You’re already mindful of how and what you eat but
you’re ready to take your healthy eating game to the next level. But when
we’re all busy doing a million different things every day, it can seem easier
to grab a handful of chips instead of prepping a dinner salad. But with a few
simple hacks, you can make healthy eating simple, painless and even fun. Try
these 10 tips to start eating healthy with less effort:
1. Plan Ahead
You know the old adage, “Failing to plan is planning
to fail.” That’s true whether you’re got a big deadline at work or you’re
striving to cook nutritious meals. When you’ve got a free hour or two, plan out
your meals for the week ahead – lunches, too! – and make a master shopping
list. While you’re at it, do a bit of prep work for the days ahead. Whisk
vinaigrette to store in the fridge; cook a pot of whole grains for a quick side
for sautéed vegetables or grilled fish; wash and chop up salad greens.
Otherwise you’ll come home ravenous after a long day at the office and wind up
ordering take-out—again. Need quick-to-make, great tasting recipe ideas? Try
these 10 healthy meals you can make in 10 minutes.
2. Make Good Food Pleasurable
This is a biggie. Don’t turn healthy eating in to a
chore or you’ll dread it. This is a lifelong goal, so you need to find the
foods you like and a lifestyle that works for you. Your best friend swears by
Paleo, but if it’s not your thing, that’s okay! There are many ways to eat
right. Avoid food ruts by trying out new dishes with seasonal ingredients (like
the myriad of fantastic recipes to be found at Fitness Republic) so that you
look forward to mealtimes.
3. Don’t Let Restaurants Throw
You Off
Yes, restaurant meals are notorious for their jumbo
portions and copious amount of salt and butter, but that doesn’t mean that you
can’t find choices that work for you. One option is to dine at establishments
that cater to health-conscious dieters (Japanese, Mediterranean and vegan can
all be great options, for example). Another is to be savvy with how you
order—try an appetizer portion for your entrée, or set aside half your meal to
bring home (bonus: lunch for the next day is all set). We have more smart ways
to eat out here.
4. Think Big
Double your recipes so that you not only have enough
for lunch or dinner the next day but also plenty to freeze in individual
portions in a Ziploc bag. Then on a hectic week when you’re really crunched for
time, you can pop your meal in the microwave and have something healthy and
home cooked in minutes.
5. Make Your Slow Cooker Your
Friend
Dinnertime during the workweek can be stressful for
everyone. Instead of facing the stove at 6:00 p.m. when you’re dead on your
feet, prep your meal in the a.m. and come home to a fully-cooked, delicious
dish. Here are 8 irresistible slow cooker recipes you’ll love.
You can also use it for mornings by making a big batch of slow cooker oatmeal.
6. Snack Successfully
Got the mid-afternoon munchies? Like having a little
something while you catch up on Empire? Small mini-meals
don’t have to derail your diet. Just make sure your snacks are filling and
nutritious. Opt for a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds; a bowl of air-popped
popcorn; an apple with a tablespoon of almond butter; a hard-boiled egg; hummus
with sliced peppers or a serving of Greek yogurt. Need more ideas? Here
are 10 healthy snack ideas for any time of day!
7. Don’t be Ashamed of Shortcuts
Most of us don’t have a sous chef hanging around our
kitchen just waiting to finely dice, chop and peel. (Though we can dream!) If
time is an issue, figure out any and all shortcuts and take advantage of them.
Buy individual sized bags of frozen edamame and single serve portions of hummus
or nut butters for bagged lunch. Yes, a fruit salad from the produce section is
costlier than buying the whole fruit and doing the prep yourself, but time is
money, so get the pre-cut fruit or bagged salad if that’s going to make your
life easier. Ditto frozen fruit and vegetables which are healthy and affordable
and ready to pop in to smoothies, soups and stews! Pick up a rotisserie chicken
from the market and serve with those whole grains you made earlier in the week
and voila, dinner’s ready!
8. Keep Unhealthy Food Out
of Your House
If you’ve ever found yourself going back for fourths
of cookies you’re not alone. Keep those trigger foods out of your house and
they won’t tempt you. If you do decide to buy an indulgence, pick up a single
serving only.
9. Invest in a Few Good Gadgets
Do you need anything in your kitchen other than a
measuring cup, spoons, a cutting board, a good knife and a few pots and pans?
No, probably not, but we’ve found that owning cool gadgets makes our lives
easier and inspires us to make healthier food. A few of our favorites:
a spiralizerto make noodles out of vegetables, a Yonanas machine
so you can make frozen yogurt with nothing but fresh fruit and a food
steamer for light and easy cooking.
10. Say Yes to Dessert
Remember, healthy living is a way of life, not a
sprint, so you can and absolutely should enjoy desserts. Not only can you work
an occasional indulgence in to your week, but there are plenty of sweet foods
that are good for you, too. Think a bowl of frozen grapes, a plate of grilled
watermelon, a small square of dark chocolate or a fresh fruit salad. Here
are 10 more healthy desserts for you to choose from!
This post was originally published here: Eat
Healthy Easily With These 10 Tips
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