Let's face it. We all know that some foods are better for us than others. Health advice like limiting fast food, eating more fruits and vegetables, staying active, and drinking plenty of water is not new. Unfortunately, with many of us, there seems to be a disconnect with what we know to do and what we actually do.
There may be times when the thought of adopting healthier eating can feel like a huge mountain to climb. Though this can at times be discouraging, the good news is that making healthier changes, like eating healthy, is a process. Someone once said that, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Here are a few simple steps to help get you moving in the direction of greater health and wellness.
1. Learn Nutrition Basics
Modern society has given us many conveniences which make life easier. However, easier is not always the healthiest. Eating regularly of convenient, fast food will eventually have a negative impact on your health. Therefore, making a commitment to learn some basics about nutrition is vitally important.
There is a wealth of information online that can be easily accessed to help you make choices about what foods to include and what foods to leave out in your dietary regimen. Though you don’t have to be a nutritionist, it’s important to understand some keys to good nutrition, such as making sure your food is not only rich in macronutrients (protein, carbs, fats) but in micronutrients (minerals and vitamins), and that not all carbs and fats are bad. Search for resources that keep things simple and make it enjoyable to learn.
2. Create Favorite Dishes
Not knowing how to prepare healthier meals can also be a roadblock for many people. Once again, online resources are available in abundance. You can find new recipe ideas, and in some cases, even videos that give cooking demonstrations. Experiment and have fun creating new dishes until you have a few favorites. This will give you several go-to dishes.
3. Cook in Batches
Learning to cook healthy new meals is great but can be time consuming. When life gets hectic it becomes tempting to fall back into old habits for the sake of convenience. Planning ahead can help ensure that you stay on a healthy path. Set aside some time each week to cook large portions of food in batches and freeze it. In this way you can have a supply of meals prepared when you want them. Be sure to defrost your portions in the proper time as you need them.
4. Shop Smarter
Once again, planning is a key to success when it comes to healthy eating. Always shop with a list so that you will be more intentional about selecting healthy items for your meals. Avoid shopping while you’re hungry so that you will be less tempted to pickup nutrition-poor snack items that were not on your list. Buying some items like whole grains, in bulk, can help to save time and money.
5. Be Good to Yourself
Its important to remember that you have the power of choice. You can choose to either be good or bad to yourself. Whichever decision you make, the outcome of your health will head in that direction. Why not make a firm decision to be good to yourself by making healthier choices.
Switching to a healthier way of eating can take a little planning and preparation but be assured, consistent determination can bring wonderful benefits.
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