How can you start eating healthy at home?

Anyone who has gone through the weight loss journey will tell you that for the most part, the struggle is with making healthy food choices. Since fast food and processed food are often associated with convenience, it’s hard to let go of old eating (and buying) habits.

But you can still beat a lifetime of bad habits!

It can be challenging to develop new eating habits, but it’s not impossible at all. In fact, it is more difficult to keep unhealthy eating habits especially later in life when your body is already suffering from the effects of malnutrition. Remember: a person who has an unhealthy and unbalanced diet is also categorized as malnourished.

Why do you eat the way you do?

Your current eating habits are simply the result of years of repetition. That’s why they’re called habits. We weren’t born with habits; we just develop them over time. So if you learned to love French fries, ice cream and chocolate shakes, you can learn to love healthy, natural foods just as much!

Are you ready for another positive change in your life?

In today’s post, I am going to share with you some great ways that you can begin the transition to healthier eating. What’s really great about the transition itself is that it is gradual. You can start enjoying fantastic weight loss success by gradually changing the contents of your daily meals. Let’s get started!

Tip #1: Eat More Whole Grain

What is whole grain?

The Whole Grains Council defines “whole grain” as “food that contains all of the components of the grain seed in their original proportion.” A grain seed has three components: bran, endosperm and germ.

All three components provide a treasure trove of natural nutrients that provide the body with complete nutrition. The cooking method doesn’t matter as long as care is taken to preserve these three components.

Due to the density of nutrients found in whole grain, it is recommended that you have one to two servings of whole grain per day.

The dietary fiber found in whole grains will also help conquer hunger pains, as fiber expands when it comes into contact with water. Fiber will fill your stomach much faster and you will feel fuller more quickly.

What types of whole grain could you eat?

Three kinds of grains stand out in the world of fitness: brown rice, quinoa and millet. These three grain seeds are widely available and are crowd favorites because they’re tasty and easy to prepare, too!

Quinoa is considered as a fitness superfood because of its exceptionally high levels of plant protein, which is useful for fitness enthusiasts who want to build lean muscle while slimming down.

You may also try grain seeds such as amaranth, rye, sorghum and barley if the first 3 types don’t appeal to you.

Tip #2: Skip Oily Food

Why be mindful of fatty food?

Fats are essential for the body, but only in very small quantities. The amount of oil found in processed food and fast food is too much to maintain a healthy weight. Also watch out for “calorie traps” at home, like bacon strips and burger patties.

A single strip of bacon can have as much as 50 calories. If you eat 5 bacon strips at breakfast, you’ve already added 250 calories of energy to your reserve for the day.

If your physical activities for the day do not burn off most of the calories that you have consumed from the moment that you woke up, your weight will eventually increase. That’s why it’s essential that you identify high-calorie foods at home that do not provide a lot of nutritional value.

To keep your mealtimes interesting, opt for healthier alternatives such as egg whites and roasted veggies. Flavor-wise, vegetables have a lot of to offer. That’s why kebabs don’t taste like kebabs unless you add the roasted veggies!

Tip #3: Be Your Own Nutrition Guru

One of the best ways to learn about healthy food is by preparing them at home and by experimenting with different combinations and recipes.

Reading about healthy eating is one thing; you need to put your newfound knowledge to the test if you want to speed up the transition process. Here are some simple tips to make your home cooking healthier:

– Use extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as much as possible and only in small quantities

– Reduce the amount of cheese and cream in your dishes

– Season with a variety of spices and avoid salting too much

– Top breads and pizza with mushrooms and tasty veggies

– Learn how to store cooked food to retain their nutrients and to make home cooking more convenient than fast food