It’s Cinco de Mayo and I am on a diet, now what?

Well, there goes your diet.  You worked out, you ate right and then 5^th of May ruined it.  Ha!

Practically every month we are celebrating something – holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and so on…There will ALWAYS be something, some kind of excuse that keeps us from staying on track because let’s face it – life is tough.

We are surrounded with processed foods, cakes, fried foods, fast foods, sugar and fats.  And basically, every holiday we give ourselves the excuse that it is ok to binge eat these foods.  And it is ok to eat these foods on occasion, but not every day.  And the hardest part…is the every day.

I know!  I have been there. It seemed like every time I tried to cut the sugar out – I craved it more.  The more I ate, I craved it more.  “This will be the last cookie.” “It’s the holidays; I can eat a second piece of pie.” I know the excuses.  I know them well.

It was like a never ending cycle and it was going into a downward spiral for me and my health.  Until I decided enough already!  Was I living holiday to holiday or living to be here for another 50 years of holidays? 

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy treats on occasion – I just try not to eat the stuff that was making me tired, sick and unhappy – every day. 

You can make simple choices every day that will help move you in the right direction of a healthy lifestyle. Today for instance, instead of a taco or tortilla – eat a salad with taco meat, tomato, cucumber, avocado, onion, homemade salsa and a little cheese. Instead of ground beef, choose turkey or chicken. Instead of refried beans, get black beans. 

Even if you overindulge, don't throw in the towel...one day of eating bad will not break you.  Tomorrow is a new day, start fresh and keep going.

Here is a recipe for Beans and Rice to enjoy:

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup cooked brown rice or quinoa

• ¾ cup black beans

• ½ cup canned low sodium diced tomatoes

• ½ tsp chili powder

• ½ tsp. cumin

• 1 tbsp crumbled queso fresco

• Cilantro sprigs chopped.

Combine the rice, beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin over medium heat and until heated through.

Place in bowl, garnish with cheese and cilantro.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!