Eating healthy is a great new year's resolution. Most people could use New Years as a little kick in the pants.
Eating right is about habits. Develop healthy eating habits, and it is a breeze to have a healthy diet. Start with week one and do it for a week before adding habits from week two. Take these healthy eating habits slow and steady to help make them stick.
Week 1 - Read labels and change what you are drinking.
- Go in the pantry, the refrigerator and the freezer. Get rid of everything that has HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), partially hydrogenated oil, and nitrates listed in the the ingredients.
- Read labels at the store and avoid products with the ingredients listed above. Do not be fooled by the packaging, read the ingredients list itself.
- Implement the water rule at home and at work. The water rule is; drink only water at home or at the office. Only drink soda only when you eat out, when you go to the movies or just special occasions.
- It can be helpful to switch to unsweetened decaffeinated teas. There are plenty of great flavors to keep boredom at bay.
Week 2 - Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- The more fruits and vegetables that are in the diet the healthier you are. Shoot for nine servings a day.
- Need help keeping count of all those fruit and vegetable servings? Make a set of fruits and vegetable bracelets. These can suite your taste. Try gold or silver bangles, clear or neutral colored beads on stretchy string, or multiple colors that match your wardrobe. After eating a serving of fruits or vegetables move one bracelet from one wrist to the other. When you have moved all the bracelets you know you have eaten enough fruits and vegetables for the day. Start with six bracelets and work up to nine.
- If you are not eating breakfast start by just eating something. Just about anything is good at first to start this habit. Try to be sensible.
- Work toward a high fiber breakfast. Try high-fiber cereal, a bran muffin, a meal replacement bar or fruit.
- Try a fruit smoothie with added flax seeds. Most fruit smoothies will count as a couple of fruit servings. Skip smoothies with added sugar or artificial ingredients.
Week 4 - Take a vitamin or two.
- Start taking a good multivitamin. This will help make sure you are getting what you need and set the intention of a healthy lifestyle all day.
- If you do not eat very much fish, consider taking an Omega three supplement. It is good for the heart and the skin.
- Consider taking a fiber supplement before bedtime. This will keep the body regular. Most people do not eat enough fiber. If you are getting nine full servings of fruits and vegetables then skip this habit.
The copyright of the article Eat Healthier in Four Weeks Flat in Nutrition is owned by Samantha Rufle. Permission to republish Eat Healthier in Four Weeks Flat in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
