You already know the benefits of healthy eating. You will have more energy, lose weight, and reduce your risk of disease. But, maintaining a healthy eating plan and lifestyle can be difficult. There are countless tips out there how best to live healthily but let’s be serious; there’s only a handful of ideas that you’ll really be able to implement and commit to long enough to see the results you want. Here are ten easy and simple ways to stick to a healthy eating plan.
Start with realistic expectations
Eating a nutritious diet has many benefits, including potential weight loss but having realistic expectations increases your chances of maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Think about what really motivates you
When you’re tempted to indulge in unhealthy behaviors, remembering what motivates you can help you stay on track.
Keep unhealthy foods out of the house
It’s challenging to eat healthy if you’re surrounded by junk foods. Keeping unhealthy foods out of the house, or at least out of sight, can increase your chances of staying on track.
Don’t have an ‘all or nothing’ approach
A major roadblock to achieving a healthy diet and lifestyle is black-and-white thinking. A few off-plan choices make very little difference in the long run, as long as you balance them with healthy foods. Rejecting the urge to judge your day as “good” or “bad” can prevent you from overeating and making poor choices.
Sticking to a healthy diet can be tough when you’re away from home for extended periods. When you get too hungry on the go, you may end up grabbing whatever is available and you know how that normally works out. Take healthy, high-protein snacks when you’re on the road or traveling in case you’re unable to eat a meal for several hours.
Exercise and change diet at the same time
You may have heard you shouldn’t change too many things at once when trying to improve your health. In general, this is good advice. But when you simultaneously begin to exercise and changing the way you eat increases your chances of healthy lifestyle success.
Have a game plan before eating out
Trying to maintain a healthy diet while eating out can be very challenging. That’s why you will need to have a plan before eating out to help you make healthier food choices.
Don’t let traveling derail you
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, being outside of your familiar territory can make it challenging to stick to a healthy lifestyle. You can stick to a healthy eating plan while traveling. All it takes is a bit of research, planning, and commitment. You may have to research the restaurants and supermarkets ahead of time. Pack some healthy foods that don’t spoil quickly.
Eating mindfully can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Take time to enjoy your food and appreciate its ability to nourish you. This increases your chances of making successful, lasting behavioral changes. Adopting a mindful eating approach can help you achieve a better relationship with food and may reduce binge eating.
Track and monitor your progress
Logging the foods you eat into a diary, online food tracker, or app can help you stick to a healthy diet and lose weight. Measuring your exercise progress is also beneficial and provides you with the motivation that can help you keep going. Tracking your food intake and exercise progress can provide motivation and accountability. Studies show that it helps you stick to a healthy diet and leads to greater weight loss.