Not a restrictive food rule in sight.
Its my point of view that prioritizing personal health and well-being is not a place or a destination.
Its a journey that is 100% guaranteed to change over time, London says.
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Eat breakfast every day.
If youre starving and running on fumes by mid-morning, its time to starteating a regular breakfast.
Adding in a wholesome (and simple!)
), and even savory leftovers are all delicious options.
Do a beverage audit.
This is the single most effective thing I can recommend anyone start doing, London says.
Take a good, hard look at your beverages and what you typically drink each day.
No need to torture yourself orcut out sweetness cold-turkey.
Combine protein and fiber at each meal, as often as you’re able to.
Eat regular meals and snacks (no skipping!).
Ever notice how its harder to control your mood, appetite, and eating habits when youre starving?
Its called hanger for a reason!
Eat regularly and consistently choose to have a snack or meal every three to four hours, London recommends.
Add one fruit or vegetable every time you eat.
What if we approached the goal of eating healthier with a mindset ofaddition, instead of subtraction and restriction?
Focus less on what to avoid or reduce, and start prioritizingaddingmore of the good stuff.
Challenge yourself to include a veg or fruit at each meal and snack.
Remember that canned, fresh, or frozen are all great options for produce, London suggests.
This will help you reap the benefits of fiber from produce (reminder: juicing removes that entirely!
Start small and keep it simple.
And another note: If you really hate something, then dont force it down.
If you loathe kale salads, you loathe kale saladsaccept that and move on!
Identify what your body is telling youand listen to it.
As London puts it, rule out physiology before taking action.
A more mindful, thoughtful approach can help you pause and assess what you need in the moment.
Hydration is important in its own right, plus feeling peckish is often an unexpectedsymptom of mild dehydration.
Try drinking 16 ounces of water or another unsweetened beverage of your choice.
If youre still hungry in a few minutes, eat!
Are you super-hungry and low-energy?
Or is it sleep that you need?
And if its nighttime, thats a no-brainer: Get yourself to bed.
Stop calorie counting and cutting.
Calories arenota unit for measuring the healthiness or nutritional benefits of a food.
People drastically cut back on total calories without making adjustments to consume more nutrient-dense foods, London says.
Dont restrict an entire food or food group.
Restrictive eating is a no-go.
Steer clear of detoxes and cleansestheyre gimmicks!
If you have a functioning gut, liver, and kidneys,you dont need to detox.
Your body does this for you all day, everyday, London says.
Avoid 30-day food challenges.
Choose nutrients from real foods over supplements.
London recommends eating real foods for proper nutrients, rather than turning to supplements for a quick-fix.
Dont forget to move.
Theres no such thing as a perfect physical activity routine, London says.
Find ways to build movement into your day that are challenging, but still work within your schedule.
My personal favorite is a walking meetingtry it with a co-worker this week!
Consider ordering your groceries online.
(Nobody wants to stop at the store after a long day!)
This gives me an opportunity to pick out green organic bananas and ripe blueberries," she says.
Online ordering can also help you reduce mindless snacking if that’s one of your goals.
Fuel your workouts.
Remember that you’re human; and food is just food.
Food is not only for supporting your health and ingesting certain nutrients.
