VIVE Holistic Health Certified Holistic Health Coach INHC, AADP
One of the greatest complaints you hear from people regarding eating healthy is that it’s just too hard: whether it’s the cost of healthy food, finding time to prepare nutritious meals or just plain adapting to new foods while letting go of our old faves. But I can debunk each and every one of these hurdles and more. Read on…
1) Stretching your health food dollars
Beginning with the expense, our food industry has come a long way in terms of providing organic and healthy alternatives, and with retail stores like Aldi and even Walmart getting in on the wave, filling their shelves with these items in order to stay competitive, it’s even easier on your wallet. In addition, eating foods that are healthy and balanced, keeping your cravings in check, rather than empty calories which go right through you, means that you eat less food, and less food means less money. Believe it or not, even trips through fast food drive-thrus add up over time.
2) Getting a hand with preparation
As far as preparation, in addition to setting aside one day a week, say Sunday, to prepare nutritious meals for the week that can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and later heated, you could always opt for ready made healthy meals in your local freezer section of your supermarket, or if you have a bit more in your budget you could choose one of the many healthy meal delivery services available today. Some of these companies provide you with the ingredients and recipes and you only have to assemble the meal, some of them are ready-made meals that are frozen and all you need to do is heat them up in the microwave or oven, and finally some of them provide you with most of the ingredients, you may have to throw in a few of your own from your local grocer and then prepare. Either way it beats starting from scratch.
3) Can’t tell the difference
What amazes me the most, is that in today’s retail stores you can find a replacement for just about everything that you enjoy eating but a healthier version of it. In my own experience, following a meal plan that’s lower in carbs, I am even able to find snacks and treats that are healthier, high in protein, low in sugar and satisfying to my taste-buds. And they don’t leave me craving more. For an eating plan to be sustainable it has to include foods that you can relate to and that you enjoy!
4) More energy to get things done
It stands to reason that by eating more nutritionally dense food, one would have more energy. With this in mind, think of how much easier it is to get things done including shopping for healthy food, preparing meals and incorporating so many of the other facets that make for a healthy life like exercise, recreation, social life, etc. Sure beats sitting on a couch feeling lethargic.
5) An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Common sense would dictate that eating wise obviously leads to a healthier life with less visits to the doctor. Think of the time, energy and money you save by having less sick days, not to mention more productivity at work (and more pay). Think of it this way, any extra money that you spend choosing healthy foods at the grocery store, the money you save by not taking time off from work will more than make up for the difference.
6) Less Stress
Highly processed foods that include many chemicals and ingredients that the body cannot recognize can wreak havoc with the endocrine system including raising cortisol levels, or the stress hormone. We all know the effects that stress has on day-to-day functioning and well-being. Limiting levels of stress through proper diet means leading a more prosperous and fulfilling life. We all could use a little of that and living a life worth more ease.
7) Less is more
Choosing a diet that is less processed and including more whole foods in your diet like fresh fruits and vegetables that can be plucked from the garden or purchased from a local fruit stand is much quicker, more delicious and less trouble than having to prepare sophisticated menus. What could be better than a red ripe tomato or juicy, plump strawberry fresh off the vine? Yum!
8) Just as convenient
Nowadays it’s not surprising to find chain restaurants offering healthy alternatives to the fast food experience, even some with drive-thru ease. Several popular restaurants who specialize in clean, healthy food offer items like nutritious power bowls, smoothies, and healthy salads made with chicken that’s hormone free, some with no added chemicals or preservatives whatsoever. Even gas stations with quick marts are featuring healthy selections. What’s your excuse now?
9) Staying power
With the advent of the Keto revolution, everything has been translated into blocks of protein. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, it’s not uncommon to find convenient protein bars, shakes and even snacks that look and taste almost identical to your favorite treats, popping up everywhere. The thing that’s great about protein is that it has a lot of staying power, so a little bit goes a long way, staving off hunger so you’re not snacking all day. This is in contrast to the standard American diet of highly processed, empty calories that are here one minute and gone the next, only to land on your hips. Yuck!
10) Reduced Volume
And probably the most powerful reason why eating healthy is easier than you think, is the fact that the amounts of food that you’re consuming, and the amount of time that you spend eating is drastically reduced from what you were used to. This has far-reaching benefits across-the-board. Studies show that people who consume less food and weigh less, live longer lives, it’s less taxing on the body and slows down the aging process.
Psychologically, the less food that you have access to, means that you’re more inclined to appreciate and savor each and every bite, which is the way it should be. Everyone’s heard of the expression “wolfing down your food”, that’s a definite no-no. Your brain needs time to process it. This is another reason why the obesity rate is as high as it is in this country, because people are not giving their bodies enough time to register full, which leads to the massive prevalence of over eating that we see. And I don’t know about you, but the less time I spend eating, means more time living and doing the other things that I enjoy, and spending more time with the people I love. That’s a win-win in my book!
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