You’ve decided you want to start eating healthier. But how do you get started? It’s not as simple as taking a mental note; you need to participate in healthy eating habits and self-restraint actively.
And it can be tricky. One minute you’re set on leading a healthier lifestyle and the next a giant bowl of ice cream is staring you in the face.
Of course, everything in moderation is fine. But sugar is addictive, and once you take a bite, it’s difficult to put the bowl down. Don’t fret. It’s mostly about forming healthy eating habits and learning to stick to them. Here’s how:
Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry
I’m sure you’ve heard this tip before. It’s a well-known one, but not many people stick to it. It can be a pain to organise your food shopping around your daily meals, but you’ll be thankful that you did. According to Cornell University research when you shop when you’re hungry, you’ll buy things that look tasty and appealing. According to this research That’s generally the carby, heavy stuff: the potato chips and chocolate bars of the food aisle. You’ll also end up buying more than you need because everything looks satisfying when you’re hungry. If you go food shopping after you’ve eaten, food won’t seem as inviting. You’ll just get what you came for and leave.
Meal prep
Meal prepping for the week ahead is an excellent way to ensure that you won’t be tempted to eat out or order takeaway (as much). Eating out or getting takeaway tends to be less healthy than home-cooked meals unless of course, you don’t make healthy meals at home. It also saves money and helps you organise your time better, both major pluses! To meal prep, you’ll need to put your planning hat on.
Cook healthy meals at home
The previous point takes us into healthy eating habit number 3, cook healthy, home-cooked meals such as this Healthy Oats Paratha. If you’re always tempted to pop in the oven fries or make creamy pasta, it’s time to change it up a bit. Try to centre your meals around protein (meat or plant-based) and fill your plate with vegetables. You can have carbs, but try to have 1-2 meals a day that don’t include starchy carbs like pasta, potato, bread, etc. Maybe you’ve attempted to cook healthy at home, but the taste just isn’t the same?
Here’s a suggestion that might help you out and actually, may surprise you. A lot of the time, the flavour comes down to how you cook your food, right down to the type of pan you use. Healthy, hearty soups and stews need sustained heat, and if you’re using a cheap aluminium pan, it won’t stay hot for as long. The healthiest way to cook is to bake in an oven or to use a slow cooker. In case you still do not have one, we recommend you to check this guide on best slow cookers to buy this year.
Portion control
Did you know that you’re only supposed to eat a portion of meat the size of your hand? In the western world, we tend to eat much, much more than that, with meat usually making up every meal in our days. It’s not just your portion of meat you should be controlling though.
Read the packet on your rice or pasta, and you’ll likely discover you’ve been eating a much bigger portion than the recommended serving size. A way to get around this – and a healthy habit to form – is measuring it out before you cook it.
Image source: Unsplash.com
Get smaller tableware
Japanese people are notorious for their small bowls and plates and their philosophy that you should eat until you are 80% full, not 100%. If you have smaller bowls and plates, you’re more likely to feel full after you finish your first portion. Wait 20 minutes before you serve yourself seconds as that’s how long it takes your body to process that you’ve eaten.