EVER BETTER™ BODY – How To Make Eating Healthy Simple and Appealing!
by Denise Austin | August 30, 2022 | General
Today let’s look at ways we can make eating healthy yummy, satisfying, and something you look forward to – not something you dread! When it comes to your health – and living an EVER BETTER™ life – it’s a three-pronged approach:
- Consistent exercise. This keeps your body strong and flexible, helps to ward off weight gain which can lead to sluggishness, and gives you energy and motivation to make every day and EVER BETTER™ day!!
- Time for yourself. I always say, if you don’t take care of YOU, how can you take care of others? Whether it’s taking five minutes to breath, carving out 30 minutes for a bath, or treating yourself to flowers, find out what makes YOU happy, relaxed, content… and then incorporate it best you can into your lifestyle.
- Eating well. This is so important to your health! I looooove a good snack and dessert, but I try to keep it to an 80/20 rule: 80 percent of the time I eat healthy, so I can enjoy the 20% snack and treat time! The good news is that eating healthy can be so easy, especially if you follow these tips. Start by checking out some of the healthy foods I recommend here, then give the two tips below a try. Bon appetite!
2 Simple Ways To Eat Healthier
- Start with small changes. So many times people say to me, “I started to eat healthier and I felt awful!” That can be because introducing too many healthy foods like fruits and veggies at one time can wreak havoc on your digestive system… The best way to go about a healthier eating plan is to slowly swap out healthy foods for less healthy ones, such as eating a piece fruit instead of a piece of cake, or substituting carrot and celery sticks for chips when eating a dip. Another way is to add an additional serving a day of fruits and veggies to your meals each day – just one to start! because fruits and veggie are filled with fiber and water, they will help to keep you full – and should end up naturally reducing unhealthy snacking or eating.I have found that when I am eating healthier – especially after the holidays, say, when lots of treats have been the main focus! – I begin to crave healthy foods, and not the unhealthy ones. So make a commitment to your health to slowly add in and swap out healthier foods, until you are at the 80/20 goal!
- Make your food more crave-able. Let’s be honest: not everyone will find a bowl of brown rice and steamed tofu appealing, even though it is healthy! That’s why I take extra time to make my healthy meals not only taste good, but look appealing, too. I start by creating a meal that is balanced – I like to eat a mix of about 50-55% healthy carbohydrates, 20-25% protein, and 25% fat. I have found that this ratio keeps me full, satisfied, and filled with energy! By starting with this ratio (adjust as needed for your personal needs or tastes), I then build out healthy meals by making what I eat not only taste good, but look appealing, too. Some suggestions include:
- Color your plate. I like to make my plate or bowl look as pretty as possible, by adding as many colors of food as I can. This not only ensures I am getting in plenty of produce, but it also provides for a wide array of the various vitamins and nutrients different veggies and fruits offer.
- Use spices – liberally! If you don’t prefer, say, the taste of salmon (which is an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fats and protein), try adding spice or flavors to it. A little drizzle of honey and a splash of soy sauce, some fresh chopped basil with olive oil and some salt and pepper, or a lemon-pepper mix can transform the taste and texture of almost any fish or other lean protein. And a sprinkle of almost any dried seasoning to a hard boiled egg can take it to a whole new level… be open to trying, and keep track of what pleases your palate!
- Try to include as many of the four “Cs” at each meal. Crispy, chewy, crunch and creamy – when combined in different ways – give your senses an extra kick. Think a creamy yogurt with crunchy almonds and chewy dried fruit, or crispy apples topped with creamy peanut butter and crunchy almond slivers.
I hope these suggestions help – you can find more tips like this in my Stop The Clock Nutrition Guide, a digital book with over 170 pages of nutrition insight, cooking tips, recipes, and even a meal plan!
xoxo, Denise
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