Eat to Be Skinny: The Perfect Salad Formula

You've either heard this statement before or it may surprise you and come off as obnoxious. Either way, it's important to understand because it's true.

Eat to be skinny.  Workout to be fit.

In America, 68% of the population is overweight and while being super skinny isn't attractive, being healthy is.  I met with Nutritionist, Dara Godfrey, to chat about a healthy eating outlook and the truth behind how to properly eat a salad (yes, there's a formula).

When it comes to eating healthy you need to make sure you're getting the right amount of nutrients your body needs to keep your energy levels up and systems in check.  Believe it or not, the perfect salad has fat in it!

"In order for your body to absorb the vitamins and minerals from your salad you need to add a source of fat," comments Godfrey.  "Otherwise, you may be eating lots of veggies, but they're not  being absorbed properly."

For the perfect salad combo, she recommends:

• dark leafy greens
• 1 lean protein
• 3 veggies
• good fat source

The fat can be anything like a hint of cheese or walnuts to avocado.  Don't let the term "fat" scare you.  It's good fat.

Advice from a Top Nutritionist

Last week I met with nutritionist, Dara Godfrey, and got to pick her brain.  I'm a huge foodie, but am also obsessed with working out and wellness.  It was great to sit down with Dara and get some advice not only on what to eat, but more importantly on how to eat it.  Allow me to share: "If you eat every three to four hours throughout the day it will prevent you from over eating," stated Dara.  "Unless of course, you're not hungry."

Try having three meals and two snacks in between per day. Depending on your needs (every one's different), meals can be between 350-500 calories each and snacks can be almost 200. Dara's not huge on counting calories and believes you should enjoy your food, but know your portions.  (That's why I love her!)

We're all guilty of going for a walk to get out of the office and grabbing a cup of coffee around 4pm when our bodies and minds begin to crash.  Instead, opt for an apple with peanut butter and make it your afternoon snack. The protein and carbs will wake you up and satisfy you longer.

During meals, look at your portion size.  Restaurants always over serve, so watch what you eat.  You should have no more than a fist worth of carbs and your protein should be about 3-6 ounces.  That's about the size of two Blackberries stacked on top of one another.  It's not easy to do when the smallest filet on the menu is about 9 oz.  As far as veggies go, eat away!  Just make sure they're grilled or broiled.

I felt super refreshed and recharged after our session and strongly advise anyone to visit a nutritionist every once in a while to get on track and make sure you stay on track.  If you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend Dara.  You can reach her directly at daragodfrey@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @daragodfrey for nutritional advice and great restaurant recommendations.