7 Ways To get Back Into Healthy Eating

“Eating healthy is a journey, not a race, take the scenic route and enjoy the view.”

We all try to eat healthy, to the best of our knowledge and ability. But even the biggest health experts and the best intentioned health enthusiasts have meals, days and weeks that are less than perfect.

It could be a vacation where you over indulge on too many desserts. Or a busy week where you didn’t have time to cook and had too many unhealthy takeouts. Or a few days with intense unhealthy cravings for foods that deplete you and make you feel blah. And before you know it you feel bloated, your digestive system is groaning and you feel like you lost your healthy mojo.

No worries! The following suggestions will help you get back into making better food choices starting with your next meal!

It’s Not How You Act, It’s How You React

We all have unhealthy days so don’t beat yourself up. If you get stuck in the shame and blame game you will have a harder time focusing on making healthy choices. What is important is not what happened but what you do next. Make a decision to make your next food choices healthier.

The 80% – 20% Guideline

Allow yourself to have unhealthy foods. Yes. You heard me. It is important that you allow yourself to have the unhealthy foods you like. Whether it is ice cream, pizza, cake or chips, put unhealthy food in it’s place by giving it 20% of your total consumption. It will help you not feel deprived and get you out of the “all or nothing” trap. As long as 80% of your food choices are whole, natural and high in nutrients, you’re doing great. So count you unhealthy indulgent as the allowed 20% and balance it out with lots of healthy choices.

Lose The Diet Mentality

“Oh no, I can’t believe I ate so much! Tomorrow I diet (or starve).” The diet mentality is punishing. It tells you you have been bad and that you need to pay the price. It also tells you that you are “on track” or “off track”. None of it is helpful. Don’t starve yourself. Don’t skip meals. If you choose to eat lightly the day after an indulgence do it because your body is craving a light meal, not as a punishment.

Have A Healthy Breakfast

A wholesome breakfast will set the tone for a healthy day. When you start your day with foods that help stabilize your blood sugar and give you lots of nutrients you will have less cravings and feel more energized. Sit down quietly and ask your body what it craves. A high protein breakfast? Grains and vegetables? A light fair of fruit and yogurt? An energizing green smoothie?Listen to your body’s guidance and follow it.

Take Gentle Action

Give yourself a break from obsessing about food and get active in a gentle way. Practice deep breathing. Do some gentle yoga. Go for a walk outside. Getting physically active helps you to step away from food mentally and literally and focus on making your body feel better by increasing movement, energy and circulation.

Load Up On Veggies

Vegetables are always your best friends but especially after you ate foods that makes your body feel sluggish. They are light and energizing and make your cells happy! Have a big salad, make a large batch of vegetable soup, make a colorful stir-fry. Get those good-for-you superstars into your system.

Speak Compassionately

Just like you would comfort and console a child who has fallen and got hurt, please speak to yourself in gentle and comforting ways. If you feel angry at yourself for eating compulsively or call yourself names you will not be motivated to make healthier choices. Say something like: “oh honey, sorry you are not feeling so great.” Give yourself a mental hug. Promise yourself you will learn to be your own best friend on your health journey.

Do you have a favorite way to get back into healthy eating? Please share it in the comments.

xoxo Rachel