Everyone will agree that eating healthily should be at the top of your to-do list. Effective meal planning is a wonderful way to help you accomplish this throughout the year. Here’s how planning ahead can help you improve your health – including your oral health – by eating a well-balanced diet.
Start an effective meal-planning routine
- Make a master list of the family’s favorite meals. Let the entire family participate. For inspiration, look up sample menus, recipes, and meal-planning tools. As a general guideline, veggies and foods that are fiber-rich should cover ½ of your plate, while whole grains and lean protein should take up ¼ of your plate.
- Choose a specific day to shop for groceries and plan your menu for the week. Don’t forget to plan for nutritious snacks that you can eat on the go. Cheese, apples, carrots, pears, Greek yogurt, celery, seeds, nuts, and turkey, are all wonderful options for your oral and overall health.
- Prepare food for the week. If you want to plan for the month, get ideas on how to prepare freezer-friendly healthy meals.
- Stick to your list. Do not hit the grocery store while hungry. Avoid impulse items and other temptations by sticking to your list. Shopping online will also help. Whenever possible, go for lower sodium and lower calorie versions of the ingredients.
Your overall health and your smile will benefit
Armed with ample preparation and the right meal plan, you can achieve the following.
Stress less
Through proper planning, you get rid of the daily stress that comes with daily planning and preparing meals. Stress is linked to a host of health concerns, including gum disease and heart issues. Those who stress less have been reported to enjoy good oral and overall health.
Eat healthier
Effective meal planning has been linked to less obesity and a healthier diet, since you have more control over portion sizes and the ingredients used compared to eating out. Also, you’ll find that it’s easier to cut down on starches and sugars, the main culprits of cavities.
Enjoy a greater assortment of foods
Good meal planning has been associated with being able to enjoy a greater variety of foods. Consuming a well-balanced diet that is abundant with veggies and fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean protein will help reduce the risk of many oral concerns.
Save time and money
Making home-cooked meals will definitely help you save on costs compared to eating or ordering out. Planning for meals and buying ahead will help save you time for trips to the store. You’ll find that you will waste less food since you’ll only be purchasing what you need. Plus, you can plan for leftovers.
Planning ahead for healthy smiles this year will go a long way in helping you stay vigilant in maintaining your beautiful smile in the months to come. And remember, trust your smile to those who know all about enhancing and maintaining them, like your local Dallas dentist.
Sources:
“Current stress and poor oral health,” National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5010733/
“What are the Links Between Stress and Oral Health,” The Dental Surgery, https://www.thedentalsurgery.co.uk/how-stress-affects-oral-health/
“Meal Planning Tips for Healthier Teeth,” Colgate, https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/nutrition-and-oral-health/meal-planning-tips-for-healthier-teeth
