Healthy eating habits

This is one of my favorite healthy eating habits.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER TIPS TO HELP YOU EAT SLOWER

Put your fork or spoon down in between bites and really try to enjoy your food.

Put down your phone or tablet and don’t eat while watching TV. Plus, whole foods are lower in sugar and high calorie oils that are likely causing you to gain rather than lose weight. Try to add in enough time in the morning to sit down and enjoy a good healthy breakfast.

Now, I am not talking about slaving in the kitchen every Sunday preparing every single thing you are going to eat all week. Changing your mindset about food will immediately alter the way the eat. Fruits and veggies contain key nutrients that our bodies require to function properly.

Here is some more information about the benefits of adding more fruits and veggies into your diet.

Check out my recipe index for some healthy recipe inspiration!

This is one of the easiest  healthy eating habits you can start immediately. This is a play on the whole, “out of site, out of mind” thing and it works. EAT MORE PLANTS!

Eating a wider variety of fruits and vegetables will have a very large impact on how you feel, TRUST ME! There are so many different plants out there for us to eat that are all different colors and all contain a variety of nutrients our bodies need. They really only eat when they are hungry, no matter what time of day it is and they stop eating when they have had enough. It will also help you digest your food better and give you more energy.

 If you ask anyone that has been successful at losing weight and keeping it off, most of the time they will say they planned and prepped their meals. It’s all about being present and focusing on why you need to to eat and being grateful that you have yummy food to eat rather then just scarfing down your food.

It is very much like the way that children eat. Eating more whole foods with less processed ingredients will change how you look and feel immediately. If you know you crave a sweet treat after dinner then go for some fruit or a chocolate protein shake.

Shop the outer perimeter of the grocery store. I am creating some sample lists to help guide you, so look out for those coming soon.

Read nutrition labels. It will force you to focus on the healthy lean proteins, fresh fruits, veggies and healthy snacks you can fill your grocery cart with.

Make a list of healthy snacks and meals and only shop from that list. PLAN AND PREP YOUR FOOD

This one is so simple but most of us don’t do it consistently. PRACTICE MINDFUL EATING

What is mindful eating? Mindful eating is eating only when you are truly hungry and stopping when you feel satisfied but not to the point of being full. EAT REAL FOODS AND LESS PROCESSED FOODS

This one is so important. Cutting back on packaged and frozen foods is widely effective.

EXPERT TIPS FOR CUTTING BACK ON PROCESSED FOODS

Here are some tips and tricks that you can start using today to help combat this along with some easy healthier swaps to help you avoid those more processed foods that are harming your weight loss progress.

Give your kitchen and pantry a healthy overhaul. That is why eating all of the colors of the rainbow is so critical to our health. More tips on this below but making a list and sticking to only purchasing and eating the foods on that list is something that will 100%. Yes I know we have all heard this one before but it is true. So we can actually learn from our own children with this one.

To learn more check out this article on Mindful Eating.

 I know this one is tough for all of us Netflix binge watching folks but if you stick to this one, you will see a drastic change in your waistline.

Siting down while you eat actually helps you digest food better which will help reduce bloating and stomach cramps later in the day.

 You may realize you need to eat but you will likely eat less. Even though it has proven to work over and over again. Here is a great article on how to properly read nutritional labels.

There are a lot of hidden ingredients in our food.

Eat slower and take the time to enjoy your food even if it is just an apple.

What I am talking about is simply writing a list of what you would enjoy eating for the week and shopping only from that list. This is the number one, first thing you can do. That is why it is so important to read the nutrition labels so you know exactly what you are putting into your body. I know it is hard to resist the chips, crackers, cookies and all of the kids snacks but you can do it. Take an inventory of your kitchen and pantry and get rid of the foods that are bad for you and are tempting to eat. I’m just putting that out there for food for thought, lol!

 Then get them out of the house. Skipping the snack aisles, frozen food aisle (of course get some frozen veggies), the ice cream aisle, beverage aisle, all the aisles will provide less temptation. EAT SLOWER

Slow eating graphic with a clock in the center of the image. This means no devouring your breakfast sandwich during your morning commute. I love this one and it is something I have pretty much always done for years. It is also one of the easiest healthy eating habits you can start doing right away.

Although this is fairly easy to do, it does require a slight change to your mindset to implement. Sometimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually just thirsty. So when you are feeling hungry, drink a glass of water first and the hunger will likely go away. Starting your day with a sense of nourishment will fuel you up and help you make better choices throughout the rest of the day. Then determine what you can prepare in advance so it is ready to go when you want to eat it. I do this and it is a time saver every time I need to prepare a meal.

. So many diets make us feel like we have to eliminate important food groups, like carbohydrates, healthy fat, dessert and meat to be healthy but that is simply not true.

If you look at food as healthy fuel for your body, that is meant to nourish you and make you feel strong and healthy then it will be a completely different ball game.

You can still enjoy all types of foods but focus more on how those foods you eat make you feel rather than missing out on the good stuff. Basically listening to your body for hunger cues as well as cues that you have had enough nourishment so you can stop eating. Also, healthy food can be delicious. You will eat faster and consume more food if you are not paying attention. DRINK MORE WATER

Image with a blue background that says " drink more water" with an image of a glass of water in the center of it.