One of the things I’ve learned in transitioning to a healthier lifestyle is that many of the habits I’d previously had sabotaged what I THOUGHT were healthy eating practices. I knew that frying my foods was not healthy for me, but I grew up in the south—where almost EVERYthing is fried! The same held true for dairy and butter…to me only “health food nuts” drank skim milk or nutmilks–and what food doesn’t taste good with a little butter thrown on it or in it for good measure? So even though I didn’t keep soda, candy, or sugary cereals in my cupboard, I couldn’t make any headway.
It wasn’t until I changed my mindset and set out to reeducate myself that I realized why I stayed stuck.
While my own transition to Clean Eating seemed difficult at first (I didn’t have anyone to help me figure out how to go about doing it), once I developed a step-by-step plan, things started falling into place. This plan uses the same method I teach my Clients who are looking to slowly transition to a healthier lifestyle. Download my “Ditch The Junk” Done-For-You Guide!
Here are some simple things that ANYONE can do, when making the change to a CLEAN EATING LIFESTYLE:
- Bake, broil, or grill your foods DON’T FRY.
- Eat low fat dairy products AVOID HIGH FAT (i.e., whole milk, soft cheeses). Also, salad dressing is not a “dairy product” even if you make your dressing with milk. It’s added sugar, fat and empty calories. Just by adding fresh squeezed lemon, salt and pepper, or balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil, you can add plenty of flavor without the unnecessary junk.
- Choose monoUNSATURATED or polyunsaturated fats for cooking, over SATURATED ones. Some examples of “Healthy Fats” are canola, almond walnut, olive and peanut oil. Some examples of Unhealthy fats are lard, butter and palm oil.
- Choose fresh fruits and vegetable FIRST. Frozen SECOND. Canned or packaged should be avoided. Commercial canning strips vegetables and fruits of the nutrients found in fresh produce, but if you do buy canned, READ THE LABELS. Many canned vegetables have added sodium and sugar in them!
- Eat WHOLE grains, that is, grains that still retain their nutrients. Avoid white, bleached, or processed grains as these have little to no nutritional value.
It’s never too late to improve your eating habits. Take your time, start slow and make small incremental changes. If it all seems overwhelming or you just need someone to help you get started, Schedule a FREE CALL. I’m happy to help!