Top 10 Ways to Eat More Healthfully

One of my goals, since moving to the farm, is to live a simpler and healthier lifestyle. I’m doing this by growing a garden (I’m not proficient at it, but getting better with every crop), as well as exercising more. I’m training for my first 5k run in October for Alzheimer’s awareness in honor of my mom. Over the last few years I’ve learned that there are ways to incorporate more healthy eating into our lifestyle that do not have to be cumbersome or require too much compromise either. Here are 10 ways to eat healthier.

#1: Focus on Adding New Things, Not Taking Away Things

Sometimes for many individuals that are considering eating healthy, the first thought is one of taking away many things from their diet. If you begin your new healthy eating endeavor by adding new and different things to your diet, you will find yourself fuller and less apt to eat unhealthy foods.

 #2: Try New Things

Start trying something new every other day of the week. For example, you may wish to add a fruit or vegetable that you have never tried before, or you may want to try whole-grain bread as opposed to a plain white bread. By trying new things, you open the possibility up of finding something that is not only healthy for you, but that you truly enjoy, as well.

 #3: Be More Colorful

Take a look at the different food groups and see if you can incorporate foods of different colors into your daily eating routine. For example, peppers come in a variety of colors and if you have never tried a yellow or orange pepper, now may be a great time. If your theme color of the week is orange, try a tangelo.

 #4: Get Your Friends Involved

Incorporate your friends to join you on this new adventure of eating healthier. Friends can make great accountability partners.

 #5: Start Where You Shop

The old adage that if it is in the house, you will eat it could not be any truer. If you buy cookies, ice cream, and cake, you will have easy access and less willpower. Do not buy large quantities of these items and you will be fine when you find out that you have run out of that gooey treat.

#6: Do Not Deprive Yourself

One of the worst things you can do is to deprive yourself from a treat or a snack. Some individuals crave chocolate treats while others crave salty snacks. Whatever the case may be, there are so many alternatives to high-calorie snacks, which will still keep you completely satisfied. Peanuts are just as salty as potato chips, but are better for you.

#7: Use More Healthy Substitutions

If you are looking to eat healthy but want to keep some of your favorite items in your meal plan, think about substituting. Try grilled chicken breasts instead of fried chicken wings. Or go for natural plain yogurt instead of sour cream. Use honey in recipes instead of sugar.

#8: Pictures for Inspiration

By posting messages about what different healthy foods can do for different parts of the body, for example the heart and the brain, you will have more incentive to eat right for excellent reasons. Place photos of beautiful skin, hair, nails, and a healthy heart on your fridge. This way, you will be reminded constantly of what you are doing for yourself and for your family as well.

#9: Call a Meeting

Call a family meeting and ask others to be respectful of your new found decision for eating healthy. Tell them that they are not forced to join you, but it would be nice. Also, let them know that they are to support and encourage you by not eating unhealthily in front of you. This has a double bonus in that your family may just notice your good habits without being forced to do so.

#10: Host an Eating Healthy Event

Invite friends and families over at the beginning of your new decision. Have everyone bring a healthy dish to a potluck style dinner. Have them place index cards with the recipes on it that so others can take them home.

Buying new cookbooks and placing index cards around the kitchen showing the difference in calories between a heavy cream and a low fat yogurt in a recipe, you will also have a visual of how you are helping your body keep healthy by eating healthy, as well.

Once you can see on paper that the results of eating healthy are numerous, you are more than likely to stick to the plan. Eating healthy helps your body and your mind. Important nutrients contribute to health benefits such as lower cholesterol, a healthy heart, and even a sharper memory. Besides losing weight and feeling great, these are all great bonuses in the desire to eat more healthfully.

What do you do to stay healthy? Please share in the comments section below.

Until next time Divas, wear your heels well and be blessed!