Changing Your Diet...for Good
Posted by
Tracii H.
Making a commitment to a healthy diet is challenging at best. Here are some tips for integrating healthy food choices into your diet and keeping them there…for good. Find the strong points and weak points in your current diet. Write down your typical daily diet in a journal if necessary. Are you getting enough fruit and vegetables in your diet? What about fiber? Iron? Calcium? Do you eat lots of fatty or fried foods? Have a sweet tooth? Drink more than a glass of alcohol daily?Make small, gradual changes, instead of trying to make large, fast changes. Small changes will be easier to make and stick with. Focus on changing ONE thing when you buy groceries: for instance, substitute fresh veggies and lean meats like chicken and fish for TV dinners; whole grain muffins or low-fat yogurt for candy bars and cinnamon rolls; and 100% sugar free juice, water, and herbal tea for soda.Keep track of your food intake by writing down what you eat and drink every day. Use this record to help you see if you need to eat more from any food groups, such as fruits, vegetables or other foods. Think about asking for help from a nutritionist if you haven't already done so -- especially if you have a medical problem that requires you to follow a special diet. It can be very, very hard, if not IMPOSSIBLE, to know exactly which vitamins and minerals work best with which enzymes and which foods contain what, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.Avoid people that tempt you to indulge in your old habits. Simply let those in your life know that you’ve committed to a healthy lifestyle and would appreciate their support. If they don’t give it, consider moving on. Anyone who encourages you to harm yourself by overeating, drinking excessively, or eating junk food regularly isn’t concerned about your well-being, anyway. You deserve better.
|
Changing Your Diet...for Good
Posted by Tracii H.
Making a commitment to a healthy diet is challenging at best. Here are some tips for integrating healthy food choices into your diet and keeping them there…for good. Find the strong points and weak points in your current diet. Write down your typical daily diet in a journal if necessary. Are you getting enough fruit and vegetables in your diet? What about fiber? Iron? Calcium? Do you eat lots of fatty or fried foods? Have a sweet tooth? Drink more than a glass of alcohol daily?Make small, gradual changes, instead of trying to make large, fast changes. Small changes will be easier to make and stick with. Focus on changing ONE thing when you buy groceries: for instance, substitute fresh veggies and lean meats like chicken and fish for TV dinners; whole grain muffins or low-fat yogurt for candy bars and cinnamon rolls; and 100% sugar free juice, water, and herbal tea for soda.Keep track of your food intake by writing down what you eat and drink every day. Use this record to help you see if you need to eat more from any food groups, such as fruits, vegetables or other foods. Think about asking for help from a nutritionist if you haven't already done so -- especially if you have a medical problem that requires you to follow a special diet. It can be very, very hard, if not IMPOSSIBLE, to know exactly which vitamins and minerals work best with which enzymes and which foods contain what, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.Avoid people that tempt you to indulge in your old habits. Simply let those in your life know that you’ve committed to a healthy lifestyle and would appreciate their support. If they don’t give it, consider moving on. Anyone who encourages you to harm yourself by overeating, drinking excessively, or eating junk food regularly isn’t concerned about your well-being, anyway. You deserve better.