How to: Start Eating Healthier + Make Better Food Choices

Perhaps one of the most popular new year resolution is that this is the year you will ‘get healthy.’

Anyone who knows me will know that I am not one of those people – although I’ve always hated the ‘bad stuff’, aka sodas, alcohol (very bad) and smoking (even worse), my diet isn’t the best. Not to fear though – I’ve been slowly changing my diet late last year, and this year I’m going to really enforce it.

With that being said, I have a confession to make: I love junk food.

And even though I consider myself pretty fit and health– oh, who am I kidding? A happening night for me includes Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, rainbow sprinkled donuts, and Swedish candy. And don’t get me started on those sneaky 4am calls to McDonald’s delivery WHICH I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. Right. Moving on…

But 2010 is a new year, and I told myself to learn how to stop the junk food cravings and start eating healthy. So far in the last months of 2009 and this January I’ve been pretty good and taking everything in moderation (I wouldn’t say ban junk food forever – life is too short; just don’t overdo it), so I’ve decided to share some of my tried-and-tested tips. Let’s call this my beginner’s guide on how to getting healthy for the junk-food loving, channel-surfing, lazy bum like me:

• Take daily vitamins tablets.

The first thing you can do it to take a daily multi-vitamin tablet. I know there are some squabbles over whether or not vitamin pills are necessary or even good for you, but it really can’t hurt. I personally think they are great and have started taking one every morning, and will add a few others soon. The famous Dr. Oz takes a multivitamin for Vitamins A-E, Omega 3, and Calcuim pills. I think he’s knows what he’s talking about, so I’d recommend we all do the same!

• Try out every fruit and vegetable possible and find your favorite.

The #1 thing you can do that benefits your health is to change your diet. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables. As my Mom likes to say, “eat like Adam and Eve did”, meaning all fruits and vegetables. However, this is the hardest thing for me. As someone who despises vegetables, this was quite a difficult task: I forced myself to try a lot of them to see if I liked any. And guess what? I found out I like broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms and a few others. Who knew? Do the same for fruits too. Try as much as you can and then collect your favorites and make it a point to eat at least a few of each – fruit and vegetable – each day. DO IT!

• When eating your meal, eat the ‘healthy’ stuff first.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the diet tip that you should eat a salad before your meal, so you eat less of the main meal? Forget that – salads still gross me out. Instead, when eating your meal, eat the healthier stuff first. That means start with the vegetables, next to the protein, etc. I found this worked for me because normally I’d gobble the carbs right down, and would be too full to touch the healthy stuff. if you’re like me, swap the routine!

• Always get the healthier choice.

Whole-grain bread over white bread, grilled chicken over fried chicken … whatever you’re eating, get the healthier version. This is especially the case in restaurants. And no, potato wedges are not the healthier choice over french fries! (I used to tell myself that to feel better.)

• Start a new activity.

Exercise really is important. For the lazy bum like me, I have started to cycle, swim and take ‘power-walks’. Seriously, if I can do it, you can do it. Even if it’s a short walk every evening. As you go on, go faster and walk further. Every little bit helps! If you need more motivation, I wrote a whole post on it too, check it out: How to Get Motivation and Start Exercising.

• Make fresh vegetable/fruit juices.

You see that glass of vomit – er, I mean juice on the right? That’s what I drink every morning, and have been for a few months now. And guess what? Not one cold since. (Touch wood.) I really think it’s doing me some good.

And just to gross you out even more, here’s what in it: spinach, broccoli, cucumber, pineapple, beet-root, celery, carrot, and watermelon. Re-read that list again for maximum effect. Yes, I drink a garden every morning, and I’d fully recommend it – you’ll get used to the taste; I actually enjoy it now. All you need to do is get a juicer, dump in your fresh vegetables and fruits, and then drink up.

In conclusion, those are some of the steps I’ve taken to get healthier late last year. And I really do recommend it. It’s tough in the beginning, but you get used to it, trust me.

So here’s a short checklist of the changes I’ve made – and hopefully inspired you to! – these few months: I’m taking vitamins, getting exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, learning to eat the ‘healthy stuff’ first, drinking tons of vitamins and minerals each morning (the juice), and feeling great. I have junk food ‘snacks’ now and again, but it’s nothing like what I used to pig out on, thank goodness.

I really recommend taking a few steps to getting healthier too, and if you have any other tips to add, please do! What steps are you taking to make your diet better? I’d love to hear. :)

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