I wish I could wave a magic wand to and erase all the rules, restrictions, titles, and false information from society on dieting and the topic of “healthy eating”. Fad diets and lose-weight-quick schemes have dominated the industry and I’m here to shed some light on all of that!
Healthy eating is a popular topic every January. New ways of living whether it’s to lose weight or to fix our health problems is always vamped up in the New Year so what a perfect time to discuss this topic in a positive light.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean cleaning out your pantry and buying a bunch of weird foods. It also doesn’t entail buying expensive powders, pills, coffees, teas, and pre-packaged foods in a strong effort to lose weight and/or feel better. Eating healthy means balance. It doesn’t mean counting calories and carbs. Choosing simple foods and ingredients that you can pronounce is what your body craves. Cutting back on the processed foods like chips, crackers, cookies, pre-packaged sauces, and cereals is the answer. Let me give you a few basic tips on what has worked for me and my clients over the past 5 years.
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Read Your Labels
Next time you go to the grocery store I encourage you to spend time reading every single ingredient list on every food you put into your basket. If you don’t recognize the 1st 5 ingredients or if sugar is in the 1st 5, put it back
2. Inflammation is the root of most disease
Spend some time knowing what you are eating and learn if it is fighting inflammation or causing inflammation. Every ingredient you use in your recipe matters, down to your cooking oils
3. Drink more water
Dehydration is real. As a guideline try to drink ½ your body weight in ounces daily. Hydration helps with issues like fatigue, headaches, weight loss, and ALL organ function including the liver
4. Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes than any other food
These foods have power. They help your body stay healthy, fight disease, and keep that inflammation down which in turn, will help you lose weight
5. STOP COUNTING CALORIES
The calories in an avocado are MUCH different than the calories in a donut. Spend time reading that ingredient list and NOT the calorie count
As you approach your wellness in 2021, I hope you keep diet top of mind. If eating a little healthier is important to you this year, let me inspire, motivate, encourage, and help you see it in a simple, sustainable, and positive way. What’s on your fork?