Eating healthy doesn’t have to be scary - 5 simple tips

Updated: October 29, 2018

Halloween is just around the corner and the months to follow make sugar the main food group. For most, this means either having too many “cheat-days” or chucking healthy eating out of the window altogether. After all, we all want to take care of our bodies, but the stress around healthy eating is hard enough already! So where do you start? Here we offer you 5 ways to make these next few months healthy, enjoyable and beautifully balanced.

1. When you screw up

Maybe you’re watching a movie and accidentally reach for the wrong snack or had an extra piece too many from the left over trick-or-treat bag. Don’t let that be your gateway to abandon ship for the day, just find a way to remedy! You are not bound to a 6-week personal training package at the gym because of a slip. Keep your cool and follow one of these tips:

Spend 30 minutes outdoors doing your favorite activity. It could be anything from a full on workout to a couple of speed-walking laps around the neighborhood; just get moving!
Make your next meal extra healthy. A Veestro meal can make this one really simple!
Drink water. Being well hydrated can curb your desire to continue your indulgence. (Bonus if you opt for sparkling water)

2. Healthy Ingredient Swaps

With so much information out there, making the right choices can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make anything taste equally delicious with healthy alternatives. Try a few recipes, and don’t be afraid to make some lower calorie modifications. People are often afraid of healthy food because the reduction in calories doesn’t feel worth the loss in flavor, but don’t let that slow you down. Frequent small changes are the best way to make effective, lifestyle changes. Here are a couple swaps you can probably make today:

Instead of sugar in hot beverages or baked goods, use a natural sweetener like honey. Stevia and Monk Fruit are great zero calorie sweeteners that are also natural!
Exchange unsweetened applesauce for butter on your morning toast.
Use avocado as an alternative for butter and other spreads.

3. Mindful snacking is okay!

Yes, you read that right! Whoever started the whole “no-snacking” rule has caused so much anxiety around mindful eating, but certainly, not without cause. Binging is a real struggle for some, but there is a right and wrong way to go about snacking, and it starts with the right choices and ends with portion control.

Veggies and Hummus
Dried fruit + nuts
Homemade banana “Nice-Cream”!
Frozen grapes
Homemade Popcorn (i.e. not drenched in butter)

4. Keep your cool at a party

As you’re attending holiday parties, take the time to prepare by following any of the tips we’ve already mentioned. Eating beforehand or even bringing your own snacks or drinks are a great idea; and you shouldn’t feel weird for doing it. If it’s your year to host a party, who’s to say you can’t serve snacks that are plant-based and healthy? Lay out the snacks you would prefer to eat; your house your rules!

Replace high sodium and and fat-filled, store-bought dips with your own “lite” versions.
Veggie platter + Hummus beats chips and salsa any day!
Berry spritzers taste awesome and use much less alcohol (or none) and less sugary juice

5. Don’t forget your mental health

This time of year can be stressful and full of logistics so take the time to tend to your self and your mental and emotional health. Give yourself the appropriate “me-time,” where you can relax and unwind and just breath. This can look different for everyone but here are some suggestions for finding your zen:

Meditate for 10 minutes in a quite place
Read a book, magazine or article
Drink green or chamomile tea
Increase Magnesium intake in diet or supplement – Read more about five magnesium-rich foods

Read more about 10 ways to sneak in more veggies.

health |
Nutrition

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Eating healthy doesn’t have to be scary - 5 simple tips

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