If there’s one good thing that recent events have taught most people, it’s that health is indeed wealth. Pre-pandemic, you’re probably oblivious to the fact that you’re taking the state of your health for granted. You pull work and leisure all-nighters on a regular basis, constantly eat fried and greasy take-out food, and exert very little to zero effort to be physically active. Until about 8 months ago when you had no choice but to be locked down and rethink your choices in life and basically come to terms with how vulnerable humans are against a virus.
All of a sudden, a simple cold and sore throat get you all worked up and makes you load up on vitamin C and supplements to boost your immune system. With time in your hands, you found more ways to live a healthier and more active lifestyle. One of the backbones of a healthy lifestyle is eating healthy.
Before you get intimidated, don’t take “eating healthy” the wrong way. It doesn’t automatically mean subscribing to a particular type of diet or depriving yourself of one (or more) category of food. It simply means paying close attention to the food and drinks that you consume on a regular basis. It’s about asking yourself every time you’re caught between ordering a side salad or fries, or maybe between a regular fries and large fries - which one is better for me?
To prove that eating healthy isn’t time-consuming and complicated, here are simple ways to start (and sustain) a healthy eating lifestyle:
Plan your meals and prepare your food
We did say “convenient”, right? Firstly, there is nothing inconvenient about meal planning and preparing your own food especially if you know it so much better for you in the long run. Not only are you going to save a ton of dollars from constantly buying take-out food and dining out, you can also be sure that the food you eat is thoughtfully prepared.
If you know you’re going to be busy and you might not have enough time to prepare food every day, try cooking in bigger batches and putting them in the fridge for you to eat later. A lot of inexpensive and very easy to prepare meals are out there - all you need is the commitment to try them out.
Do a grocery run
After you’re done prepping your menu, start a list of the ingredients you’re going to need so you don’t have any excuse not to pursue preparing your food. Don’t forget to read the nutrition labels of food items to make sure they’re as healthy as they’re claiming out to be. Stick with healthier alternatives for food items that you constantly eat, even for snacks. You can’t microwave a bag of popcorn for Netflix night if you don’t have one. Stock up on healthier snack options like raisins, almonds, low-fat string cheese, or edamame.
Choose water over sugary drinks
According to this article, sugared drinks are probably one of the unhealthiest things you can consume. They’re basically water loaded with a ton of liquid sugar. If consumed regularly and in large quantities, it is linked to numerous serious health issues. Did you know that a 17 oz soda may contain up to 210 calories? If you’re into counting your daily caloric intake, imagine how big a chunk that would take out of your daily allowance.
If you’re thinking of drinking an orange juice, try having an actual orange instead. You can even bring a bag home and make your own juice. Again, opt for the healthier alternative if you have the chance.
Water, on the other hand, is one of the things you should always make sure you have plenty of. Drinking more of it doesn’t just make you healthy, it lets you look and feel healthier too.
Choose wisely
As with almost anything in life, you have a choice. It’s true for most things and it’s also true for the food that you put in your body. It is your choice to order that big, fat, juicy hamburger with a side of fries and wash it down with a can of soda. The sad thing is, sometimes some people don’t make informed choices and end up later regretting the consequences of the choices they made.
If you’re caught between one thing and another, choose wisely and make sure you make an informed decision. Is there a better option? A healthier alternative perhaps?
Develop a “growth mindset” about eating healthy
It is a cliche, but anything you put your mind into, your body can achieve. Living a healthier lifestyle and eating healthy are not one-time choices, they’re meant to be integrated into your daily life and in the way you do things.
Developing a “growth mindset” allows you to understand that eating healthy and the ways to do it are not inconvenient, but essential steps for you to uncover the best version of yourself. It allows you to frame your thoughts positively and be okay with taking baby steps in the right direction.
As the world opens up again and things begin to “go back to normal”, it is a hope that your health doesn’t need to take a back seat anymore. You’ve already made good progress and you shouldn’t have to stop just because you’re more “out and about” now.
So, what are you waiting for? Get that grocery list going because eating and being healthy should have started yesterday!
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