For many people, a healthy lifestyle sounds like a recipe for sacrifice. You might be worried about giving up things you love, especially when it comes to food. But healthy food doesn’t have to be boring food. In fact, there’s still room for foods that aren’t strictly healthy in a balanced lifestyle. The key is in the balance. So, here are some ways that you can improve your health through your diet without losing the joy of food.
Counting Calories
Some people really don’t like the idea of counting calories, and it’s easy to see why. This might feel like a really restrictive way to view food, and it’s also not a perfect way to measure how healthy your food is. You might be eating the exact amount of recommended calories for an adult, but it doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
For example, there’s the simple fact that humans are different. The recommended calories for a tall, athletic man, is going to be much more than a small woman with a light frame. Different people need different amounts of calories to maintain their weight or to meet their goals.
Another thing to consider is that calories doesn’t actually indicate how healthy the food you’re eating is. If you eat the perfect amount of calories for your needs, but you’re only getting those caories through donuts, you aren’t going to also get the nutrients you need. Even eating 2000kcal of lettuce isn’t going to be healthy for you, because you need a varied diet.
Does this mean counting calories is pointless? Absolutely not. This can be an excellent way to work out exactly how much you’re eating, as well as a great way to control how much you eat throughout the day. Calories aren’t necessarily the enemy, but they can be an indicator of why you can’t lose weight.
Cooking From Scratch
One of the best ways to eat more healthily is to cook from scratch. Restaurant and takeout food is delicious and convenient, but there’s a reason this stuff tastes so good. The chef cooking your food doesn’t care about how healthy it is, just how cheap it is to make and how much you’ll enjoy it.
DOes this mean you can never get a takeout meal or go to a restaurant with your family or friends? Absolutely not. You should definitely enjoy yourself and eat this food without feeling guilty, but it shouldn’t be your primary way of eating.
If you eat out every once in a while, you should also feel free to order what you like. The trick is to focus on how you eat everyday.
Cooking from scratch is often cheaper and almost always healthier than ordering food. You can control exactly what you put in, and the food can be just as delicious as long as you cook the right recipes. The main sacrifice is the fact that you actually have to cook it, but you can make this more convenient as well by prepping ingredients in advanced and using frozen or prepared ingredients when possible.
Recipes like this healthy gluten free pad thai can make you feel as though you’re enjoying a takeout meal, but without all of the added fat, salt, and sugar.
Swapping Treats
One of the reasons people feel as though they’re missing out when they try to eat more healthily is that they restrict themselves from the things they love. It’s why diets often end in failure. Temporary diets might work, but after the diet, you might end up gaining all the weight back and then some because you missed so much.
Instead, look for ways to swap treats out for healthier options. Compromise instead of sacrifice. If you can buy or even make healthier options, you have something that can scratch the itch or hunger in the same way as your favorite snacks. If you don’t want to stop eating something altogether, simply reduce the amount you eat. Make it a treat, not a primary part of your diet
Some people do snack a lot, and snack foods tend to be the kind of thing you forget you eat, while also being very high in salt, sugar, and fat. They also might not be nutritious, so you aren’t getting any real health benefits from them.
So, finding snacks that you enjoy, that satisfy you, and that are also healthy, can be an incredible step forward.
Drinking Your Calories
Speaking of calories and sugar that people might not know they’re consuming, sugary drinks and even alcohol can be a huge pitfall. Drinking a lot of sugary drinks is such an easy way to take in way more sugar than you realize. Alcohol is also very calorie-dense, without making you feel full.
Consider swapping these drinks for different options. Water is great, but you might want something a bit more special now and then. Flavored organic sparkling water can be a much better way to add some fizz and flavor to your drinks, but without adding a whole bunch of other stuff that you’re trying to avoid.
As for alcoholic drinks, you should keep track of how much you drink and look for ways to cut it down. Many people find that a dry month can really help you in the long run, because you might find that even when you start drinking again, you’re drinking much less alcohol. When you are drinking, make sure to also have water on-hand to quench your thirst and slow down your consumption of alcohol.
Having a Healthy Outlook
Food should never be the enemy. Everything has a value, even stuff like donuts and chips. The key is to put them in their place.
The bulk of your family’s diet should be real food, complete with the calories and nutrients they need to be healthy. Make sure to control how much you eat as well as what you eat, but without falling into the trap of an overly restrictive diet.
Rather than taking on temporary diets, think about permanent changes in your lifestyle. This way, you can be healthier and happier.
This is a collaborative post.
