Healthy eating tip 1: Set yourself up for success
To set yourself up for success, think
about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps—like
adding a salad to your diet once a day—rather than one big drastic change. As
your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices.
- Prepare more of your own meals. Cooking more meals at home can help you take
charge of what you’re eating and better monitor exactly what goes into
your food.
- Make the right changes. When cutting back on unhealthy foods in your diet, it’s
important to replace them with healthy alternatives. Replacing dangerous
trans fats with healthy fats (such as switching fried chicken for grilled
fish) will make a positive difference to your health. Switching animal
fats for refined carbohydrates, though (such as switching your breakfast
bacon for a donut), won’t lower your risk for heart disease or improve
your mood.
- Simplify. Instead
of being overly concerned with counting calories, think of your diet in
terms of color, variety, and freshness. Focus on avoiding packaged and
processed foods and opting for more fresh ingredients.
- Read the labels. It’s
important to be aware of what’s in your food as manufacturers often hide
large amounts of sugar or unhealthy fats in packaged food, even food
claiming to be healthy.
- Focus on how you feel after eating. This will help foster healthy new habits and
tastes. The more healthy food you eat, the better you’ll feel after a
meal. The more junk food you eat, the more likely you are to feel
uncomfortable, nauseous, or drained of energy.
- Drink plenty of water. Water
helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many people go
through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. It’s
common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also
help you make healthier food choices.
