The most popular New Year’s resolution is to get in shape. It’s also the goal that most people fail, and it usually fizzles out early in the year. If gym memberships haven’t worked for you in the past, it’s because you may be ignoring your lifestyle choices. Simple changes to your diet can go further than trying to trick yourself into wanting to go to the gym several times per week. There are several ways that you can eat healthy (and yummy food) to really put yourself on the path of a healthy lifestyle in 2016.
One of the first ways you can eat healthy is to get rid of every large plate you have in your home. Buy new, smaller plates to use to develop portion control. A study done by Cornell professor Brian Wansink found that people who switched from 12 inch plates to 10 inch plates ate 22 percent less food over a 12 month period..
Try to cook at home more if you want to eat healthy. And really make your meals. Cooking is a great way to relieve stress after a long day for me. And cooking doesn’t take as much time as you think. You can put a simple, healthy meal together often in 30 minutes or less. Cooking at home puts you in control of your food, especially the amount of fats and salts that go into your meal. Plus you can eliminate all the nasty preservatives that are in pre-packaged or fast food meals.
When you make your meals put vegetables in everything that you can. Instead of traditional spaghetti and meatballs opt for a pasta sauce loaded with lots of fresh veggies like zucchini, peppers and any other veggies you can cram into the meal. When you can replace a vegetable with a red meat, do it. Eating more veggies and less red meat has been shown to improve heart health and can help with weight loss.
A lot of people like to count calories. I’m one of them. But who cares if you eat 1,500 calories a day if half of them are doughnuts? Instead of worrying about calories, worry about what is in your meal. If you opt for fresh or frozen fruits and veggies you’ll find that you can eat a lot more of it and still not come close to going over your caloric intake.
How you snack also says a lot about your healthy lifestyle. If you want to eat better make sure snack time is adjusted with the rest of your day. Instead of greasy chips go for some hummus and fresh veggies for dipping. Even a bowl of grapes can be filling and a much better choice than sweets.
The last, and most important step to eating healthy is to have fun with it. Try different foods and see what your body likes and what it doesn’t. I found a long time ago that no matter how many times people want to tell me portobello mushrooms are a great replacement for steak, it’s nonsense in my mind. But I have found other replacements that I really like (like the spaghetti sauce I mentioned above with veggies instead of meatballs). What works for you may not work for everyone else. Develop “go to” meals that you can enjoy that are healthy and you will be more consistent with your diet.
These are a few of our ideas for eating healthy! Have your own? Comment here or Tweet your tips to us, @TravelCareAir!
