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The time of year has come once more when people decide to focus more on their health and appearance. Getting gym memberships and starting diets are at a high this time of year. Not to say that it is a bad idea, but in the long run, for most of us, it is probably better to look into it seriously before starting anything that, for you personally, is not sustainable in the long run, or will make you miserable and burn out.
This is the reason that most fail on their NYE resolution, as most are unrealistic and set the average person up for failure. You need to begin with a plan you can maintain. Here are a few realistic nutrition tips to help you on your way.
Focus on Nutrition Rather Than Calorie Count
Rather than focusing on how many calories you are eating, why not look at what your food choices are doing to your body and place the focus on where it should be, which is on nutrition, not the actual weight loss; typically, weight loss is a benefit of good nutrition to those who are overweight.
Home Cooking
The majority of basic home-cooked meals will consist of a range of nutritious and delicious foods. Stop buying fast food, premade, or frozen foods, which are all highly processed, and get back to home cooking.
Red rice can make a good staple to go along with fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, as well as herbs and spices that can easily be turned into stews and curries.
Add a bowl of lentils and legumes to the mix with some free-range eggs, fish, or poultry every day, and that is pretty much all the nutrition the body needs to function optimally.
You should consider eating three main meals every day, breakfast/lunch/dinner, and regulate their timing as much as possible, this way the body will learn when it will be getting fueled, which will help it to metabolize food more easily.
Even if you don’t always cook “perfectly,” making meals at home gives you significant control to create more nutritious options than relying on most fast food or heavily processed meals, making it a healthier choice overall.
Sensible Snacks
Two sensible snacks should fill in the gaps during the day. Snack options could include some nuts, fruit, yoghurt, or maybe a small bowl of quinoa.
Try to avoid eating late at night; however, those late-night snacks may be hard to resist. Try drinking some water first, and after the water, if you do give in, try to keep it a healthy choice.
Impulse Shopping
Impulse shopping while at the grocery store can lead to some poor life choices, and when at home, we tend to snack on whatever is available, especially when bored or stressed. Try to avoid buying impulse foods that trigger this behaviour, such as biscuits, processed foods, packaged chips, cookies, and such.
Try to stick to your list and steer clear of those tempting items and just pick up what you came for to keep those trigger items out of your home.
Packing a Lunch
With all of the conveniences brought about in modern-day society, it is easy to have a variety of foods delivered to you within a matter of minutes, which makes it easy to become complacent and stop packing meals made at home to bring to work/school. But it is worth the effort to get the nutrition needed to promote better health and well-being.
Meal prep can be a big help with lunches if you are short on time, this way you can pack several days at a time.
Try starting with simple ideas and one-dish meals such as whole wheat wraps, or salad bowls, and some fresh fruits, veggies, and nuts.
Eating for Health and Longevity
Food is not just about eating what is good for you; it is also something you should be enjoying and savouring the variety of tastes and smells from.
Don’t deprive yourself, as the body needs a bit of everything from carbs to protein to fat. If you try to eat cleanly as much as possible, your body will get used to it over all that processed junk, and you will enjoy it.
Don’t forget that there are many options for herbs and spices that can be added to foods, which will add to and/or enhance the flavors. Be creative and experiment as you spice up your life because eating healthy does not have to be bland.
Learn your limits and try not to eat to the point of being overfull to avoid that awful feeling of being bloated. You are under no obligation to clear the plate.
Develop a healthy relationship with food by eating in moderation and switching foods up, as there are many healthy foods to choose from. Eat the rainbow, and fill your plate with a variety of different fruits and vegetables.
Most importantly, try not to stress over the occasional slip, and just get yourself back on track to improved health and well-being. Slips are not failures; they are an opportunity to learn, adapt, and carry on moving forward.
Never forget that YES, you can do it, and also that YES, you are worth it.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
