Everyone loves to eat, and everyone wants to be healthy. Contrary to popular opinion, these two can co-exist. With the onset of this new year, many people pledge to live a healthier lifestyle.
However, most fail to keep that pledge, why?
They end up following fad diets that are simply not sustainable. Ever tried being off-carbs for more than a day? Not the most pleasant situation to be in. To live a healthy lifestyle, one has to follow some simple tips and tricks. Here are some eating tips worth following.
Take It Slow
It’s a proven fact that the speed at which someone eats decides affects metabolism. To ensure that the body is digesting the food properly, it’s crucial to take time while eating. Slower meals result in a healthier digestion process. It’s recommended to spend around 20 minutes per meal instead of rushing through the process.
Have Realistic Expectations
Quick weight-loss is a myth and a dangerous one at that. The only way to achieve a healthy lifestyle is to set realistic expectations and work towards them. Having small goals and then achieveing them gives a morale boost and makes the whole process a lot easier.
Stay Hydrated
The key to weight loss and mindful eating is to stay hydrated. Having plenty of water is linked with weight loss, appetite management, and nutritional benefits as well. Replacing other beverages with water has a strikingly positive effect on living a healthy lifestyle.
Keep Trying New Recipes
Variety is the spice of life. The main reason why most people succumb to old habits is that the new habit is monotonous and boring. Make it a point to look for new recipes every week and to keep innovating with the present food habits.
Question Hunger
The mind loves to play tricks. People end up over-eating because they can’t distinguish between actual hunger and boredom. Whenever there’s a feeling of being hungry, always question it. Do not give in to impulse and the results will speak for themselves.
Exercise
No one’s asking to run a marathon every year or become a weightlifting champion. The body needs to find an outlet for all the energy consumed and even the simplest of exercises can make a difference if done on a daily basis.
Eat Fruits Instead Of Drinking Them
Fruit juices are a common phenomenon. They are filled with water, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. However, fruit juices are a completely different scenario. Most “real” fruit juices are loaded with sugar and preservatives and even authentic fruit juices lack the benefits of eating fruit. When it comes to fruits, stick to eating them and not drinking.
Be Wary Of Diet Foods
Many food items are marketed to be “healthy”. Be extremely wary of food items that say “low-fat” or “healthy”. If the packaging has ingredients that can’t be pronounced, it’s time to put it back in the aisle and opt for something more natural.
Sleep Regularly
The importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough. Regardless of how busy someone is, they need to get as much sleep as they possibly can. When someone is sleeping, their body is doing its bit to recharge and revitalize. Without this energy, even the most foolproof diets can fail miserably.
Look For Alternatives
Being healthy isn’t about making extreme changes to one’s lifestyle. It’s about making small decisions that have a large impact. A simple switch from refined bread to whole-wheat bread can make all the difference. There are many alternatives available to seemingly irreplaceable food items. For someone who wants to live a healthier lifestyle, it’s important to keep looking for alternatives.
Focus On Proteins
Proteins are, simply put, magical. Carbohydrates and fats are a double-edged sword, they come with a huge list of pros and cons. Protein is not the same. When it comes to including protein in your diet, you are giving your body the essential amino acids and nutrients. It’s also observed that increasing protein intake helps with appetite and weight management.
Shop Consciously
It’s quite easy to get carried away while shopping. Especially in large supermarkets. Those who stop by a supermarket to get milk, end up with things they didn’t even need in the first place. When it comes to shopping, always go with a list and a budget. By doing this, there’s little to no room for impulse purchases and this will help stick to a more mindful way of living.
Make Right Choices
More often than not, it doesn’t matter what is being eaten, it’s about the ‘how’. For instance, potatoes are highly nutritional. However, French fries are not. Just like potatoes, there are many foods that are actually healthy if eaten the right way. When it comes to eating them, always choose between roasted or grilled rather than fried.
Cook At Home
While eating out is fun, it’s also harmful in many ways. Not only does eating out get expensive, but it also derails all the progress made in just one go. Hence, it’s best to cook at home as and when possible. There is complete control when it comes to home-cooked food and it can make all the difference in a diet plan. This doesn’t mean that one should never eat out. It’s about making sure that there’s a balance to one’s eating habits.
Choose Smaller Plates
Eating from smaller plates has a psychological benefit. For instance, if someone eats from a large plate, regardless of how much they’ve eaten, they’ll take longer to feel satiated. Similarly, if someone eats from a smaller plate, they’ll feel as if they’ve eaten more simply because of the size of the plate.
The Bottom Line
There’s a method to the madness of eating healthily. It’s all about taking small and sustainable steps that make a big impact over a long period of time and that is the key to maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle for the rest of your life.