The internet makes it challenging to know how to start eating healthy. From fad diets you find online, to online fitness gurus telling you XYZ health foods are the keys to losing weight, the whole process can be frustrating, if not discouraging.
Fortunately, eating clean and getting on the right track isn’t a complicated process. In fact, there are only a few things you need to do when getting started eating healthy.
Set Goals
Good nutrition, like any other pursuit, is about outcomes. So, where do you want your new healthy eating habit to lead you? What do you hope to obtain from changing your diet and/or lifestyle?
Take some time to write out your goals. Write short, medium, and long-term goals that are controllable entirely by you—not goals that rely on the information a scale gives you.
So for example, instead of writing “I want to lose 10lbs,” write something like, “I want to eat clean 5 days per week and save my unhealthy eating days for one day per week.”
Control Your Portions
The best way to start eating healthy is to get the amount of food you’re eating under control. From a higher risk of disease to having less energy, many problems are caused by eating too much food.
Getting portions under control may look different for each person. One great way is to buy smaller plates to eat meals off. It might sound silly, but psychologically it makes a difference when you put your food on a full plate versus one that’s only a quarter-full.
Counting macronutrients or reading health blogs (which you can view more here) are also good ways to find inspiration to eat less.
Find Your Staple Foods
Contrary to popular belief, to start eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite foods. In fact, the opposite is true—the goal is to find healthy foods you love, and eat them often!
Most healthy eaters will tell you their staple foods are things they buy each week at the grocery store. Avocado, dark chocolate, ground turkey, and certain types of veggies and fruit could all fit the mold.
Get excited to find foods that work for your body and taste buds!
Don’t Fear Failure (or Beat Yourself Up)
It’s easy to get wrapped up in finding the right meals to start eating healthy. But remember, so much of eating well is about the mental side of things. So if you slip off the wagon or can’t get things consistent, let it go.
Tomorrow is also another day to start over and you’re always one choice away from making the right choice. Remember, everyone stumbles!
How to Start Eating Healthy Today
To start eating healthy today, focus on what you want to achieve to get motivated. Then consider strategies that’ll help you eat less and hone in on the healthy foods that’ll fuel your body and give you energy. Things will get difficult from time to time, but don’t give up!
For more health tips, check out the rest of our blog.
