YOU DON'T EAT CARBS?!?!??

When people hear that they can't have carbs on a diet they automatically panic. At least, I know I did. All of my favorite foods are full of carbs; pizza, pasta, chilis chips and salsa, sandwiches, a mcgriddle.... yep. All of my favorites. Cutting carbs is definitely the hardest part of my diet for me. The good news is...we can still have carbs...just the good kind! In fact, your body needs them. When I say good carbs I'm talking about complex carbs. These are the natural carbohydrates, the ones with a lot of fiber, that your body absorbs slower. Things like whole grains, fruits and vegetables are good carbohydrates. I know I know, everyone has already had this lesson a million times in health classes.... but if you're new to dieting, it can be tricky to know which ones you can eat and which ones are bad for you. In simple terms, the "bad carbs" are the ones that are refined. They have added sugars, which absorb quickly into your body to give you a quick burst of energy. But that's about all they're good for. One problem for many people is that when they see the words "whole grain," on a product, they automatically think it's healthy, when a lot of the time it's not. It's safe to stick with things like quinoa, oats and brown rice... you can literally see that they're a WHOLE grain just by looking at them. Remember, eating good carbs may not taste as good in the moment (although, they can)... but they will keep you full for longer and prolong your energy and help you to lose weight. BUUUUUT....I also believe that a little pasta or pizza now and then can be a good thing ;) 

                                                Here is a list to help you tell right from wrong:

Good carbs:
sweet potatoes
ezekiel bread
squash
oats
brown rice
quinoa
kidney beans
black beans
green leafy vegetables
fresh fruit and berries (be careful of natural sugars)

Bad carbs:
cane sugar
white bread
white rice
pasta
bottled sauces
cakes/biscuits
soda
Most juices

*one more note: just because a product says "whole grain" doesn't mean it's healthy. Look for something that says "100% whole wheat" or "100% whole grain." Look at the ingredients... WHOLE wheat or WHOLE grain should be the very first ingredient listed.