Tips for Healthy EatingEat 5-6 times a day
- Take the Challenge
- It can be a challenge to eat healthy with limited time and so many delicious fast food options. The main reason is because we get use to eating certain foods. But if we begin to choose foods more wisely, our bodies will begin to crave those healthy foods. Sounds crazy huh!? But it’s true.
- Make It a Need, Not an Effort
- Our bodies need certain nutrients and when it gets them it wants more of it. It’s kinda like drinking water. I remember when I thought I was fine drinking 2, maybe 3 glasses of water a day. But when I began making an effort to drink the required 7-9 glasses a day, I became more and more thirsty and it became a need instead of an effort. The same can be true for the foods we eat. Fruits and vegetables can be so refreshing with their juice bursting in your mouth. They are also full of nutrients and antioxidants that are essential for our bodies. And once your body gets a taste of it, it wants more. It is us that deprives our bodies because of our poor eating habits. But if we can make some improvements and make those improvements a habit then we’ll be on our way to a healthy eating lifestyle. Then you will feel a difference in your body with higher energy levels and even having a better attitude.
Healthy eating can include our favorite cravings from time to time. We just have to moderate it and make sure they are not such huge portions. I personally have a big sweet tooth. I still have my occasion ice cream and cookies. But to hold me over, I’ve found delicious healthy energy bars that taste like a cheat treat but is actually very healthy. So try some healthy alternatives and find out which ones you like and it will help your cravings.
Eating the 5-6
Another adjustment we can make is to eat 5-6 times a day instead of 3 times. When you eat something, it triggers your metabolism which is what burns calories. So it is better to jumpstart your metabolism 5-6 times a day instead of just 3 times in order to burn more calories just by how you eat. Plus, it helps us to eat less at meal time.
Babies are good eaters because they eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re not. It can seem like a pain sometimes because we’re having to feed them so many times and it’s usually at odd hours. But once they get older, we force them to eat by OUR bad habits: 3 meals a day, no snacks because it spoils your dinner and eat EVERYTHING on your plate even if you’re not hungry. It is they that should be teaching us how to eat...to some extent.
So eat 5-6 small balanced meals which include fruits and vegetables, don’t overeat if you’re not hungry and eat your favorite cheat treats in moderation. Old habits are hard to break so be patient, start small and focus on establishing one new healthy habit at a time. Remember we’re in this for the long haul…it’s not a diet…it’s a lifestyle, a healthy one. Stay motivated and committed to establishing improvements. Happy healthy eating!