Fat Tuesday, a day of indulging and overeating our favorite sweets. If you live in New Orleans then you'll need a week to recover from all the alcohol, king cake, and fried food you're consuming. Tomorrow is the first day of Lent. In Christianity, it's the time when followers prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It lasts 40 days and typically followers fast or give up a luxury. An example would be if someone always has Starbucks in the morning, they would give that up. I'm prepared to offer up some foods you should quit for 40 days whether you're Christian or not. And hey, maybe you'll keep them out of your pantry forever. That's why I went to team nutritionist for the Orlando Magic and The Diet Diva herself, Tara Gidus for her expertise.
6 Foods To Avoid
Here's the 6 foods she recommends you avoid:
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Whole Milk: With low fat and fat free milk so readily available, get your taste buds used to the less thick varieties
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Pretzels: Shocked? Thought that just because they don't have fat they're good for you? Think again! Pretzels are simply white flour and salt. White flour can raise your blood sugar faster than table sugar, so lay off the pretzels and pick up an almond, pistachio, or pecan. The "good" fat, protein, and fiber will keep you more full and their chock-full of nutrients!
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Hot Dogs: This processed meat is loaded with fat, salt, cholesterol, and nitrates. Nitrates are mainly used to preserve and enhance flavors, which then tend to transfer themselves into sodium nitrites, which are very well known as cancer causing agents. As far as the fat, salt and cholesterol go –well they all increase your risk of developing heart disease. Choose a deli sandwich or a lean hamburger over a hot dog at your next ball game.
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Fish and Chips: Anything that is deep fried is going to be higher in fat and trans fats which increase your risk of developing heart disease. Deep frying fish can negate the benefits and healing power of fish. To get your dose of omega 3’s daily, choose salmon with a side of brown rice over fish and chips any day.
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Doughnuts: Tasty, yes but break it down and you’ll find nothing more than sugar, flour, artificial flavors, and partially hydrogenated oils which means they are another food loaded in trans fat. Treat yourself to a whole wheat bagel thin for breakfast instead. It still has the hole in the middle plus will provide you with more lasting energy and fiber so you stay full longer.
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Pork rinds: Really? You need an explanation? They're just gross!
What food would you give up forever?
