One of the big problems people have when they want to start eating healthy is where to start. There is so much information on the web and it can be intimidating. Do you go vegetarian? Cut out carbs? Restrict your calories to 1200 calories per day?? Unfortunately, health isn’t something most of us learn in school so we have to rely on family members, friends, how we grew up, social media and the internet to find our information.
I am not a registered dietitian but I have done a lot of research into the subject because I find it interesting. I also have first hand knowledge and experiences of how to eat healthy which I’m going to share with you. As I’ve mentioned before, health and fitness is a little different for everyone and you have to find what works for you but hopefully these tips to start eating healthy will help you on your journey to a better you!
- Stick to the outer perimeter of the grocery store when shopping. Most grocery stores (if not all) keep vegetables, fruits, bread and diary at the outer edges of the grocery store and the packaged, processed food are located in the center aisles. Plan to get a majority of your food from the outer edges and limit what you buy from the middle aisles.
- Making it yourself is better than ordering out. Unless you’re ordering from a meal prep company or somewhere similar, making your own food will overall be more healthy and less calories. By making a meal yourself, you can control how much salt, oil and other high calorie foods you’re putting in and you can swap out unhealthy options with healthier options (ex: brown rice instead of white rice). The internet is a great place to find healthy versions of your favorite dish.
- Eat your fruits and vegetables. When we’re younger we’re told to eat our vegetables and this should be the same as we get older. Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that nourish our bodies. Opt for vibrate fruits and veggies and try switching up what you’re buying every now and then to make sure you’re getting a variety of micro-nutrients.
- Make sure it’s sustainable for the long run. A lot of people are too strict with their diet in the beginning which is why they don’t stick with it and end up gaining more weight than when they started. I wrote a blog post about this here, but if you don’t see yourself sticking with it for the rest of your life and making it a lifestyle, you need a new plan. Health should be a journey and not a destination. If your diet is a means to an end and you plan on going back to your old ways once you lose x amount of weight, chances are you’ll gain the weight back. You have to make changes to your diet and lifestyle that you can stick with and that don’t make you miserable. This can mean taking small steps such as switching your regular coke for a diet coke or starting each morning with a healthy breakfast. Find things you enjoy doing/eating such as going on walks or healthy smoothies and you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
- Find what works for you. Just because everyone you know is going Keto or Vegetarian or Intermittent Fasting doesn’t mean you have to. Like I said above, you have to find something that you love and that you can stick with. This will not be the same for everyone. If you love running, run! If you love going on hikes or walking around the neighborhood, do that! If you love lifting weights, lift away! What makes us all unique is that we like different things so don’t feel bad if your friends are doing something that you don’t enjoy. Do what you enjoy and you’ll have a much more pleasurable time on the journey.
I hope these tips help you eat healthy and be the best version of you! 🙂
