Eat Well, Stay Chill
Eating Healthy Without Losing Your Mind
Trust me, I know that eating healthy can be very overwhelming at times. I have spent most of my adult life learning about the importance of what you put into your body and how choices that seem small can make a big difference.
My biggest thing is staying away from a diet mindset; this is a lifestyle. I feel like there is more grace in that than there is in a diet. My husband and I still go out for ice cream sometimes and we still get Taco Bell and Chick-Fil-a now and then, but 85% of the food going into my body is a healthy or healthier choice. I would love to get to a place where 95% of the food going into my body is healthy, but we are still working towards that and that’s okay!
All that being said, here are some rules I live by to ensure a healthier life, 85% of the time…
Grocery Shopping is where discipline starts.
The food you bring into your home determines a lot. If the unhealthy foods aren’t in your home, you are way less likely to eat junk food. I know the grocery store can be the hardest place to have discipline. Do your best to go with a full stomach, so hunger doesn’t sway you, and go with a list that you don’t deviate from!
Determine your dealbreaker ingredients.
This is so helpful for me! Whenever I am tempted to buy junk food, I look at the ingredients and if it contains any of my dealbreaker ingredients, it makes it so much easier for me to leave it out of my cart. I am sure you are dying to know what those ingredients are! Here is my list - it started smaller, but as I have learned more, the list has grown and my gut has never been happier. Feel free to take from my list what ingredients make sense for you and your family.
Dealbreaker Ingredients:
High Fructose Corn Syrup & Corn Syrup
Food Dye, especially Red 40
Hydrogenated Oils (Basically all oil other than - avocado, olive oil, and coconut)
Artificial Sweeteners & Sugar Alcohols - Xylitol, Erythytrol, Maltodextrin, and Aspartame (This is a new addition for me)
Sodium Nitrate - This is a preservative
Anything I can’t pronounce
Pre-cut fruit - I just don’t trust it.
Over the past 6 months my husband and I have made a rather extensive shift in what food we allow in our home. Our goal is as little processed food as possible. This means we are looking for short ingredient lists containing ingredients we are familiar with. We do our best to eat whole foods and organic food when possible. The list helps me make sure that I am bringing the right foods into our house.
Con to this lifestyle - Snacks are less convenient
This is probably one of the most unfortunate things about eating as little processed foods as possible. I have had to search high and low to find snacks that aren’t full of my dealbreaker ingredients. Luckily, more options are slowly becoming popular and more accessible. I made a list of my favorite healthier snack brands to help you out.
Actually Healthy Snacks:
Chomps - Our house is always fully stocked with these! They are easy and delicious, and they don’t have a ton of crappy ingredients.
Siete - This brand covers all of your chip needs and they are just as good as the popular chip brands.
Lesser Evil - This brand has cheese puffs, onion chips, and popcorn that are made with clean ingredients.
RXBAR - Minimal ingredients, no extra crap.
That’s It - Fruit Bars that consist of fruit and that’s it.
Enjoy Life - Chocolate Chips that are Vegan & free of 14 Allergens - SO GOOD
Once Upon a Farm - Perfect snacks for your little ones, and honestly great for adults too.
Money - Let’s talk about it.
I know this way of eating is more expensive, I am not naive to that. So, you need to ask yourself how important this type of lifestyle is to you. Can you adjust your budget to make these alternatives your new go-tos? Maybe, hold off on switching to organic fruits and vegetables, but start implementing more of them into your diet. Start with what makes the most sense for you and your budget.
Time - Let’s be honest.
This lifestyle is more time consuming. But, it is worth it. If you already cook a lot, it doesn’t make that much of a difference, but if you are used to frozen meals and easy snacks, this is going to be a big shift. Fruits and veggies are a great snack, but you can’t always grab 'em and go. Sometimes you need to chop and prep. However, if you prioritize some snack prep once a week, it makes all the difference! Turn the TV on and start chopping up all your fruits and veggies for the week, put them in containers and you are set for an easy and HEALTHY week.
Discipline - It sucks, I know.
This is the most important part and often the hardest. This is why I emphasized the importance of discipline at the grocery store at the beginning of this post; it will truly set you up for success. Now your greatest challenges will be saying no to DoorDashed lunch, office snacks, and convenient fast food dinners. The best way to longterm success is slow and steady, pick one dealbreaker ingredient to start and add more as you learn more. Do your research on these ingredients and find your own drive for why you don’t eat them. Being educated on why specific ingredients, like the ones I have mentioned, are bad is a huge motivator to not buy or consume them. I can’t tell you how often I see a red snack or candy and can’t stop thinking about how much Red 40 is in it, which in turn, makes me eat less of it or none at all.
TREAT YOURSELF!!!
What makes this lifestyle more manageable and less stressful is the beauty of moderation. Sometimes you need a sweet treat, let yourself have it! However, be mindful. Eat one donut instead of two. Order a coffee with half the pumps of syrup. Find an ice cream you like that doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup, my favorite is Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream. Eat more processed treats in moderation, not everyday. Additionally, find treats that satisfy your taste buds, but don’t compromise what you’re working towards; homemade peanut butter protein bites, plain greek yogurt with honey and frozen fruit, baked goods sweetened with maple syrup or honey instead of sugar. There are so many little tweaks you can make to your usual diet that will help you work towards an overall healthier life. Remember, progress is better than perfection, and every little step you take is a win for your well-being. Start with one change today, and let it grow into habits that last.
