Quick Healthy Eating Tips

Healthy eating has been quite the adventure.  The two most daunting obstacles in this pursuit have been expense (which we will cover another time) and busy schedules, making it exceedingly difficult to achieve health.  Mothers, students, and those who work full-time struggle to make ends meet regarding their personal journey toward a healthy lifestyle. 

People ask me how to begin eating healthy and honestly, it requires only a little bit of planning.  I don't leave unhealthy options lying around to begin with.  Healthy eating is not an option for me.  Health and fitness are elements in my life that I go out of my way to achieve.  I now find it easier to eat healthy foods than rather than junk. 

That being said, I have compiled a list of quick healthy eating tips:

1.  Eat Salads- It is super easy to put together a stellar salad with spinach (or another leafy green), nuts, fruit (fresh or dried), beans, lentils, etc.  You can add in canned salmon if you want to add meat (or chicken if you have time).  This is super quick and easy to make.  Stick to homemade dressing (olive oil, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar) and if you need to pack your salad just pack all the ingredients in a plastic bag and put the dressing in a separate container.  Combine when the time comes and pour it all in your packed bowl or plate. 

2.  Keep it simple with single vegetable recipes- For a quick and scrumptious vegetable option saute kale, salt, and garlic in a non-stick pan for several minutes and you have a healthy and quick vegetable.

3.  Freeze beans/legumes- Cooking dried beans and lentils is extremely healthful.  If you soak and cook them in large batches and freeze the portions you don't need you can pull them out for a quick fix.  Legumes are filling and oh-so-good for you!

4.  Cook Eggs- Good quality eggs are excellent for your health.  It takes only a few minutes to make the scrambled variety.

5.  Eat smart if you have to eat out- Plan restaurant choices to your benefit.  Pick a health food store like whole foods.  You can get a pretty darn inexpensive meal or salad for a few dollars that is nutritious and inexpensive.

6.  Snack Healthy- Carry small pieces of fruit, or prepare trail mix with nuts and dried fruit (watch portion size) for your snacks.  Other options are celery and a natural nut butter, or endive and hummus.  These options are quick, easy, and convenient to pack!

Need a lift today?

Things to do when your spirit needs a lift:

** Spend some time in prayer.  This seems so...obvious, but how many times do we neglect prayer in times when we need it the most?  Actually spend some time in prayer.  The power of words spoken aloud is ridiculously profound.

** Eat healthy, fresh, vibrant food.  Don't start eating poorly- this will make things worse, and your body will shut down on you.  Treat yourself well with good wholesome food.

** Go for a jog.  No pressure.  Just get out there.

** Speculate the worst case scenario and realize its harmless.  Our emotions often carry us to places that can't be trusted.  Take time to realistically imagine the worst case scenario.  You will realize it's not so bad.

** Count your blessings.  Literally count the blessings in your life.  Start praying for OTHER people; Then go and lean on friends and family.  Don't be so independent.  Practice Interdependence. :)

Keeping it simple

When it comes to healthy eating and healthy living, I have found that simpler is better.  It is all too easy to become consumed in rules and regulations concerning diet and exercise.  I had the most profound epiphany and I continue to bounce the thoughts around in my head throughout the day.  The epiphany is this:  eating and living healthily is a breath of fresh air.  It is free, liberating, and medicinal.  To treat it as anything else is a violation of what it is to be healthy.  Life ought to  be a reflection of decadence, wholesomeness, and purity.  My husband gave me some profound insight this morning after going through his daily devotional.  "Everything we do, every move we make, every breath we take is meaningful, significant, and affects not only our lives on earth but resonates in the heavens and vibrates throughout eternity."  Doesn't that make you think about all those choices you haphazardly make, almost throwing them out, tossing them into the wind?   So that made me think, what SIMPLE choices can I make to promote a healthier lifestyle TODAY?

10 simple choices that promote delectable living:

1) Instead of going to the gym every day, do something adventurous;  Go dancing, go surfing, play tennis, or simply take a long reflective walk, or jog.  Plan in a long run day and see where life takes you on that day.  The world is meant to be explored!

2) Allow yourself a square of dark chocolate (70% or higher) for dessert;  This delectable indulgence not only tastes delicious, but also contains antioxidants pleasing to the body.

3) Eat off smaller plates, and fill half of that with vegetables.

4) Learn about spices and fresh herbs and use them in your cooking for flavor;  This will cut down on the necessity to cook with excessive fat.

5) Pick parking spaces further from the door;  Think of it this way:  you get to walk further burning more calories, and you are allowing someone else to park closer that may need, or want that spot more.  It is the little things in life that add up.

6) Enter yourself for a 5k or 10k every once and a while to hold you accountable;  This also gives you something to work toward.

7) Shop the perimeter of your supermarket, buy foods that spoil (veggies), and frequent a farmers market for more variety and freshness.

8) Practice doing LESS.  Put three things on your to do list and let the rest go.  Spend MORE time doing something you've always wanted to do.

9) Single Task.  Just because future employers think its cool that you can multitask doesn't mean thats what is healthy for your life;  Treat yourself well and learn to single task.  Make tea and do nothing, but make tea.  Savor the experience.

10) Serve.  Figure out ways to serve your husband, your friends, your neighbors, a complete stranger.  Give and don't just do it for the holidays;  Really BECOME a giver. 

Matt (my husband) and I decided to get out of the gym (see tip #1) and do something we've always wanted to do:  Aerial Arts.  Yep.  Climbing things like monkeys, falling from the air, freaky extreme sport-esque hobby.  Conclusion:  Most difficult, but amazing thing and best simple decision I've ever made!