The most important contributor to our whole health is by far our dietary intake. We can get additional vitamins and minerals from supplements like fish oil, but outside of that we should be trying to live a healthy life and eat a balanced diet anyway. Taking supplements is not enough of a healthy habit to override unhealthy eating habits and promote weight loss. To obtain the utmost whole health, we should be eating well, giving our bodies the extra vitamins and minerals they need, hydrating throughout the day, and sleeping well (1) enough. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to initiating healthy eating habits, but there are three golden rules that have by far the most impact on an individual’s healthy dietary intake.
Buy your fruit and veggies organic
It is nothing new that fruits and vegetables are food for us, but doing this type of grocery shopping at your local big-chain grocery store has its downfalls. Quite often, the produce is bathed in chemicals which are unhealthy for us to consume. Additionally, the produce is often not nearly as fresh or high quality as it is at your local farmer’s market. Not only are you supporting your local businesses and farmers, but you are getting produce straight from the farm, meaning that it is as organic (2) and natural as it gets. It might take you a little out of your way to do this, but your body will thank you – and you will, too, once you start seeing and feeling the difference that truly fresh produce has.
Shop the outer aisles
The farmer’s market is sometimes a little hard to get to amid a busy week, and sometimes it just feels easier to do all the grocery shopping in one place. This is okay, but it is important to maintain healthy habits when shopping at the local big-chain grocery store. The sure-fire way to ensure that you avoid temptation when shopping at your local grocery store is to shop the outer rings. These are the areas that surround the outskirts of the grocery store. This is where all the fresh fruits, veggies, and unprocessed items usually are. Taking certain walks down inner aisles for things like rice, pasta, corn cakes, etc, is not a bad thing, but this is also where all the processed, unhealthy items are stocked, so be wary.
Stock up on healthy snacks
One of the biggest issues for people trying to implement healthy eating into their lifestyles is snacking. When we are hungry, we tend to grab for the closest thing that takes the least time to prepare. This often ends up being packets of chips, candy bars, sugary drinks, and fried goods. If you take the time to plan your meals for the week ahead, shop and prepare them – including your snacks – you will have healthy options ready to go with little to no preparation always. This eliminates the temptation to snack on unhealthy foods and drinks.
(1) Why You Need a Good Night’s Sleep
(2) Five Simple Ways To Make Plant-Based Eating Delicious
by Andrew Ellis
