Eating Healthy…It’s no Cake Walk
Raise your hand if you struggle with eating healthy? Um, are we all raising our hands right now? I thought so. Eating healthy is no cake walk (pun intended), it is plain hard. There are far too many temptations lurking around every corner such as the convenience of grabbing something at a drive-thru on your way home from work, doing happy hour with co-workers with appetizers and drinks, craving an ice cream cone on a hot day, the list is never ending.
I am no exception, eating healthy is one of my biggest struggles, but the point is I try to eat healthy. Being mindful of what you put into your body is the first step because it is way too easy to mindlessly eat thousands of calories. Thousands, that sounds like a lot right? The scary truth is it is way too easy to do unknowingly.
It’s all about mindful eating, here are five ways to be more mindful when eating:
Know What You Are Eating
Before ordering an item at a restaurant, ask yourself, “Do I know what I am eating? How many calories are in that burger and fries I just ordered?” It doesn’t have to be an exact number, but you should always be able to have a rough idea of what the nutritional value is of anything going into your body.
Use Nutrition Apps
How can you have an idea of what you are eating? There are countless tools out there now that will help you understand roughly how many calories are in that burger and fries. Honestly, having a rough idea is better than not having any clue whatsoever.
Track What You Eat
Whether you opt to go the traditional pen and paper route or download an app, track what you eat. When you can visibly see how much you are eating on paper, you may think twice about reaching for that third slice of pizza.
Know What Your Body Needs
Having a basic understanding of your body’s needs can help you be more mindful of what you are consuming. Knowing how many calories, and how much protein, fats, sugars, and carbs your body actually needs might help you to avoid overeating. Again, there are tons of online tools available that can help you evaluate your body’s needs to maintain, lose, or even gain weight.
Slow Down
Most of us don’t even give our bodies enough time to determine we are full. Eating too quickly leads to the potential to overeat without even knowing it. We all know that uncomfortably full feeling, right? Well, that feeling is likely due to eating too fast. Slow down, enjoy your food, take sips of water throughout the meal, partake in conversation with friends and family, give your brain the time it needs to tell you that you are full.