Adopting Healthy Eating Habits

Now that a new year has begun, it’s a good time to think about starting fresh in certain areas of our lives. For some, that could mean changing our eating habits for the better. Eating healthy provides a myriad of benefits, from increasing our lifespans and increasing our energy levels to aiding in overall fitness. By bearing in mind a few simple tips and tricks, getting started on a lifetime path to healthy eating can be an easy yet rewarding experience!

Many people associate healthy eating habits with bland and restrictive diets, unrealistic weight goals, and dull and rigid lifestyles. In fact, the opposite is true: in addition to the physical benefits, healthy eating has been shown to improve our moods and provide an overall feeling of well-being, leading to more enhanced and energetic lifestyles. And getting started is easy!

To start yourself on a path to healthy eating, begin by making a few small changes in your dining habits. For example, instead of pouring dressing over your salad, dip your fork into a small bowl of dressing before you take each bite. This way, you will still enjoy the flavor of your salad while avoiding excess fat and calories. Also, when dining at home, use smaller plates for your meals. This has a two-fold effect: your portions will be smaller, and you will find your appetite sated after you have finished your meal, being more inclined to avoid second helpings. Your brain will be psychologically tricked into thinking that you are full after eating a whole plate of food, which is the reason that many restaurants serve their meals on small plates.

Making drastic changes in your diet and eliminating unhealthier choices might seem like the best way to change eating habits, but you will actually achieve better success by making gradual changes in your eating habits over a period of time. Simply reduce your portions, and begin to think of your meals in terms of color and aesthetics. This will assure that more fruits and vegetables are in your diet alongside proteins and carbohydrates, resulting in a well-balanced diet. For a way to include more fruits and veggies in your diet, look into something in your area like the Produce Box. Each week you receive a box of local produce delivered directly to your door. The boxes range in sizes, depending on the size of your household. This is not only a good way to get fruit and vegetables in your diet, but it supports local farmers too!

Finally, when cooking, try replacing butter with olive oil, and using low fat condiments. Again, begin slowly replacing one meal per day with the healthy alternative. You will be well on your way to eating healthy all the time, without giving it a thought!

Adopting healthy eating habits can be an enjoyable experience by making small, gradual changes in your diet, all while you reap huge rewards. Your mood will improve, your energy levels will rise, and you will possess an overall feeling of well-being, with incentive and drive to truly appreciate and partake in all that life has to offer.