Eating healthy is not an easy task for many people as they perceive one healthy diet as a restrictive way of eating, associating it with terms such as “low fat“, “low calorie” and “no sweets“. Also, there is an expectation that healthy food is expensive and meals are difficult to be prepared. But it doesn’t have to be that way for you.
There are ways to turn your diet into a much more pleasant tasting menu. If you want to achieve a consistent result try to follow these hints.
1) Be honest with yourself
For a week, record every meal, snack, and snack you eat during the day, noting the amount of food and the time you eat it. This honest self-assessment will serve as a compass that will show you the parts of your nutrition regime you need yo change. Thus you will understand what food (e.g. carbs) and which ingredients to increase (e.g. fiber).
2) Start with small steps
Trying to completely change eating habits all at once can be challenging for most people. Often such approach leads to an inability to cope with the new nutrition regime. It usually results in a complete failure, at the very beginning of the diet change.
Therefore, it is advisable to change your habits gradually, changing one aspect of your diet at a time every three to four weeks. After you make a small change in your eating habits, then repeat it for a few weeks until it becomes a routine. As a next step you can proceed with another change in your regime and repeat the process.
3) Share your success
Sharing with your friends and family can add extra excitement to the process. It is easier when there is someone to share both the challenges and the responsibilities of healthy eating.
By openly discussing your achievements in healthy eating, you can inspire friends and family to join the journey towards better nutrition. It leads for sure to positive lifestyle changes. Moreover, celebrating dietary successes with a close person with similar goals, mutually increases motivation and accountability. This are crucial things to fulfill the commitment to long-term health goals.
4) Try new healthy recipes
Start preparing just one or two new healthy recipes each week, and eat as usual the rest of the time. Include these 1-2 new recipes in your menu for a month, then find and try 1-2 more to replace others from your old menu.
Trying new recipes keeps healthy eating exciting and prevents monotony. Thus, you have a chance to explore diverse ingredients and flavors in your meals. Learning new new cooking techniques can make healthy eating more enjoyable and sustainable.
Discovering new favorite recipes can provide healthier alternatives to traditionally indulgent dishes, satisfying cravings while still aligning with your dietary needs and goals.
This way, you will gradually build a whole new menu with tasteful and also healthy recipes, gradually replacing the previous ones. Thus your usual daily meal can be turned into a healthy one without taking it as a restrictive diet.
5) DON’T be afraid to experiment
Feel free to try new recipes, foods, spices and cooking methods. Variety is a key factor in maintaining a healthy diet in long-term perspective which many people overlook. Don’t make the same mistake and give yourself the freedom to experiment.
In conclusion
Maintaining a healthy diet is not that difficult when you approach it carefully and in a consistent way. Try to find the healthy combinations you enjoy, and give yourself time to gradually change your eating habits. Establishing a successful healthy eating habit can be described with running terms as follows – this change is not a Sprint, but a Marathon which changes your Life.
