We all think we know what it means to be healthy. Or do we? Or maybe we think we know what to do but it’s just too hard or too time consuming. I’m here to share with you 5 ways to get healthy that are simple to incorporate into your everyday life and that have truly changed my life for the better.
[1] Start each day brand new.
Here’s a scenario I see all too often: you have a bad “eating” day, you overindulged in birthday cake or snacked on too many chips, or you feel guilty because you slept in instead of working out. Now your whole healthy routine is off. This kind of scenario happens all the time. You have two options: [1] stay in an unhealthy rut feeling bad about your decisions, OR [2] start fresh the next day and realize that one day of not-so-healthy eating, and one day of skipping a workout does not make you a bad person, nor does it make you unhealthy. It makes you human. We need to overindulge and let loose every once in a while, and sometimes we do need that extra hour sleep or that night out with friends instead of working out. Start each day positively and know that just because you overindulged yesterday doesn’t mean that today has to follow suit. Get back on the healthy train and start your day with a healthy Super Green Smoothie, or get your sweat on for an early morning workout sesh before heading to work. Start each day positively and you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to make healthy choices the rest of the day!
[2] Eat the rainbow.
Colorful fruits + vegetables are some of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are super nutrient-dense meaning that they pack a ton of nutrition per serving. And the richer the color, typically the more nutrients you’re getting. Pale green iceberg lettuce, for example, has little nutritional value while dark green spinach leaves are a nutritional powerhouse. The more green you eat the better! You can eat your greens in a variety of ways, too: [1] add baby spinach or kale to your morning smoothie, [2] sauté up some Swiss chard or collard greens in a little organic butter, salt + pepper for a side dish, [3] turn those rather bitter kale leaves into decadent chips by baking them with some olive oil + spices, [4] add spinach, kale, or other greens to soups, stir-frys, or curries [5] include a variety of mixed greens in your salads, [6] add some peppery arugula to your sandwich. Can you see just how many ways you can incorporate greens into your diet? But it doesn’t stop there! Be sure to include a variety of different colored vegetables and fruit. And if you’re watching sugar intake or trying to lose weight, make sure you’re eating twice as many veggies as fruit.
[3] Read every ingredient label.
The more you’re aware about what you’re putting in your body, the better off you’ll be. Start reading every ingredient label you come in contact with. And instead of worrying about the calories, fat grams, etc., just look at what’s actually in the product. The ingredient label will tell you everything you need to know.
Here are my label reading tips:
- 5 ingredients or less is ideal; if there’s a laundry list of ingredients put it down and walk away
- you should be able to recognize every ingredient; don’t recognize it, don’t eat it
- sugar should not be one of the first 4 or 5 ingredients [ideally there should be no added sugar]
[4] Drink more water.
I can’t stress this one enough. If you don’t have a water bottle with you at all times, chances are you’re not getting enough water. Water is important for so many functions in the body including: natural detoxification, lubrication between joints, brain function, energy, etc. What I like to do is make sure that I drink at least one large water bottle [thats about 24 oz. each bottle] before each meal. Then I have my water at my desk to sip on throughout the day. The general “rule” for water consumption looks like this: divide your body weight [in pounds] in half and drink that many ounces of water daily. It may seem like a lot at first, but it’s a goal to work toward. And if you need more accountability, check out one of the several water tracking apps available on smart phones. “Waterlogged” is one that I like on the iPhone.
[5] Meal plan.
This one has had the biggest impact on my health, hands down. By meal planning you gain control of what you eat by having healthy meals cooked ahead of time, or at least the ingredients on hand to whip up something quick and easy. No more excuses to hit up the drive thru or skip meals. For specific details and a step-by-step weekly meal planning guide, check out this blog post. It will give you a snapshot into what I do each week to make sure that I eat healthy even when work and life get busy and getting dinner on the table seems like quite the feat. I promise you won’t regret making meal planning a part of your everyday life. You just have to commit to it.
Did you like this post? Don’t forget to share the love! And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for my 10 DAY GREEN CHALLENGE. You’ll learn how to incorporate more green veggies in your diet in a tasty and easy way! Sign up here.
live happily + healthfully,
Angela
Recent Comments