Your diet is one of the most important steps to a healthy lifestyle, but it can also be one of the most challenging. That’s why we want to share how to start eating healthy with just a few simple tips that anyone can do!
1. Take slow, gradual steps.
Making too many changes to your diet at once can be overwhelming and too hard to maintain, so introduce new healthy habits slowly and give yourself time to adjust. For example:
- Aim to drink 1 less soda a day or a week
- Try a new vegetable once a week
- Eat your greens first
- Eat from a smaller plate
- Replace 1 unhealthy snack with a better alternative with more nutritional value (i.e., cottage cheese with fruit or vegetables with hummus instead of processed foods such as chips, cookies, etc.)
2. Plan your meals.
You can’t eat healthy if you don’t have a fridge and pantry stocked with good quality ingredients and produce. Creating a weekly meal plan will go a long way in reducing the number of times you’re tempted to order takeout, and you can also batch prep to make meals ahead of time. Having marinated protein in the freezer or prepping your rice, veggies, etc. ahead of time, as well as utilizing a Crock Pot or sheet pan dinner makes for easy weeknight dinner options that don’t take a lot of time or effort.
3. Don’t eliminate carbs and fats.
One of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to “eating healthy” is cutting out all carbohydrates and fatty foods. Your body needs carbs and fat for energy, and restricting them too much can result in binging and cravings. Instead, focus on the types of carbs and fats you’re eating and swap them for healthier options. Refined and processed foods like white bread and pasta, boxed snacks, and other “simple carbs” can be replaced with “complex carbs” that have more health benefits, such as brown rice, whole grains, and oats. Fantastic fatty foods to add to your diet include olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, legumes, and beans.
4. Make protein a priority.
Along with fiber, protein is one of the biggest contributors to keeping you full and sated for longer, so make it the first priority when arranging your plate. Some good lean protein options include poultry and seafood, while red meat should be eaten a little less frequently, especially if you’re being mindful of your heart health. Getting enough protein along with healthy fats is critical especially for breakfast, as you need plenty of energy to start your day.
5. Eat fruit instead of drinking them.
You may feel like you’re making a healthy choice by drinking fruit juice or smoothies, and while it’s not the worst thing to do, eating the whole fruit is always better. Why? Juice often has a very high sugar content, usually just made from fruit concentrate and sugar. Also, real fruit contains all the major benefits like fiber, which juice does not.
These are just a few of our best tips for how to start eating healthy! Want to read more wellness content like this? Learn more about how to set realistic weight loss goals!
