With busy lifestyles, and uncertain times, our everyday lives can become more about surviving than thriving. We are here to let you know that you can make self care easier, without taking up extra time. Personal self care is choosing to practice healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, I’m thriving. I realize that one of the most important habits in self care starts with food choices. Working out, meditating, taking “me time” are great habits that we all see the benefit of right away, but what we put into our bodies needs to jive with our behavior, and really is the first part of taking care of yourself. Here’s how to make eating well the foundation of self care.
1. Keep it colorful.
Fruits and vegetables keep meals and snacks colorful, full of variety, and gives tons of options for all different flavors. Colors make us happy, and you get the benefit of all the great antioxidants and flavonoids from healthy organic produce. This is really a good foundation for healthy living made easy.
2. Eat regularly.
Keeping your blood sugar levels even helps maintain energy, curbs overeating, and gives life balance. The habit of eating regularly gives the rest of your life normalcy, stability, and in turn, a sense of comfort.
3.Practice mindful eating.
The moments of eating during the day can and should be enjoyable breaks. When you focus on your meals or snacks, you can savor the flavor, and enjoy the moment. The little things in life that we miss out on can give us quite a bit of comfort.
4. No sugar tonight.
You’d be hard pressed to find any healthy advice that does not include staying away from sugars. Kids aren’t the only ones who get sugar highs and lows, not to mention the long term effects of added sugars on the heart, blood sugar, and cell health in general. A sweet tooth can be satisfied with fresh fruits, and you will notice pretty quickly how much better you feel with added sugars out of your system.
5. Have an 80/20 mindset.
Being disciplined is the first, and biggest challenge of any healthy lifestyle. Going to extremes can make things harder, unrealistic, and ultimately not long-lasting. So if you shoot for eating very well 80% of the time, giving leeway of 20%, the balance will be there, and your new way of eating will be second nature before you know it.
New year, new health goals, made easier with these 5 tools to improve self care with food. Before you know it, you’ll love your lifestyle, and never even want to go back to your old way of eating. So enjoy eating well! The effects will impact your whole being.