The notion of healthy eating has been run through so many media outlets that, through the years, it has acquired numerous interpretations. However, a lot of people forget to do their research and stick with somewhat advanced methods of healthy eating, obsessing over calories and nutritional facts, being afraid of failing for all the wrong reasons. What we all need most is to go back to the basics, and once we overcome that, work our way towards more specific, tailor-made dietary habits. Here is some of our advice on where to begin and how to simplify your transition to healthy eating.
Determine your goal
First and foremost, think about what you want to achieve. Short-term goals, like getting a beach body, or losing an X amount of kilograms are not going to be enough to push you through the change. What you need is a long-term motivation that changes the way you perceive food and nutrition. Find a dieting partner among your friends and family to make this transition more tempting for a lasting regime. Eating healthy makes a world of difference, and it is easily turned into a lifestyle if you keep to the basics, and adjust it to your own body and needs.
Stop believing the myths
When starting or considering starting a diet, most people enter with the prejudice that diets are restrictive, rigorous and mentally taxing. This is no fault of theirs, as nowadays the internet is chock-full of pieces of advice that do more harm than good. There is no need to drastically decrease your portion size, completely eliminate chocolate, and suddenly start eating steamed vegetables, when just yesterday you ate something as hearty as pot roast. The key is taking small steps to prevent quitting early. Slowly incorporate good foods into your diet, as you are less likely to give up due to exhaustion.
Think simple
Think simple and easy when prepping your healthy meals. Ditch complex recipes with dozens of ingredients, half of which are expensive. Contrary to popular belief, this will not make your meals any less healthy – eggs, avocado, whole-wheat toast, oatmeal and many other ingredients are affordable and highly nutritious. It all comes down to how you combine the foods you bought, and not just the nutritional value of each one. Have a default meal you can come back to when you’re out of ideas, even a simple pan-fried rice with vegetables, sesame seeds and boneless chicken breast is hearty, wholesome, and not to mention delicious.
Don’t fret about numbers
Another scary factor that can be freely discarded in the dieting journey is the numbers. Unless you are a professional athlete or aiming to become one, calorie counting is not going to do any good. It adds to the pressure of having to meet a certain quota, accounting for that dreaded restriction of how much you can eat a day. There is a difference between eating 2.000 calories of junk food a day, and the same amount of fruit and vegetables. The only number you should be checking on the packaging is the amount of sugar and sodium in the store-bought products – the less, the better.
Proteins
Don’t forget about proteins. This sounds very specific, but it’s true – proteins are what gets you through the day, and keeps your body fueled for a myriad of tasks, even when you’re not exerting yourself. The good news is, there are protein options for all three types of diets: regular, vegetarian, and vegan. Proteins can be found in lean meats, pork loin and beef, but also in tofu, beans, nuts and seeds. There is also the option of drinking protein shakes, which are now being made of highly nutritious and organic protein powder. To know what works best of you, there’s only one way to find out, and it’s trial and error. Just remember: baby steps.
Treat yourself
Dieting is not about punishing yourself. It’s not even about forcing your body into a change it’s not fully ready to undertake. Shifting your dietary habits is all about the long-term investment into your overall health. The best part of this simple, non-restrictive, stress-free approach is that you can treat yourself every once in awhile. Chocolate, burgers, french fries and pizza are actually not your enemies. If taken in high moderation (one burger maybe every three weeks), your body won’t be able to retain harmful fats. But you should think long and hard about which foods you will allow for your break days, and not deter your entire progress so far.
Final thought
Dieting does not have to be a tiresome, arduous process. If you keep to the basics, eating healthy will become what you make of it. Finding a dieting partner among your friends and family can also be a great help, as no greater feat is possible without support. Key things to keep in mind is keeping your meals simple, not getting too restrictive from the start, and allowing for occasional indulgence.
