Plan Ahead
All the best things begin with a plan. Thus, planning your meals in advance is an important first step towards healthy eating habits.
You could start by making a grocery list of healthy foods and ingredients you will need for the week. This saves you time and money and reduces the temptation to grab unhealthy snacks when hungry.
Choose Whole Foods
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines whole foods as unprocessed or close to their natural form. These include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat, i.e., chicken and fish, yogurt, seeds, and legumes.
Whole foods are an excellent source of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients our bodies need. The idea is to ensure, as much as possible, that you eat more whole foods. If you cannot avoid processed foods, it would be wise to intersperse whole foods whenever possible and as frequently as possible.
Prioritize a Balanced Diet
It is impossible to eat a balanced diet without prior planning. Going back to the first step, we discussed that planning avoids situations where you find yourself eating junk unintended.
Thus, as you plan, ensure you include foods that provide all the important nutrients – to make the diet balanced. A balanced diet is essential for good health. It consists of a variety of foods from all the different food groups.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water plays a central role in the body’s proper functioning. It hydrates the cells, ensuring that they work as intended. In addition, regular hydration prevents the urge to drink unhealthy fluids, such as carbonated fizzy drinks, etc. The high sugar content of carbonated beverages leads to harmful levels of calories in the body, leading to sickness.
Cook Your Meals at Home
Cooking at home is daunting for many people, and this is understandable. Some of you have tight schedules that will never have space for the stove or the dishes. However, this should be a priority if there is time.
Cooking at home allows you more control over the elements you feed your body. You can choose healthy ingredients, control portion sizes, and avoid unhealthy additives often found in restaurant food. Plus, cooking can be a fun and creative way to explore different cuisines and flavors.
Avoid Distractions While Eating
We are guilty of eating with our eyes glued to our favorite TV show and our fingers scrolling away on our smartphones. But, unfortunately, the distraction is killing us. Paying inadequate focus to the eating process means we do not know how much we’ve eaten.
You can easily overeat because of absent-mindedness. Failure to control your portion leads to the body gaining too much weight.
Do Not Skip Meals
It is okay to fast occasionally, but it works best when it is predetermined, i.e., part of an eating schedule. You can easily fall into a poor eating habit when you skip meals because you cannot cook or feel too lazy to buy groceries. Ensure you eat regular meals, starting with a healthy breakfast. Regular meals can also help regulate your metabolism and keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Listen To Your Body
Finally, always consult your body before you eat or skip a meal. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. If you feel bloated, sluggish, or tired after eating a particular food, it may be best to avoid it. But if you feel energized and satisfied, it may be a good choice to include it in your regular meals.
You could start by making a grocery list of healthy foods and ingredients you will need for the week. This saves you time and money and reduces the temptation to grab unhealthy snacks when hungry.
Choose Whole Foods
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines whole foods as unprocessed or close to their natural form. These include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat, i.e., chicken and fish, yogurt, seeds, and legumes.
Whole foods are an excellent source of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients our bodies need. The idea is to ensure, as much as possible, that you eat more whole foods. If you cannot avoid processed foods, it would be wise to intersperse whole foods whenever possible and as frequently as possible.
Prioritize a Balanced Diet
It is impossible to eat a balanced diet without prior planning. Going back to the first step, we discussed that planning avoids situations where you find yourself eating junk unintended.
Thus, as you plan, ensure you include foods that provide all the important nutrients – to make the diet balanced. A balanced diet is essential for good health. It consists of a variety of foods from all the different food groups.
Drink Plenty of Water
Water plays a central role in the body’s proper functioning. It hydrates the cells, ensuring that they work as intended. In addition, regular hydration prevents the urge to drink unhealthy fluids, such as carbonated fizzy drinks, etc. The high sugar content of carbonated beverages leads to harmful levels of calories in the body, leading to sickness.
Cook Your Meals at Home
Cooking at home is daunting for many people, and this is understandable. Some of you have tight schedules that will never have space for the stove or the dishes. However, this should be a priority if there is time.
Cooking at home allows you more control over the elements you feed your body. You can choose healthy ingredients, control portion sizes, and avoid unhealthy additives often found in restaurant food. Plus, cooking can be a fun and creative way to explore different cuisines and flavors.
Avoid Distractions While Eating
We are guilty of eating with our eyes glued to our favorite TV show and our fingers scrolling away on our smartphones. But, unfortunately, the distraction is killing us. Paying inadequate focus to the eating process means we do not know how much we’ve eaten.
You can easily overeat because of absent-mindedness. Failure to control your portion leads to the body gaining too much weight.
Do Not Skip Meals
It is okay to fast occasionally, but it works best when it is predetermined, i.e., part of an eating schedule. You can easily fall into a poor eating habit when you skip meals because you cannot cook or feel too lazy to buy groceries. Ensure you eat regular meals, starting with a healthy breakfast. Regular meals can also help regulate your metabolism and keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Listen To Your Body
Finally, always consult your body before you eat or skip a meal. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. If you feel bloated, sluggish, or tired after eating a particular food, it may be best to avoid it. But if you feel energized and satisfied, it may be a good choice to include it in your regular meals.
Do Not Skip Meals
It is okay to fast occasionally, but it works best when it is predetermined, i.e., part of an eating schedule. You can easily fall into a poor eating habit when you skip meals because you cannot cook or feel too lazy to buy groceries. Ensure you eat regular meals, starting with a healthy breakfast. Regular meals can also help regulate your metabolism and keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Listen To Your Body
Finally, always consult your body before you eat or skip a meal. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. If you feel bloated, sluggish, or tired after eating a particular food, it may be best to avoid it. But if you feel energized and satisfied, it may be a good choice to include it in your regular meals.
It is okay to fast occasionally, but it works best when it is predetermined, i.e., part of an eating schedule. You can easily fall into a poor eating habit when you skip meals because you cannot cook or feel too lazy to buy groceries. Ensure you eat regular meals, starting with a healthy breakfast. Regular meals can also help regulate your metabolism and keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
Listen To Your Body
Finally, always consult your body before you eat or skip a meal. Pay attention to how you feel after eating certain foods. If you feel bloated, sluggish, or tired after eating a particular food, it may be best to avoid it. But if you feel energized and satisfied, it may be a good choice to include it in your regular meals.
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