When you think of eating healthy, you might just imagine a lot of salads and plain chicken breast. While veggies are vital, and you should eat them, there is a lot more to eating healthy than simply chopping vegetables.
Most people say the reason they struggle with a healthy diet is because of time. The time it takes to plan meals, makes grocery lists, think critically about nutrition and of course, actually cooks.
This might surprise you, but these days there are actually a lot of easy ways to eat healthy that don't take a lot of time. Check out these lifestyle hacks to make healthy eating accessible, easy, and tasty.
10 Keep Ingredients Simple
For something to be tasty, it does not have to be extravagant. If you are putting lots of sauces, and ingredients that are outside of veggies, you might be making something that is not the epitome of health.
Eating a be perfectly healthy, and be singular ingredients from each food group to get a good balance. The same rule goes for snacks, simply eat a piece of fruit or a few nuts to tide you over instead of making something extravagant.
9 Pre-Cut Or Cooked Is Not A Bad Thing
For folks who are short on time, why don't you start buying the pre-cut foods? If cutting is what prevents you from making veggies for dinner every night, take away the barrier to access.
Most grocery stores have freshly cut veggies and meats, sure you pay a little extra, but isn't it for the time you save? This is for the folks who say they don't have time to cook, give yourself time back with pre-cut items. There are also lots of pre-cooked items such as quinoa or beans, taking away another step.
8 Start Meal Prepping
Meal prepping might sound like a hassle, but it gives you back a lot of time during the week. You stop to think about what you want to eat, buy it to stock the fridge for the week, spend a few hours cooking one time, and that is it.
Each day of the week you will earn back time for yourself to do things you enjoy, and not have to be stuck in the kitchen. A little extra time on your Sunday can give you back a whole lot of time during the week, and the ability to make sure you are eating healthy and delicious meals.
7 Smart Lunch Hour Finds
Don't beat yourself up if you just didn't have time to prepare lunch last night, it happens to everyone. Just know that instead of getting fast food, a healthier choice is heading to the grocery store.
Most supermarkets have some impressive prepared foods to go from salads and wraps to even hot plates in the deli. Don't feel bad about getting food from the supermarket that is delicious, accessible and easy.
6 Guilt-Free Takeout
The same idea goes for takeout, everyone needs to order food sometimes so get over the feeling of guilt by making a smarter choice. Avoid foods that are heavy in sauces for example, as they can contain lots of hidden sugars.
Make smart choices in terms of what you order on takeout and don't feel bad about it.
5 Prep Food & Freeze It For later
Another trick for the person who hates chopping vegetables, meats or fruits, is why not pre-chop them and freeze them for cooking with later?
That way you always have a freezer full of nutritious foods, and they are ready to be cooked directly after defrosting. Or better yet, freeze entire cooked meals, this is what a lot of meal preppers do.
4 Keep Healthy Snacks Nearby
You know when you are at the grocery store and you think, "should I buy bananas and fruit for work? No I won't be hungry for a snack," but then you always are hungry for a snack, which leads to vending machine find.
Avoid another bag of chips by simply bringing the healthy snack, you know you are going to want it anyways.
3 Have Reliable Ingredients Ready
A trick for the person who never knows what foods to buy at the grocery store is to know what you use often and keep it around. If you are low on quinoa, always keep a stock nearby. The same goes for oats, canned items of your favorite veggies.
The most accessible it is to you, the more you will use it. Know what you like and keep it in the fridge for easy access.
2 Balance Out Your Plate
When figuring out how to plan a meal, look at your plate. What proportion is fruit, veggie, protein and lean-fat? Every single meal does not have to be perfectly proportioned, but look for a general percentage to keep your diet on track.
Challenge yourself to have one item from each food group in every meal of the day for a week to make some quick changes to your nutritional habits.
1 Be Intentional
Above all, just be intentional. You want to see a variety in the foods you eat and think critically about what you consume. That doesn't mean restriction, it just means finding a balance. Friday night, don't feel guilty about ordering a pizza but make sure that your daily habits keep up with nutrition.
