8 Simple Tips For Healthy Eating

It can sometimes feel as if we’re being bombarded with information about fad diets or eating (lifestyle) trends. However, one of the most important parts of healthy eating is realizing that it’s not about jumping on a fad or a trend. It’s really about making a long-term commitment to a lifestyle shift for yourself and those around you. 

Of course, everybody knows unhealthy eating can have severe consequences on your physical health. However, some people might not be familiar with the mental and emotional toll it can have on your quality of life.

Healthy eating habits are a foundational piece to your overall quality of life. Fortunately, I’ve always been aware of my healthy eating habits and lifestyle. I was an athlete all the way through high school and college (NCAA Division 1) plus five years as a pro, in addition to growing up with a vegan mother. Eating healthy and taking care of my body wasn’t really a thing to think about, it has always been my “normal”. 

However, after switching to a whole food plant-based lifestyle, I’ve realized that healthy eating and proper nutrition is a lifelong journey, not a destination. One significant shift I experienced was that thoughtful eating is as if not more important than the actual food itself. Change begins in the mind, and the body will follow. It’s a conscious decision to improve one’s quality of life via deliberate healthy eating habits. Mindful over mindless eating

An easy definition of healthy eating is simply eating a variety of whole, minimally, or unprocessed (natural) plant foods that provide you the nutrients you need to maintain your health, feel good, and have energy. 

For anybody who is beginning to eat better or wanting to work more healthy habits into their everyday life, here are 8 healthy eating tips to get you started.

1. Water/hydration: 

Water is extremely important for optimal health and well-being. The human body is mainly made up of water (60-70%). An average person should think about drinking around 8 full glasses of water per day, or half of your body weight in ounces. This will help to ensure your body is hydrated and make sure your systems are functioning properly.  

2. Eating whole, natural, minimally, or unprocessed foods

At the time of selecting foods, you should stick to natural and whole foods. For example, you can think about consuming fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans. Likewise, you should refrain from the consumption of pre-processed foods as much as possible. That’s because such foods deliver harmful elements to the body, which can lead to negative and expensive health consequences. 

3. Eating raw foods consistently

Raw foods are high in fiber and low in calories. Hence, such foods are designed to create a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. If you continue to consume raw foods consistently, you don’t have to worry too much about weight gain. That’s because raw foods can always deliver the support you need to maintain proper body weight. Many also have high amounts of water as well which will help you stay hydrated.

4. Consuming a wide variety 

Instead of always sticking to the same type of foods, you should think about consuming a variety of different foods. Then you can easily get all sorts of nutrients that are needed for the proper functioning of the body. We want to consume all of the colors of the rainbow, and maybe you can start by experimenting with a new fruit/vegetable every week.

5. Portion control

Overeating can lead you to obesity due to the high number of calories that you are consuming. This is why you should be mindful of the size of your portions. Make sure that you never eat emotionally but rather because you are actually hungry. Also, try drinking 8-12oz of water 20 minutes before a meal to prevent overeating. 

6. More meals prepared at home, limit eating out to weekend or special occasions

Food that you can buy from restaurants and fast-food establishments is usually unhealthy. If you continue to consume such foods regularly, you will run into health problems. They always have added sodium, sugar, and oil (fat), which is never considered in the overall calorie count. This is why you should think about preparing more meals at your home. Then you can verify the healthiness of meals that you consume. 

7. Recognizing negative habits and addressing them 

You need to take an objective look at your own food consumption patterns and check if you are falling into any bad habits. For example, if you are consuming lots of refined carbs, you might feel the dreaded “afternoon crash” more often than you’d like. This is why you should carefully evaluate your food consumption routines. You must develop a plan to change your eating patterns and slowly remove products that can lead to adverse health consequences. If you realize that you are eating much more than you used to, and it’s leading to discomfort, you should begin to think about what could be the root cause of this behavior. For example, when you are stressed out, you tend to deprive yourself of sleep which results in an increase in appetite. To help this situation, always try to get enough sleep. This helps to maintain a proper hormonal balance which will, in turn, lead to fewer cravings for unhealthy foods.

8. Preparation/planning

Whenever possible, you should plan and prepare your meals ahead of time. This way, it is much easier to stick to healthy meals, plus it helps reduce the stress associated with what to eat. If not, you will be forced to consume fast foods that are not good for your health and barely even food. Keep these tips in mind and make sure that you consume natural whole foods as often as possible. This way, it is much easier to ensure you are doing all you can to live with optimal health and well-being.

While it can be a challenge to motivate yourself to eat healthily, the immediate and long-term benefits easily outweigh the discomforts brought upon through change.

I hope these tips help you overcome the internal obstacles that keep you from getting healthier and happier!

Remember, the journey is always more important than the final destination. For more information regarding a whole food plant-based lifestyle, please contact me at Total Gradual Growth.