Are you looking to start a healthy eating journey but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Thousands of moms are in the same boat. Maybe it looks something like this. Your clothes don’t fit like they used to, or you have a big event later in the year. So, you throw out all the “BAD” foods and eat only the “Good” foods. Then something throws you off track, and that restrictive diet doesn’t seem doable anymore. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out what’s best for your family and how to make the switch. Been there and done that many times over. That’s why I’ve put together 4 simple steps that will help make the process a little easier. So read on, and get started on the road to healthier eating today!
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Step 1: The Key to Finding Balance With Healthy Eating
My approach to healthy eating is all about balance. I don’t believe in going to extremes and forsaking certain food groups. Instead, be kind to yourself and start with small changes.
Start with food journaling; this will help identify areas that we can make small changes. While this can be intimidating, it is essential to be HONEST, and kind to ourselves.
If you have a hard time practicing self-kindness regarding food choices, I highly recommend working with a mental health professional to help understand and address those feelings (it’s something that I still need gentle encouragement with from time to time).
When it comes to Food Journaling, the best practice is to write down everything you eat and drink throughout your day. If you don’t always have a pen and paper handy, snap a picture of your meal, and write it down later. Another essential detail to note is how your meals affect your energy levels. Pay attention to how you feel after eating and record any significant highs or lows in your journal.
Once your journal has a few days of meals, it is time to review it.
Step 2: Are You Skipping Any Meals?
If you are skipping meals, the first small change you can make is creating a healthy eating schedule. Make sure you are eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Don’t focus too much on what you are eating at this point. Just make sure you are eating.
Missing meals causes your body to lower its metabolism, meaning you burn fewer calories, leading to weight gain.
Don’t stop food journaling! You can see all the healthy eating changes you have been making. It is always good to see how far you have come, especially if you feel lacking in motivation.
Step 3: Eat The Colors Of The Rainbow
Once you are consistently eating three meals a day, the following small change you can make is bringing some color onto your plate.
Think of eating the colors of the rainbow. Start by adding one piece of fruit with your breakfast, some veggies or fruit with lunch, have a small salad to begin your dinner.
I’ve got a quick tip for you when healthy eating on a budget. It’s simple… Eat seasonally. When fruits and vegetables are in season, more supply is available, resulting in lower prices. Frozen fruits and veggies are also a budget-friendly option.
If adding fruits and veggies to every meal seems overwhelming, start with one meal to make a change. Once you feel comfortable with that, incorporate changes in the other meals.
Step 4: What Can I Drink When Eating Healthy?
Now that we got what goes on our plates covered let’s talk about what we are drinking.
Are fancy coffee drinks, soda, or energy drinks part of your daily beverage intake? If you were to drink just one of these sugary drinks every day and not cut back on calories elsewhere, you could gain up to 5 pounds in a year.
A quick way to drop some weight is to swap the sugary drinks for water. If you aren’t ready to say goodbye to your favorite frozen coffee, try having the coffee just 1-2 days a week instead of daily.
You may be wondering how much water you should be drinking each day to aid in weight loss? A simple math equation for this is to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water. So, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should aim for 100 ounces of water a day.
Reminder: Make sure to note your water intake in your food journal.
Recap: You Are Worth The Investment
Eating healthy can be a daunting task for many people. In this post, we’ve given you four simple steps to follow in order to eat healthy. These strategies may not be revolutionary but they can definitely help improve your eating habits and create a better balance for a healthier lifestyle. If you want more tips on how to create better balance in your life while still maintaining good health habits, learn more about Better Balance with Jamie.
Remember, I believe 1% improvement every day is better than trying for giant leaps. Once you start implementing these healthy eating changes, you will gradually notice a difference in how you look and feel. So keep journaling and making more healthy changes. It is worth the investment.
In the words of Jack Dixon, “If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”
