Healthy Eating doesn't have to be overwhelming

If you want to adopt healthier habits that will last, then the easiest way to do it is by making small, gradual changes. Don’t expect too much from yourself too soon—it can take about a month for any new action to become habit.  You don’t have to cut out your favorite foods completely—you just have to make a few changes.  Changing your diet doesn’t have to mean deprivation.

 

Before making any changes to your diet, take a week or two to observe your current eating habits and write it down in a journal. Track everything that goes in your mouth, including drinks and treats, no matter how small. By keeping a food journal you will see that you ate 10 cookies over the course of the week and next week you may think twice before reaching into the cookie jar again. You might not realize how bad your present eating habits are until you see an unhealthy pattern right there in black and white. Once you see that some changes are in order, and then you're ready to take the next steps.

Gradual changes are the easiest to implement.  If you can't stand the taste of Brussels sprouts, then vowing to eat it more often is pretty unrealistic. But if increasing the number of vegetables you eat each day is one of your goals, start by finding a few different ones that you can painlessly work into your diet. Make sure you select a variety of colors (dark green, red, orange, etc.) to get the most nutrients per bite. If you want to eat more fruit, start by adding some sliced bananas to your cereal in the morning or bake an apple with a bit of brown sugar for a yummy, low-cal dessert. Fresh berries and yogurt make a nice, light breakfast or snack too.  As you start your new style of eating, you will find that your food preferences will gradually change.  By cutting out high-sugar, high-fat goodies, your cravings will eventually go away in time. Your body will show you that it wants healthy food not the junk food you have been feeding it.

Try reducing the size of your portions, drink plenty of water everyday, eat smaller more frequent meals and make and take most of your meals with you during the day at work or on the go.  That way you will know just how much you are eating and not what other restaurants or delis give you for servings.  By trying to eat the most nutritious foods possible, you are creating a healthy lifestyle that will help you reach your goals of a healthier you.

You deserve only the very best!