How many times have you been told that “you are what you eat”? And how many times have you paused to think about how much truth there is in that saying?
The foods you eat will directly impact everything about your life. How much energy you have, what mood you are in, how healthy you are, and how long you are likely to live: all of this will depend on the way you nourish and honor your body.
Guest post by Sarah Kaminski
Healthy Does Not Mean Restrictive
When imagining a healthy diet, most people jump to the conclusion that they need to give up on what they like to eat. So, they resign themselves to foods that are neither tasty nor enjoyable.
Of course, this is far from the truth. You don’t have to give up anything, and a nourishing diet does not need to be bland and tasteless. All you need to do is make some adjustments.
The simplest principle to adopt is the 80/20 rule. This means you will feed your body nourishing meals 80% of the time, and you can eat whatever you want, no matter how “unhealthy” you think it is, 20% of the time.
Understand Your Dietary Goals
The food you eat is meant to fuel your body and mind. Depending on the kind of lifestyle you would like to lead, you should adjust your meals accordingly.
For example, if you are active a lot, you will need to eat more, as your body will need it. If you lift weights in the gym four times a week, you will need plenty of protein to help you grow muscle. If you lead a mostly sedentary life, you will need fewer calories but a lot of brain food. If you are on a stricter budget, you will need to find food deals that can help you eat healthily without breaking the bank.
Take a moment to consider what you want your diet to be like and what you want it to achieve. Then, start planning from there.
Stop Thinking of Food as “Good” or “Bad”
We are sometimes made to think certain foods are good for us while others are bad. In reality, even the “good” food can make us gain weight or be bad for us if eaten in excess.
Instead of depriving yourself of “bad foods” that can lead to cravings and a troubled relationship with food, consider how food makes you feel.
If eating an entire tub of ice cream in an evening while watching your favorite show makes you feel great, don’t restrict yourself. Just don’t make it an everyday habit. The key is in the balance we’ve mentioned. You can eat anything, just as long as you eat nourishing, nutrient-dense food most of the time.
Understand What Nourishing Food Is
If you are not sure what a healthy, nourishing diet should consist of, here’s a little cheat sheet:
- All fruits and veggies
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Healthy fats
This gives you practically endless room to create the kinds of meals you really like and enjoy. You may need to swap out white rice for brown rice or choose a leaner cut of meat, but these small adjustments can make a big impact.
Create a Personal Recipe Book
Once you have a goal in mind and know what you want to eat, start compiling a recipe book. The internet is full of recipes that you’ll love that will fuel your body and mind.
Ideally, you want to select several recipes for all occasions. For example, you want at least five staples for quick and easy dinners when you are running late. Stock your pantry with the items you will most commonly need, and always have the main ingredients for at least one meal you can whip up quickly.
Add recipes you’ve never tried but love the sound of, and start cooking away. On top of keeping your body healthy, it’s a great way to keep your mind sharp.
Try Meal Planning and Prepping
One of the best ways to nourish your body every day is to start planning and preparing your meals in advance. This will save you time, ensure you always have a healthy and tasty meal ready, and cut down on food waste. Plus, it can even save you money.
Note that it will take some time to get used to meal prepping, so don’t try to change your life completely overnight. You can start by planning your meals first. Write down what you want to eat for the entire week, buy fresh groceries as needed, and prepare your meals at the appropriate time.
You may slip up for a couple of meals, but that’s fine. If you don’t have time or you’re not in the mood to cook, don’t beat yourself up about it.
When you start preparing meals in advance, start with one main meal. Dinner or lunch is usually a good choice. When you get into the habit, you can start prepping two daily meals in advance. In time, you’ll get used to preparing all your meals ahead.
If you have several ready-to-eat meals in your fridge, you will also be able to swap them out if you are more in the mood for tomorrow’s lunch than today’s dinner, for example.
Wrapping Up
One of the best things about life is food. Don’t ruin your relationship with it by making yourself believe that you can’t eat something or that you must eat something else. The more relaxed you are around food, the better you will feel overall.
markmunroe
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