Quick, Easy First Steps Toward Better Food Habits

Many clients have the same goal; losing weight. To make lasting changes, diet modification is critical and it takes time. In any good weight loss program, your sole focus shouldn’t just be on how you eat, but also how you move.  As you work toward a better diet you should learn to incorporate exercise as well…. Balancing how you move, how you eat and how you think will make all the difference in how you feel.

 

But do you want the truth? There is no miracle pill! Most of us have tried fad diets at one point or another, but “one size fits all,” is rarely true when it comes to diet. You may have tried a keto, paleo or low carb diet plan in the past, for example. You may have a lot of success losing weight quickly. But how did you feel? Tired, irritable? Did the weight come right back as soon as you started eating carbs again? Diets that promise quick results aren’t sustainable.

 

Here’s what works: tweaks to your diet that result in mindfulness and moderation. To start, here are three simple changes that ANYBODY can make.

 

Cut Back Where You Can

Some things, like sugar, salt, and carbs, are simply found everywhere. Although around 90% of Americans eat more sodium (i.e. table salt) than the daily recommended amount, you should keep eating sodium — just less of it and choose the proper type. Minimizing table salt is a good thing to do but unrefined salt such as Celtic Sea Salt is extremely important for proper nutrition. Natural salt has 84 minerals needed for the body.  Table salt has had 83 minerals removed leaving sodium, which can be harmful when consumed alone or in large amounts. Moderation is another key component. Decide where you can cut back. For example, people often salt their hard-boiled eggs or popcorn. Instead, try a bit of ground black pepper on either. Alternative spices are your healthy, tasty friends! Similarly, if you sweeten your morning coffee but don’t mind it black, stick to black and avoid the fatty sweetness of cream and sugar.

 

Don’t Grocery Shop Hungry

When you grocery shop hungry, your stomach runs wild. Not only is that bad for your wallet, but it’s also bad for your health. You’re much more likely to make impulse purchases like sweets. Of course, your schedule won’t always allow you to get to the grocery store right after a meal. Resolve to keep a small snack with you, perhaps in your car or bag, to munch on before you head in.

 

Eat Slower, Enjoy It More

Plenty of people have trouble taking their time with meals, especially if they have a busy schedule to stick to. Whenever possible, try to train yourself to consciously take more time to chew and wait between bites. The longer you take to eat, the more time your brain has to receive signals that you’re getting full. It sounds a little silly, but if you eat slowly and purposefully, you really do eat less and find more enjoyment in your meal. Take a cue from the French and Spanish cultures, where meal times are leisurely, social affairs.

 

You don’t need to eat like an Olympic gymnast when you start to focus on your fitness. Although your specific nutritional needs are between you and your doctor or nutrition specialist, absolutely anyone can do these super-simple first steps towards a healthier Lifestyle. Unlike a fad diet, these habits can become life-long and still ensure a happy relationship with food. Life is full of choices…Choose wisely.