Your health is your wealth! And taking care of yourself is not just another thing “to do”, I view it as an imperative and a key to success if you want to thrive holistically. It’s easier than you think to start eating healthy! You don’t have to get it all “perfect”, the most important thing is that you get started and become conscious about your food choices and have they make you feel from within.
If you commit yourself to take simple small steps each week, this will improve your energy levels and vitality toward a healthier, happier, and more vibrant and energized you. Know that small changes every day can make a big difference for your health. Your whole being will benefit enormously and this will make you motivated to keep going and take PLEASURE out of your food.
Here are 10 tips and simple ways for you to get started!
1. Eat whole foods – foods that you can actually grow
Unprocessed, nourishing, whole foods will give you the most health benefits. Know that any kind of processing takes out powerful nutrients such as antioxidants and fiber. What’s worse is that a lot of processed foods tend to sneak in things that aren’t really necessary like extra sodium and sugar. Just be aware and look out for products that have been minimally processed, natural clean foods also taste way better!
2. Power up with plants – feast on fruits and veggies
I always recommend a plant-based diet. It’s nutritious, delicious, and will encourage you to be creative in your food choices and cooking. You will automatically get a high content of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants and mother earth will thank you for contributing to a more sustainable way of eating. A plant-based diet serves both you and our planet with the absolute most benefits!
3. Cut down on saturated fat and refined sugar
The food industry loves saturated fat and refined sugars and you will find high amounts in all processed foods. You don’t need to fear all of these kinds of products, however – if you wanna stay healthy you will gain so much vitality just by cutting down on your intake. Enjoy and go for the healthy fats found in plants and natural sources of sugar and take pleasure in that!
4. Think of nutrients, don’t count calories
If you want to improve the quality of your diet, decide to focus on the level of nutrients in your food instead of counting calories. All calories are not created equal – it is the quality of the calorie that has the most impact on health, not necessarily the quantity at all. Go for delicious nutrient-dense foods that are packed with goodies for your health and overall wellbeing!
5. Keep healthy snacks handy
The easiest way to make sure your inter-meal snacking stays on track is to always have healthy and tasty options on hand for when hunger strikes. This is a way of planning ahead your cravings so when you feel that hunger set in you’re already prepared. Bring a little trail mix of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, or simply keeping a bowl of fresh fruit on your kitchen counter is a good way to start.
6. Find happy and healthy substitutes
You can find substitutes for all the foods we consider “unhealthy” such as pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, and so on. The truth is you can make ANY food super healthy or really unhealthy, it’s just a matter of the quality and amount of the ingredients. Change flour, sugar source and increase the level of whole foods and enjoy all your favorites in a new way that’s delicious and nutritious.
7. Drink way more water
It is so important to stay well-hydrated, it will help your body function properly and it also helps make sure you don’t overeat. Sometimes you may feel hungry when, in fact, you’re actually just thirsty. This is a way of tuning into your body’s needs so make it a habit to sip on clean water to make sure you drink at least 2-3 liters during a day. This will cleanse your body and support your overall health.
8. Check the nutrition label before you buy food
The front on packed foods is all advertising, you need to flip it around for the real story. A simple rule is that the more ingredients, the more likely it has visited a few processing steps where something artificial was mixed in. Checking the label is an empowering way to find out if there are unnecessary ingredients in something seemingly healthy. Most often, a shorter label translates into a healthier choice.
9. Cook clean at home more
If you really want to start eating healthier it’s a good thing to start enjoying time in the kitchen. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just learn some basics and start experimenting at home in your own kitchen. When you cook at home, you know exactly which ingredients are going into your meal and you can make conscious choices about what you truly want to eat. The result is worth the effort!
10. Eat your food mindfully
When you sit down to a meal, try to really slowdowns and savor every bite. Give yourself time and make sure to properly chew your food, this will help your digestive system enormously. Be aware that it takes your brain about 20 minutes to realize your stomach is full. If you’re stressing and eating way too fast odds are you’re going to accidentally eat past the full and wind up totally stuffed, so slow down.
Try incorporating some of these tips into your diet, eating habits, and self-care routines. Commit yourself to implement one new healthy eating goal each week over the next six weeks. You can track your progress easily by checking in on your feelings and levels of energy during this time period. Keeping track of your feelings in a journal is a really good and empowering thing to do.
What are your thoughts on healthy eating for your health, well-being, and your success? What do you find challenging? What you eat is one thing, WHY you’re eating is a totally different subject. If you’re interested in learning more about how to thrive holistically and how you’re eating patterns and habits are connected to food choices I recommend you to read my post about Why Mindful Eating Will Benefit Your Success.