As the world tries to move beyond the pandemic, our harried lifestyles are quickly resuming. That’s making it increasingly more difficult for many of us to consistently eat a healthy diet. In fact, more than 3 out of every 5 consumers in England (U.K.) today feel that a change to their diet is necessary in order to make it healthier.
So how can healthy eating be an easier choice for all of us when our lives are so busy?
Personal trainers and dieticians around London have been telling us that one of society’s biggest challenges when it comes to eating healthy (and losing weight) is the fact that there is an overabundance of food choices in our lives. I agree. Who in their right mind could possibly deny that food is everywhere these days? And we’re not just referring to the many drive-thru options today. Apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, and many others have burst onto the scene giving us immediate and oh-so-convenient access to any kind of food our little heart desires, no matter what hour of the day.
But we have good news! We’re going to show you 5 remarkable (and simple) strategies that can immediately help you eat a healthier diet, no matter how tempting and abundant your food choices might be. Of course, there’s a smidge of discipline involved but where there’s a will, there are the following 5 ways…
Set Aside Time to Stock your Pantry
Set aside a bit of time one day a week to stock up on the right kind of food and snacks that you can keep in your pantry. Pantry foods offer the convenience of non-perishable boxed or canned foods that require very little preparation and they’re immediately accessible. Food items to target include nutrient-dense foods like whole grain oatmeal and pastas that aren’t heavily processed yet promote fullness with their fiber content. Dry roasted nuts are great for a healthy diet. They’re delicious and rank very highly in muscle-building protein that also serves as an appetite suppressant. Finally, stock up on protein-rich items like canned tuna and canned chicken as well as beef jerky.
Invest in Food Containers
Dieticians and personal trainers have told us that accessibility is a key factor when trying to eat healthy. Keeping snacks and meals close by in containers that have been prepared in advance can help significantly if you’re trying to eat a healthier diet. Even more appealing, one of the fitness professionals we often speak with from Canary Wharf (London) told us that she encourages her clients to invest in smaller food containers for packing their lunches and other meals. That might sound too time consuming, but with a little motivation, packing your meals in advance can be much healthier than going out to eat. Plus, this strategy can prevent you from overeating. One recent study from Cornell University found that eating from small plates reduces the amount that we eat by as much as 30%. It’s easy to overeat, but when we use smaller containers to prepare our meals in advance, it’s a pitfall we can easily avoid.
Stock up on Protein-Dense Snacks
Of all the nutrients in our diet, none are more important to our bodies when it comes to losing weight than protein. Protein serves as the building blocks of our muscles. Not only that, but it’s also the one nutrient that can go very far in suppressing our appetites so were less inclined to give in to temptation. Those who are living a hectic lifestyle know all too well how difficult it can be to find time to prepare a healthy meal. By having a pantry that’s been stocked in advance with protein-dense snacks we can overcome these challenges. High-protein snacks work best when they’re offered as small meals or meal-replacements, meaning they usually perfectly balanced in terms of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Here’s a list of high-protein snacks that are very healthy and work very well for when we’re eating “on the go.”
Stay Hydrated
Our bodies are roughly 60% water, and it’s involved in every type of bio-process that takes place in our bodies. When we don’t consume enough water, our internal processes just aren’t running as efficiently, and that includes our metabolism. Frankly, there are studies that support the notion that we can lose more weight when we stay properly hydrated. In fact, drinking enough water can increase the amount of energy we expend while resting. Finally, consuming chilled water can amplify the calorie-burning effects of water because, like a furnace, your body needs to warm the chilled water to the appropriate temperature for digestion.
Look into Healthy Eating Apps
If you’re like me, your phone is never more than 3 feet away from you. Many smartphones have the capacity to host apps that are not only wonderful for self-entertainment (I can’t stop playing Jetpack Joyride 2 to save my life!), they can also be enormously effective for healthy eating. There are swaths of free fitness and dieting apps that are immediately available online, but their consistent use and reasonable application is what matters. Here are 10 of the most popular apps for healthy eating with the pros and cons listed for each.
Another cool component of these healthy eating apps is that they let you use your smartphone’s camera to scan the barcode so you can more accurately document the calories and protein you’re eating. Another awesome thing about these apps is that the more often you use them, the more educated you become on what you’re eating so making better food choices in the long run is possible without using your phone all the time.
Conclusion
Your health is nothing to take lightly, and poor dietary choices can have long term consequences if we’re not more prudent about what we’re eating. In most cases, the best strategy is to talk with a doctor, dietician, or even a personal trainer for recommendations and advice before making major changes to your diet. These licensed professionals have the expertise and know-how to help you avoid common mistakes.