With people making New Year resolutions, others are resolving to start eating healthily. However, the motivation to ditch poor eating habits often focuses on a diet; sometimes, it can be restrictive or ambitious. A solid plan is necessary if you are to succeed. Here are three ways of eating healthy.
Focus on eating real food
If you want to eat healthily, always look at your plate for what is healthy and what is not. Then, think of ways to replace processed foods with healthy foods like whole grains instead of white-flour spaghetti and quinoa instead of white rice and prepare snacks such as baked chickpeas instead of potato chips.
Processed foods are associated with chronic inflammation and other illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. For instance, eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, legumes, vegetables, seeds and nuts, poultry, fish, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
Schedule snacks and meals
You can schedule meals and snack time and avoid eating between the schedules. This may help you control your cravings, ease anxiety about your next meal, and limit the calories you consume through needless snacking. However, this can be difficult if you spend your time at work or home near a refrigerator.
Avoid late-night snacks or meals during the circadian sleep time because metabolism slows down and the digestive system switches off. Eating when the circadian clock is supposed to be asleep can lead to weight gain.
Cut portion size
If you eat a lot of food, the trick to controlling your rations is loading your plate and then putting back half or a third of the food. Additionally, you can use a salad plate to fool the body that you are eating less food. Finally, you could avoid having serving bowls off the table to avoid the temptation of adding food and cleaning up if you are full to avoid eating more.
You should not have to incorporate the steps at once but try them gradually. Note your food intake and any thoughts or inquiries regarding the procedure.
