Tips on Developing Healthy Eating Habits
National Nutrition Month is celebrated in March, we encourage everyone to focus on the importance of eating healthy and developing healthy eating habits. We all may have habits when it comes to food, some may be good, and some may be bad. However, it is never too late to change them.
According to the CDC, improving your eating habits requires you to reflect on your current eating habits and triggers, replace your unhealthy habits with healthier ones, and reinforce your new healthier eating habits. Below are tips to help you set yourself up for success when making healthy food choices.
1. Prepare your own meals. Cooking your meals at home helps you monitor exactly what goes in your food. You’ll avoid the chemical additives, added sugar, and the unhealthy fats of fast food and packaged food.
2. Read the labels. Reading the nutrition labels on food is important so that you are aware of the nutrition information of that product, as well as, the serving size.
3. Make a colorful plate. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is a great way to get all of your vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that your body needs. Each day try to add color to your plate from the 5 main color groups- red/pink, blue/purple, orange/yellow, green, and white/brown.
4. Eat smaller portions. Visual cues can help with smaller portions. A serving size of meat, chicken or fish should be the size of a deck of cards or smartphone. Serving size of fruits and vegetables is the size of a tennis ball. Also, serving your food on a smaller plate can help trick your brain into thinking it’s a larger portion.
5. Limit unhealthy snack foods in your home. It is challenging to eat healthy if you have unhealthy food at home. To avoid this, do not buy unhealthy food options. That way you are surrounded by healthy choices and if you want to reward yourself with a treat, you will have to go out and buy it.
6. Drink plenty of water. Always carry water with you wherever you go to help you drink more water. You want to try to drink 8 cups of water daily.
Franciscan Health Fitness Centers Chesterton is now offering Nutrition Counseling Services which is a fee-based program that includes one-on-one nutrition sessions with a Registered Dietitian. These sessions are a proactive approach to help you manage your health and will provide you with motivation, guidance, and support to help achieve your health and lifestyle goals.
Special thanks to Brittany Price, MS Kinesiology, Exercise Physiologist for writing this blog.
References: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/eating_habits.html and https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm