Around this time of year, people everywhere are giving up on their New Year's resolutions to eat healthier. At this point, the full reality of their commitment has hit them hard, and they are not having it! Eating healthy may be harder than some think, but it doesn't have to be. There are simple ways to help you eat healthier.
Keep in mind, I am not a nutritionist, but these tips are meant to be basic enough that anyone can use them. If you have health concerns, I recommend talking to a doctor rather than just consulting an article you see online. I will say, however, that these tips are useful, and I hope you get good use out of them!
If you keep the following words in mind, they'll help you get closer to eating and feeling healthier:
1. Eat.
If you want to lose weight properly and healthily, then eat. You may have to change the way you eat, but you must eat! Even if you need to eat less to get healthier, you still need to eat. If you're constantly starving, then change your diet! Even if you're following a diet that seems to be healthy, it may not be right for your body and lifestyle. Be aware of the signals your body is giving you, or you could end up even more unhealthy.
2. Variety.
A healthy diet consists of a variety of foods. Fruits, veggies, carbs, proteins - you'll need them all. If you eat too much of one thing, you'll get too much of one nutrient and not enough of another. Be sure to add some variety to your diet if you find yourself eating too many carbs or meats.
3. Portions.
A lot of losing weight and getting healthy has to do with portions. You may eat good foods, but they won't be good for you if you eat too much of them. In a world with tons and tons of tasty food available, you'll be tempted to get more than what you need. You must resist that urge! Again, be cautious when restricting your portions so that you don't end up starving yourself.
4. Balance.
There are some foods that you are gonna want to eat that aren't very good for you. That's okay! We all have those cheat snacks. You can have those, but you'll have to balance them with other things that are good for you. Chips and cookies can be part of a good diet as long as you eat them sparingly and with other healthier things.
5. Enjoy.
If you're not liking what you're eating, you're not going to keep eating it. Period. Even if changing your diet is a little unpleasant at first, you can stick to it by eating stuff that you still like. Sure, maybe you can't have that slice of cake, but if you like berries, you can still have something sweet that you enjoy. Don't choke down things you don't like; eat things that you enjoy!
6. Substitutions.
If you think you need to cut down on some burgers, maybe go for veggie or chicken patties instead. If you like pizza, try finding whole wheat crusts with veggie toppings. There are so many healthier options out there; you'll for sure find something you like.
7. Avoid.
Avoid places, situations, and foods that you know will be tempting. If you want to cut down on cakes, then don't walk past your favorite bakery. If you know you'll be tempted by an unhealthy snack at work, then bring your own snacks instead. The best way to avoid falling into temptation is to avoid the temptation entirely.
The hardest part about any change in your life is self-discipline. These tips can help you, but you'll have to increase your discipline if you want to do well on your goals. It all depends on you and how badly you want to make a difference in your life.
I hope these tips will help you make that difference. Good luck and happy eating!
man running in forestPhoto by 
