5 Habits to Improve Your Nutrition
No matter what diet, methodology, or style of eating you choose, these habits and skills are important to practice. They can help you eat more nutritiously without tracking or counting calories. These are universal skills, so whether you are paleo this year and vegan next year, if you practice these habits, they will serve you no matter what your dietary choices are.
Meal Planning
Start with eating 3 meals a day with balanced snacks.
Aim for meals and snacks with a balance of carbs, fats and proteins.
“Add in” veggies. There is a really good chance that you’re not eating as many veggies and fruits as you should be. Take a look at what you’re already eating and ask yourself how can I “Add in”? For example, make the same pasta dish you normally make but double up the veggies portions or throw in some spinach. The same “add-in” concept can be applied to upping your protein game too!
Grocery Shopping
Grocery shop regularly. If you have healthy food options at home, it will make eating healthier MUCH easier and more accessible. Take care of your future self by keeping your fridge stocked.
Prioritize whole foods, less processed foods + limited ingredients.
Short on time? Order online and get your groceries delivered.
Cooking/Meal Prepping
Prep (this can mean batch prepping full meals, prepping snacks, or prepping parts of meals (I.e. Chicken that you will later use in different ways to make your meals)
Cook once, eat twice. I LIVE by this rule. Double batch your food so you don’t have to spend 45 mins cooking every night. Save leftovers in the fridge for the next day or store in the freezer for use later on.
Have fun with it! I used to hate cooking. Now I enjoy the process of chopping, cooking and experimenting with different flavors. Try to view it as self-care, a hobby or or a skill you’re learning, rather than a chore.
Eating at Home
Prioritize eating at home vs eating out, ordering take out or getting fast food.
Practicing the steps above will help make this easier.
Make compromises as needed. We all have days where we don’t have time to cook. Keeping your kitchen stocked with packaged, convenience or frozen foods is a great way to limit how much take-out you order, while being mindful of time limitations.
Mindful Eating
Practice mindful eating, eat slow + limit distractions.
Observe your hunger cues and how foods make you feel.
Stop judging other people + stop judging yourself. Everyone is on their own journey + society has really complicated our relationship with food, and our bodies. You are not better than other people if you can afford to eat healthy. Similarly, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t be perfect.
Slow + steady wins the race. Start small when setting goals and building habits. Slowly building habits that are sustainable and fit into your life is the key to long term success. Find the balance of consistency and adaptability that works for your goals, lifestyle and mental health.
ABOUT the author
Amy Potter is a Certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Health Coach. She loves helping women heal their relationship with their bodies, and with food. She guides women on a journey to feel strong, confident, and capable through weight lifting and intuitive eating. In her free time, she can be found taking long walks on the beach, petting dogs, or talking about politics.
