Eating healthy does not always mean eating rabbit food (aka iceberg lettuce and only veggies) and going hungry. I’ll give you my 3 main tips I use to maintain a healthy relationship with food.
1.) Food is fuel
Sometimes people can depend on food…a little too much. Don’t get me wrong – food is great. I love food. Remember the main reason we consume food is to fuel our bodies. Food and water keep us going. Over 50% of the body is made up of water, crazy right? It is essential to our existence, and it is important we fill ourselves up with food that is good for us.
Be mindful of the foods you put in your body and what all they consist of. Sugar for instance can be very harmful. According to an article on brainfacts.org titled “Let’s Eat: How Diet Influences the Brain,” Sugar can increase the amount of stress hormones in the brain. Also, there is a key difference between processed sugars and natural sugars. The way processed sugar molecules are formed make it more difficult for our bodies to breakdown. Natural sugars, such as from fruit, are easier for our bodies to process. There is nothing wrong with consuming sugar but moderation is the key. Whereas, protein is something to consume in large amounts. Protein can be found in meats, like Chicken, Beef and fish, and also in nuts and Greek yogurt. Protein is the base of our hair, skin, nails and bones. It is vital to keeping our bodies fit and energized.
2.) Healthy food tastes great
Okay, maybe not all food that’s packed with great nutritional value is great on the taste buds: but, there’s a lot of food that is. First you need to understand what a healthy meal consists of: 1/4 of your plate should be protein, 1/4 is a grain/pasta and half of your plate should be vegetables or fruit.
This sounds a little bland, but I’ll list some of my favorite meal choices below.
Homemade tacos – This is a fast and easy to make healthy meal. Cook the beef, add the seasoning and then build the taco. Not only does it taste great, but it’s a healthy meal you’ll love!
What you need:
Ground beef (as well as preferred seasoning)
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cheddar Cheese
Corn Tortillas
Baked Chicken – Now, I love to cook chicken in the oven. The leaner the meat, the healthier it is – this means little to no skin or fat. By cooking the meat in the oven, this burns the extra fat off and makes what’s left a little crispy, which in turn makes it taste ah-mazing.
What you need:
Chicken
Rice
Mixed veggies
Seasoning suggestions for meat: Sazon, garlic, adobe, salt & pepper.
Braised Beef or Semi Stew – This is a lovely one pot meal that’ll bring comfort to your tummy. Adding a can of low-fat broth is optional. The pot should be drained afterword. This gets rid of the fat that cooked off.
What you need:
Lean chunks of beef
potatoes
onions
carrots
Seasoning suggestion: salt, pepper and garlic to taste.
3.) Treat your body better
Treating your body better begins with eating right, followed by eating at the right time. Schedules can get crazy, and maybe difficult to eat right during a busy day. So plan ahead by knowing what you’re going to eat. First, make sure to eat breakfast. I’m sure you’ve heard your parents tell you “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” Well, it’s true. Eating breakfast is proven to help start the day right. An article on Huffington Post, titled “Health Benefits of Breakfast: 7 Reasons Not To Skip Your Morning Meal,” explains how those who eat breakfast are more energized, have better memory and consume more nutrients. Of course, it’s important to follow breakfast with lunch. If you are out and about, make sure to pack a sandwich or snacks with you, so you are less likely to wonder down to the bookstore or gas station to settle for a bag of cookies. Lastly, eat dinner at a reasonable time. Too late into the night will cause your body to store the nutrients as fat, instead of burning them as fuel – you know, because you’re supposed to be asleep all night (but Sleep Comes After Death :/).
When you get into a routine, you may notice a difference in your health. Maybe you have more energy, your attitude changes; you’re definitely likely to be more inclined to make healthier choices. You are essentially training yourself to make healthier choices. See, there’s nothing wrong with healthy food. I bet you didn’t even think some of those foods were accepted onto the “healthy” list. Remember, eating healthier foods does not have to entail going on a diet, per say. It’s simply about making healthier choices. You can totally have a good relationship with food, just like you would with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Eating ‘clean’, as some say, is not a burden. It is tool to help enhance your life.