Diets and fasting, weight loss pills, meal replacements, and other miracle diets. Aren’t they all really just modern forms of torture? Seriously, take us back to medieval times, when the torture devices were actually interesting. Or, at the bare minimum, give us a diet that doesn’t require so much discipline and deprivation!
We all want to look like Pamela Anderson in her prime, but we break diets just as often as Snoop Dog smokes weed. If there’s one way to describe the scale of an issue, we think we hit the nail right on the head with that comparison. But the thing is, it’s just not in our nature to live a life of austerity, especially when it comes to food. So, can we learn how to eat and be healthy without resorting to extremes?
Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but we’re going to give you some tips to start with! Think variety, moderation, and balance, and a fresh, healthy diet will be within reach.
Forget Fad Diets
The keto diet, the fasting diet, the cabbage soup diet – whatever happened to the good old days when all you had to do was watch your portions and eat healthy foods? These so-called “fad diets” come and go, but they’re all really just variations on a theme. And that theme is deprivation.
Going off course slightly here, but speaking of the “gold old days of diets,” let’s pause for a second and laugh.
The below particular diet, published by Vogue back in the 1970s, revolves around wine and eggs, and it’s a complete disaster. Actually, it’s probably everybody’s dream diet, but it’s not exactly a balanced or healthy way to eat. It’s hilarious in retrospect, but at the time, it would have been considered cutting edge (ahem, like many diets today.)
And hang on one more second! – Before you start thinking that we’re trying to say you can’t lose weight by dieting, think again! It is possible to eat healthily and lose weight, but you don’t need to resort to such extreme measures. If you want to learn how to have a healthy diet, forget about the fad diets. They’re nothing but a waste of time.
So, enough laughs, what is this a comedy show? It’s time to get down to business. How can you eat healthily without depriving yourself? Here are five tips from our experts here at Innate Healthcare.
5 Tips from the Innate Healthcare Experts
#1 Home Cooked Food is the Epitome of Love
One of the best ways to ensure that you’re eating healthily is to cook your own food. Home-cooked meals are almost always healthier than takeaways or processed foods, and they’re usually cheaper too! In addition, you can control what goes into your food, which means you can avoid unhealthy additives and preservatives.
We know what you’re thinking: cooking can be a lot of work. But it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, and once you get into the habit, it’ll become second nature. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of eating a meal that you’ve prepared yourself.
Just make sure that you use whole or minimally processed foods, and avoid frying or using too much oil. The key to healthful home cooking is moderation – everything in moderation, including moderation!
#2 Meal Prep is Your Friend
If cooking your own food every single day seems like too much work, why not try meal prepping? Meal prepping is simply the process of preparing all your meals for the week in advance. This can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be, but the benefits are clear: you’ll have healthy, home-cooked meals all week without having to spend hours in the kitchen!
There are plenty of recipes and tips out there for meal prepping, so it’s easy to get started. And once you’ve gotten into the routine, it’ll be easy peasy. Just make sure that you include a variety of healthy foods in your meals, and avoid processed foods as much as possible.
Not only is meal prep a great way to learn how to eat and be healthy, but it’s also a great way to save money. Buying in bulk can be a bit of an investment at first, but it’ll pay off in the long run. You’ll save money, and you’ll also avoid the temptation to buy unhealthy processed foods.
What a win!
#3 Water is Life
One of the simplest – and most important – ways to stay healthy is to drink plenty of water. Water is essential for all sorts of bodily functions, including digestion, circulation, and joint health. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to drink eight glasses per day; in fact, the amount you need can vary depending on your body weight, activity level, and climate.
But how do you know if you’re drinking enough water? A healthy recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces each day. So, for instance, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces of water per day. You can also track your hydration levels by checking the color of your urine – if it’s light yellow or clear, you’re hydrated; if it’s dark yellow or orange, you need to drink more water.
Water is essential for good health, so make sure you’re drinking enough of it! And if you find water boring, try adding a slice of lemon or cucumber for some flavor.
If you want to learn more about why water is so important, check out our previous blog post on the topic “Do I Drink Enough Water?”. We promise, it’s just as funny as this one.
#4 Eat Smaller Meals More Often
When understanding how to maintain a healthy diet, it’s crucial also to understand the concept of portion control. Oversized portions are one of the main contributors to weight gain, so it’s important to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. This will help keep your metabolism running smoothly and prevent you from overeating.
There’s no need to count calories or measure out tiny morsels of food; just make sure that your meals are small and healthy. Try to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein in your diet, and avoid processed foods as much as possible. And remember: everything in moderation!
#5 Variety is the Spice of Life
If you want to start eating healthy, you need to make sure that your diet is varied and full of different types of foods. This will ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs, and it’ll also help keep things interesting.
Eating a variety of foods is just plain fun! You’ll get to explore new flavors and textures, and you’ll also get a broader range of nutrients. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid getting bored with your diet.
So how do you go about adding variety to your diet? Just try incorporating some new ingredients and recipes into your meals. There are plenty of healthy cookbooks out there, or you can find recipes online.
To Conclude the Show
Alas, we’ve reached the end of our little healthy eating show. But we’ve got one final thing to tell you: you can do it!
We know that it can be super intimidating to try and change your diet, but it’s definitely doable. Just take it one step at a time, and be patient with yourself. You’ll get there in no time!
And don’t forget: if you ever have any questions or need some help getting started, we’re always here for you. Just shoot us a message, or give us a call at 602.603.3118, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
That’s all, folks! We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to eat and be healthy. Be sure to check back soon for more blog posts on this topic!
