The Leaf | Healthy Weight Loss Blog

Spring has sprung and Easter is just around the corner. We know that holidays are always a concern when you’re trying to stay fit and eat healthy. That’s why we’ve come up with a variety of creative and healthy Easter basket ideas that are sure to keep you on track. Two-thirds of American households will wake up on Easter morning to discover that the Easter Bunny has left a huge basket of goodies for every child—and even a few adults. According to the National Confectioners Association, the trade organization that promotes the candy treat industry, most of those baskets will be filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs (55%), with a scattering of jelly beans, candy-coated eggs and marshmallow candy. Your Easter gift could easily add up to thousands of calories worth of candy concentrated in one small nest of plastic grass. Consider this: One 16-ounce solid chocolate bunny may be 1,000 calories or more, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Yikes! There are p

When our meals are balanced, we’re healthier. By including enough fruits and vegetables on our plate, we reduce our risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When we fill up our bowl with adequate lean protein, we’re able to power through the day and are less likely to snack on high calorie foods later on. By consuming enough good fats, we can decrease our risk of cardiovascular problems and build healthy cell membranes and nerves, says Harvard Health. According to Healthline, selecting enough good carbs that are high in fiber can support a healthy gut and decrease cholesterol levels. Balanced nutrition can even help with our mental well-being, says ScienceDaily. The problem is that most Americans don’t get everything they need on their plate. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average person only eats about one and half cups of vegetables per day, compared to the two to th

When we hear about “superfoods,” we tend to think of exotic fruits and vegetables with hard-to-pronounce names and nutrients you never knew you needed. But spinach, a leafy green vegetable we’ve heard about since we were kids, has been identified as one of the most potent superfoods with many health benefits. Spinach is among the most nutrient-dense foods, meaning it delivers lots of vitamins and minerals but has very few calories. What you may not realize is how versatile it is and how easy it can be to add more to your diet, even if you didn’t love it when you were growing up. The benefits of spinach are countless, so be sure to start incorporating it into your weekly menu! Here’s why you should be eating more spinach: Nutrition Highlights One of the most notable benefits of spinach is the high nutritious value it carries. Your mother was right: Spinach is among the most healthful foods you can eat. A cup of raw spinach has just seven calories, but it provides you with 56 percen