5 tips to eating healthy

5 tips for healthier eating

Nutrition does not need to be complicated.

It sometimes feels like it should--what about going Keto? Or intermittent fasting? Or eating carbs after 7? Or what's the deal with corn...is it "fattening"? (These are all actual questions I get...)

The deal with eating better is that the simpler it is on you, the more likely you'll stick to it. Simple does not mean easy, however--we all have patterns, emotions, and cultural influences that affect our choices. In order to actually stick to our plan, we need to identify these feelings around food, and keep things as simple as possible.

Here are 5 tips to a more simple nutrition plan (and actually sticking to it!):

1. Buy pre-chopped, pre-washed veggies (or do it yourself as soon as you get home from the store). Accessibility to healthy options, like veggies, seems to be one of the biggest hurdles for most of my clients. Buying veggies that are already prepped (or having it done before you start cooking) takes away one step in the cooking process, and you're more likely to actually USE vegetables in your meals. Like, who wants one MORE thing to do after work, amiright?

2. Bring healthy snacks and easy to prep options (think: sandwiches) to work. Work can get CRAZY, and a lot of us find ourselves on-the-go and grabbing something quick and easy (but not necessarily healthy) for lunch. One suggestion is to keep some healthy lunch options, like stuff to make turkey sandwiches, as well as healthy and filling snacks, like hard-boiled eggs, apples, string cheese, etc at your desk or fridge to make eating healthy on-the-go easier. 

3. Cook a whole chicken or roast (or buy a rotisserie chicken). Having healthy protein options ready to go helps with the "I'm-so-hungry-I'll-grab-whatever" feels. We often buy a rotisserie chicken, shred it, and toss onto salads for a quick (and super lazy) dinners. Or toss onto rice with bell peppers and salsa for a quick bowl.

4. Keep healthy options more accessible (and less-healthy options less accessible). One way to eat less junk? Don't keep it in the house. I know that when we have chips hanging around, I eat more chips. If you don't have control over what's in your house, try moving these options out-of-sight, and moving healthier options where you can see them. Keep apples and other fruits in pretty bowls on the counter or in the fridge. Have your veggies in clear containers on the shelves of your refrigerator, not stuck in a drawer to be forgotten.

​5. Use a grocery-delivery service (if possible). If time is a BIG constraint for you, or you find yourself adding some impulse buys to your cart, or you just HATE shopping, give a grocery-delivery service a try. For a fee, you virtually shop some of your favorite store (I know this is an option at Sprouts, which is where we do a lot of our shopping), adding the items that you want into your cart. Someone gets your items (usually looking for the best quality produce and meat because they are looking for good reviews), stands in line, checks-out, and delivers your groceries whenever it's convenient for you. You get healthy groceries, without the time spent in the store. Talk about a win-win.

What are your favorite tips to making healthier eating easier? Let me know! 

Do you know someone who could benefit from these tips? Feel free to share it with them!