When I'm feeling sluggish from too much indulgent eating, I skip the juice cleanses and complicated diets and instead focus on one simple, daily change to jumpstart my healthy eating habits.
The trick is this: I try to make every snack I eat during the day center around vegetables or fruits. I usually try to include a little protein and fat in my snacks so they have some staying power, but the bulk of the mini-meal is a vegetable or fruit. Carrot sticks and hummus, apple slices and peanut butter, or even a bowl of leftover roasted beets drizzled with a little olive oil are all fair game.
Not only does this habit go a long way toward getting my daily allowance of fruits and vegetables, it also seems to whet my appetite for healthy foods, so that I'm more likely to keep eating well throughout the day — sort of the way eating a piece of cake as a midday snack seems to make me crave cake as a bedtime snack too.
It's a small change, but it's easy to follow and always has me feeling and eating better in no time.
Are there any simple, daily changes that have helped you to eat healthier?
Related: 10 Easy Ways to Eat More Vegetables Every Day
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I try to make sure that I always have healthy snacks nearer to me than unhealthy ones. So I make sure that there is always either an apple/orange/mandarin or a small container of fruits/veggies in my bag where ever I go.
I found a simple step, almost head-smack simple. Only buy healthy food at the market. I buy a bit of milk chocolate to melt with strawberries. The rest is yogurt, bananas (you can fry them in a pan with lemons) and otherwise veggies with cheese. Only buy that stuff and you won't be able to eat junk. I'm perfectly happy with what I have! And keep veggies on the top shelf; that's where most of us grab snacks.
I vowed not to eat in restaurants in the month of January. It's not only budget-friendly, but it forces me to think about food in advance and shop for the week. When I make calm, rational choices in advance, I don't buy as much junk. I can't let myself get low-blood-sugar, or I'll be tempted to just go buy something out, so I am fully stocked with healthy food and snacks. (Including fruit - I bring a container of pomegranate seeds to work every day.)
I ONLY snack on fruits and/or veggies. I made a conscious decision to do so years ago and the habit has stuck with me. Sometimes I add a protein component (nut butter, hummus or other dip, cheese) to the produce but not always. As a consequence, I just dont get the concept of 'snack foods'.
I buy a couple of containers of cut-up butternut squash from Costco and roast them with olive oil and salt. They are little nuggets of sweetness that I can munch on throughout the day.
I completely agree! I fundamentally disagree with the idea of 'dieting' because I don't think it is something that I (or a lot of people) can stick with for an extended period of time. Instead, I try to make healthy choices all of the time, but not count every single calorie. Adding more veggies and fruit to my diet is definitely something I do a lot of times when I've been eating a very carb-heavy diet.
Cat, I'm assuming you mean refined carbs, as fruit is carb heavy as well. Important if one is on a ketogenic diet. Not so important in a whole food diet approach.
I have hummus and orange bell peppers in my snack area. And apples.
Funny how my partner is still finding holiday sweets. Maybe I need a kitchen cure!
I totally agree with this! If you don't have sweets in your house, you won't reach for them when you're looking for a snack.
Some good things to have around:
1) Squares of dark chocolate - I love Scharffen Berger
2) Frozen grapes (I freeze in individual portions - like mini ice pops!)
3) Greek yogurt dip made from fat free greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and any fresh herbs you have on hand - high protein and great for veggies
4) Candied ginger - This can be high in sugar, but I find that a small amount is really satisfying
5) Toasted pecans or walnuts - they're larger than other nuts, and eaten one at a time I find them highly satiating.
I've been doing a much better job of coming home from the grocery store and spending time prepping. I peel and cut veggies and stock the fridge with easy to grab snacks. Same goes for fruit, I've got mason jars full of ready to go snacks. I hate cutting out food, I'm a terrible dieter. However, I usually turn to fruits and veggies and by having everything prepped and at my fingertips I automatically make better choices. Even my husband has seen how helpful this is. Our fridge currently has the following making it so easy to snack and grab food for on the go. We're making it a goal to eat out only twice a month. Brunch most likely!
1) cut carrots, bell peppers, jicima and cucumbers
2) assorted cut fruit in mason jars for on the go ease
3) hummus
4) greek yogurt
5) hard boiled eggs, peeled and ready to eat
6) nuts
7) tortilla chips & salsa
8) a huge bowl of segmented grapefruit, I have a citrus addiction!
Great suggestions from everyone. Another trick I learned (from Kitchn, thanks!) is to make devilled eggs with yogurt and spices instead of mayonnaise. Substituting bad ingredients in your favorite recipes is a great way to get healthy!
It's so true! This morning I had whole wheat toast, an apple, and almonds and now all I want are fruits and vegetables!!