure
Yes, a nutritious diet can be one of life’s simple pleasures when you add great taste into meal planning. Much like a family bike ride combines fun with exercise, tasty and healthy family meals can be a joy.
When you were a kid, you probably hated hearing your mom or dad say, “I’m on a diet.” That meant dinners would be bland and snack foods might be scarce. Times have changed, as today’s men and women have far more access to great ideas for healthy meal planning.
At Weight Success Centers, our physicians guide patients in preparing and savoring dynamic recipes with fresh fruits, veggies, wholegrains, and lean proteins. Try creating some of these healthy family meals:
- First, treat the family to hot breakfast sandwiches: Skip the drive-thru and make delicious and nutritious breakfast sandwiches at home. Start by scrambling some eggs (crack one per person). Stir in a heap of spinach or kale for added nutrients, and then melt low-fat cheese on top. Divide and serve on toasted English muffins for a hot and tasty morning treat. If sitting at the breakfast table, add sweetness on the side with sliced melon or serve your family’s favorite fruits for dessert.
- Creatively, set the stage for spectacular salads. Wow your family by setting up an amazing salad bar. Rather than lettuce in a bowl, create a buffet of beautiful toppings and mixed greens. Offer several vegetable options to supply vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For fun, also include nutritious additions like dried fruits, apple slices, fresh berries, almonds, walnuts, and seeds. Finally, offer a few choices for lean proteins, such as skinless chicken, salmon, vegan patties, “fakin” bacon strips, baked tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas to top off those satisfying salads.
- Lighten up dinner with healthy ingredients. Serve traditional meals your family has always enjoyed but swap in lighter ingredients. When cooked to perfection, no one will even know you used skim or soy milk instead of whole fat milk, substituted egg whites for whole eggs, or swapped applesauce for oils in baked desserts. Adding fresh herbs or spices will also add flair without adding extra calories.
- Finally, serve up family fun by cooking out. Backyard grilling is always a great time for family and friends. Grill lean proteins like fresh seafood, meat-alternatives like veggie burgers, tasty veggies such as asparagus or zucchini, and fruits like watermelon or pineapple for healthy family meals outdoors. Add flair with light marinades or citrus glazes to excite everyone’s tastebuds.
Contact Weight Success Centers for individualized meal plans and recipes. As with any diet program, supplement, or medical treatment – the results and benefits will vary depending on the individual.
We hope these tips help you enjoy healthy family meals! Join Weight Success Centers on social sites and share these tips.