Q: Fruits and vegetables are loaded with nutrients and fiber, and they’re lower in calories than most other foods; especially if they're organic (pesticide-free).  Fill up half of your plate with 1 to 2 servings of vegetables or fruits at each meal. This will help you to fill up faster and stay full longer.  You can steam, stir-fry, roast, or boil your vegetables. Prepare them however you like! Try having a side salad or raw vegetable slices with your meal if you don’t want to cook vegetables. If you’re in a hurry, opt for a fresh whole fruit that you can eat on the go, such as an apple or banana, or grab a container of cooked fruit. Whole-grain versions of carbohydrate-dense foods are healthier for you because they contain more fiber and nutrients. They also help to keep you full and sustain your energy levels for longer. Opt for whole wheat bread, whole-wheat pasta, and brown rice, instead of white versions of these foods. Some other healthy whole grains you might include are:  Quinoa Barley Rye bread Oats Protein should make up about 1/4 of your plate at each meal. Protein-rich foods include meat, fish, beans, and eggs. Some dairy products are also high in protein, such as cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Opt for lean proteins, such as skinless chicken breast, tilapia, ground turkey, beans, tofu, and egg whites. This will reduce the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet, which is better for you overall. Check the item’s packaging to find the serving size. Serving sizes vary among different types of protein foods. For example, a serving of meat or fish is 3 oz (85 g) while serving of beans or cottage cheese is 1/2 cup (120 g). A healthy level of fat in your diet is between 20 and 35%. For someone following a 2,000 calorie diet, this would work out to about 44 to 77 grams of fat daily since each gram is worth about 9 calories. But it’s best to consume healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and limit or avoid unhealthy ones, such as saturated fats and trans fats. Include 2 to 3 servings of olive oil, nuts, seeds, or avocados in your daily diet to get healthy fats.  Aim to get no more than 10% of your daily calories from saturated fat. For example, if you are on a 1,700 calorie per day diet, then no more than 170 of your daily calories should come from saturated fat. This works out to be about 19 grams of saturated fat per day. Make sure that you check labels on foods to find the trans fat content. If a food contains trans fat, don’t buy it or eat it. Trans fats are commonly found in margarine, shortening, powdered coffee creamer, and many packaged convenience foods, such as packaged baked goods. Water will provide your body with the hydration it needs. You really don’t need to drink anything else. However, if you do drink other beverages, limit your intake of them. Limit your intake of fruit juice to no more than one 8  fl oz (240 mL) serving daily and avoid drinking sugary sodas and other naturally or artificially sweetened beverages.  There’s no perfect amount of water for everyone to drink. Drink whenever you feel thirsty. If your urine is pale yellow and you don’t feel thirsty, you are well-hydrated. Moderate alcohol intake is also fine. Drink no more than 1 alcoholic beverage daily if you’re a woman, or no more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily if you’re a man. One alcoholic beverage is 12  fl oz (350 mL) or beer, 5  fl oz (150 mL) of wine, or 1.5  fl oz (44 mL) of spirits. ” While it’s important to make healthy choices most of the time, there will be times when you want to splurge, and that’s okay! As long as you’re eating healthy foods most of the time, it’s fine to have a treat, such as a donut, a couple of slices of pizza, or a milkshake now and then. Try to keep your treats to once or twice per week and plan them ahead of time to reduce the chances that you’ll overdo it.  For example, you might plan to have pizza on a Friday night, or go for ice cream with your family on a Sunday afternoon. Make sure to budget for the calories that your splurge will cost if you’re keeping track of calories with an app or food diary. For example, if you know that 2 slices of pizza will be about 600 calories, then you might eat a light lunch so you have more calories to spare.
A: Fill your plate half-full of vegetables and fruits at each meal. Include whole grains and limit refined carbohydrates. Add a serving of lean protein to your plate at each meal. Limit your intake of oils and fats. Drink mostly water and limit or avoid sugary drinks. Allow yourself the occasional treat and don’t make any foods “off-limits.

Q: Some owners may need you to come in every day while they are at work to let their dog out to the bathroom, others may just need your services when they travel. Clients who are away overnight may require up to 4 visits a day depending on the needs of their pets. Instead of traveling to your clients' houses, build a business where your clients bring their pets to you. This type of service is most commonly offered for dogs, which tend to be the most social of all pets. Cluster your clients if possible so you can pick several dogs up and walk them at the same time, or bring them as a group to your local dog park for room to play. If you have the space, you can also host the party. Birthday parties for dogs and other pets are becoming increasingly more popular. Typically dogs and their human owners are all invited and activities center on the pets. Busy pet owners can't always take time off from work to get their pets to the vet or groomers. Pet taxi services pick up the pet, accompany it to the appointment, and then bring it back home. These services often run other pet-related errands, such as picking up pet food and other supplies. This usually works best as a mobile business where you take pictures in the customer's home. Or strike a deal with some local pet shops and set up in their store. Shops may be particularly open to this around holidays, such as Christmas and Easter. Bathing, brushing, cutting hair, brushing teeth and trimming nails are some services many pet owners pay others to do. Going to your clients' homes to groom their pets makes your services very accessible. Although this may not be the most glamorous or fun pet business, doggie waste removal can be very lucrative with low overhead and no special skills required. Most services charge a monthly fee which includes one visit a week. Build a route to fill your day because each stop should only take 10 to 20 minutes. Many dog owners are willing to pay more for high-quality, all-natural dog treats made with human-grade ingredients. Familiarize yourself with which foods are not good for various pets to make sure that your recipes are healthy ones. If you are crafty and can make your own pet clothing. Local flea markets are a good place to market pet supplies, as well as online and word of mouth. Craft fairs are also a great selling venue.
A:
Offer pet sitting services in clients' homes while they travel or work. Invite the pets into your home for overnight boarding or day care. Include pets in your daily exercise routine by offering dog walking, jogging or active play services. Become a pet party planner. Start a pet taxi business. Be a pet photographer if you love pets and are good with a camera. Consider offering pet grooming services as a complete business or in addition to other pet services. Offer pooper scooper services to busy dog owners. Bake homemade pet treats and market them through area pet shops, on the Internet and by word of mouth. Sell pet supplies such as clothing, toys, food and other products.