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We’d all like to eat better but it sometimes seems like an impossible task to make meaningful changes that you stick to.
This is doubly so if you’re looking to lose weight.
Think about it…
When was the last time you saw someone in great shape tell you they were on a diet?
It’s far more likely that person simply eats well on an ongoing basis. We’ll look today at 10 easy ways to change your eating habits for good without feeling deprived.
Some of them might surprise you!
1) Focus Fully When Eating
Do you tend to eat in front of the TV?
Are your kids always playing with their iPad or phone while they munch their breakfast?
If so, you should all consider making meal time a distraction-free zone.
Not only do you tend to eat more when multitasking, you’ll also enjoy your food more if you concentrate on that rather than keeping one eye on a YouTube video.
2) Eat Breakfast Like a King, Lunch Like a Prince and Dinner Like a Pauper
This old saying contains more than a grain of truth.
A substantial breakfast will set your body up for the day ahead, fueling it with the energy you need for a busy day.
Make lunch a reasonably hearty meal and round out with a lighter dinner so you won’t sleep on a full stomach.
It’s easy to dismiss this advice as an old wive’s tale but the principle is sound. Give it a try: you’ve got nothing to lose.
3) Invest In Some Food Storage Sets
If you have a bad habit of picking up ill-advised snacks when you’re at work or out and about, think about investing in some food storage sets.
Taking the time to prepare some nutritious and tasty meals to eat at the office or on a long car journey can help you cut back on the junk food and save money at the same time.
A word of advice: if you choose plastic containers, make sure they’re BPA-free.
4) Don’t Deprive Yourself of Treats
If you’re trying to shed a few pounds and you deprive yourself of all your favorite foods, it’s a recipe for disaster.
You might successfully go without for a week, maybe even a month if your willpower is strong.
After that, though? The feeling of deprivation is likely to result in a binge and then reverting back to your old ways.
Whatever your preferred treat is, make sure it’s just that – a treat. Everything in moderation is the watchword with any healthy eating plan so have an occasional indulgence guilt-free.
5) Start Your Day With Water and Always Carry a Bottle With You
Kickstarting your day with a glass of water is the perfect way to get your metabolism going.
It’s common knowledge you should then proceed to drink 2 liters of water a day but this is often easier said than done.
Try keeping a small water bottle with you at all times. Not only will you stay properly hydrated benefiting your body and skin, you’ll also tend to feel more full and naturally eat less.
So often, you eat when you are actually thirsty rather than hungry so hit the water hard and keep your weight in check while enjoying a shower of other benefits.
6) Make Sure You Get Enough Calories: Don’t Starve Yourself!
While overeating is not good for you, starving yourself is certainly not the best way to lose weight or maintain your health.
If you take too few calories on board, your metabolism can slow down causing your body to use muscle as fuel while holding on to fat as an emergency response to getting too little fuel.
Nobody wants to spend their day tediously tracking calories but make sure you have a general overview of what you’re consuming and aim for around 2500 calories if you’re male or 2000 calories if you’re female. These are just general guidelines with many variables causing those figures to jump up or down.
Bottom line?
Eat enough but not too much.
7) Hit The Frozen Vegetables Hard
Since frozen vegetables are frozen at their very freshest point, don’t look at these as the poor relation of fresh veg.
If you live alone and don’t have time to get through large bags of fresh produce, frozen veggies come in particularly handy.
Whatever you’re eating, aim for a small cup of frozen vegetables to help you on your way toward your recommended 5 portions a day.
Eating more vegetables will help you dial back on less healthy alternatives on your plate.
8) Always Do Your Food Shopping From a List and On a Full Stomach
Going food shopping freestyle is a recipe for disaster. Equally ruinous can be heading to the grocery store when you’re hungry.
Both scenarios usually result in a glut of impulse buys and fast food rather than the balanced basket you were hoping for.
Make a list and stick to it. Pop out food shopping when you’re nice and full. Adhere to this advice and you’ll notice a difference in the quality of your meals.
9) Get 3 Balanced Meals With The Right Macros
Eating 3 decent meals a day is the optimum method of controlling your weight.
Of course, you can snack in between rather than going hungry but it’s a smart move to focus on sensible snacks not chocolate and soda.
Protein, carbs and fats are the essential macronutrients your body needs.
Many people follow a low fat and high protein diet while others avoid carbs and pile on the healthy fats. Whatever your preferred ratio of macros, try to ensure your body gets all the goodness it needs at regular times of the day.
10) Sleep, Sleep, Sleep!
Last but not least, a tip that requires you to do nothing…
Nothing except sleep!
If you’re tired, you’re far more likely to make rash food choices. Insufficient sleep can also wreak havoc with your hormones controlling your metabolism and hunger.
Shoot for 7 to 8 hours a sleep each night if possible and you’ll find this small tweak can make a huge difference.
A Final Word
We hope this quick and easy guide to making some simple tweaks to your diet has inspired you to make some small changes.
As you can see, it’s not necessary to deprive yourself and many things outside the kitchen can have a positive effect on your eating habits.
Drop us a line if you have any questions at all and please come back soon!
