Tips Toward Health

Despite what I know about eating healthy, I have not worried too much about my eating habits. Working out on a regular basis was hard enough and figured that I was gonna have to pray to the fitness gods that it would be enough to make up for all the junk I eat...up until just a week or so ago I was living in this denial.

But how to change this? I am busy enough as it is??? Then I watched the documentary Hungry for Change. It was very informative about what we (as US Americans) have been tricked into thinking is healthy for us as well as what time, $$$, and energy we have to eat healthy. I did find the shameless plugs for juice cleansing a little unnecessary. . .Anyway the main points I got out of the documentary were:

• No matter how far away you feel you are from eating healthy it is possible to get there. One step at a time is better than none!
• Get back to the basics of nutrition, Food=Fuel for your body
• Your mind is as important to feed as your body

Now, for all the busy people out there, here are a few tips towards healthy eating that don't require too much extra time out of your day. Promise you've got the time for at least one of these!





Photo credit: Klearchos Kapoutsis / Foter.com / CC BY

Drink more water! It is CHEAP and easy to find! Ditch the sugary/processed drinks: I know you've heard this before, probably A MILLION of times but it's serious! cut it out! They do nothing good for you, and they are designed to make you want them more.

Buy a water bottle that is at least 20oz. You can pretty much get them anywhere and the one I got cost less that $5. Before you leave the house in the morning fill it up. Sip on it in class, at work, while you clean, whatever you are doing have that water bottle by your side. At first you will most likely have cravings and even withdrawals from your sugary beverage but that is totally normal and will go away with time. Brave the symptoms and you will be one step closer to healthy nutrition.


From inspire my workout.com

Read food Labels. Knowing what is in the food you eat is  the number one part of healthy eating ,but it is also one of the harder things to do on your own. One way that has helped me is to download the app from fooducate.com onto my smart phone. Using the app you can search or scan barcodes of pretty much any food product and it will give you a rating from A-D. The ratings are based on how processed the food is, and how rich it is in nutrients. So Freakin useful!!

Stay on the perimeter. Next time you are in the grocery store circle the perimeter. You'll notice that most of the whole unprocessed (an therefore healthy) foods are there, like the produce or meats. Do most of your shopping in those areas and you will most likely leave with a cartful of goodness. Plus you don't have to fight as many people through the isles, haha.

Don't skip meals! This is key, especially if you are a busy bee. You need to fuel your body for it to work right. You don't need to eat huge meals just get something in your belly. On your day off, before, or after work take 20mins to prep some "brown bag" meals. Boil some eggs , slice up some veggies or fruit, bake some pita chips, make an easy dip, put some nuts n freeze dried fruit in a zipolock, prepare some chicken or turkey...you get the point. Having some healthy food ready to take with you to munch on will keep your body fueled and help you avoid those drive thrus. This tip takes a little more time but it totally worth it!!!!

Stay Positive. This is truly THE most important thing. You must believe that you can eat healthy and that even after a day(or however long) of "bad eating" you are not doomed. Changing eating habits is one of those fall seven times get up eight sorta things.  Positive thinking does more than keep you motivated check it out here.
To help you stay motivated come up with your own daily dose of positive. It can be pretty much anything, a quote, a photo, even a song. Whatever it is use it as a reminder that you are worth it and that you are trying. Look at it everyday! I use my phone as an alarm clock and it lets me label the alarm so that the message pops up each time it goes off. It says, "today is yours, get outta bed and make it happen." I change it every so often depending on what motivation I need. Try it out!!

Give one or all of these a try and see if it doesn't help ya on your journey to a healthier life. I know they helped me.

Live Long and Prosper,

-LifeIrie