You want to get healthier… by making the transition to eating healthier, eating “real” food… good for you!
This is a very important decision you’ve made, and you’ve made the right one.
It can be hard to know where to start, though. You might be concerned about how you’re going to feed your family this way, and what they will think about it. You might have budgetary concerns, or children who are picky eaters. Furthermore, you may not be sure what foods to even begin with – do you throw everything out and start over?
Here are some tips to help you with all that, and you’re well on your way to transitioning into a way of eating that serves your health!
Research
First, it pays to take a little time to research. Look for consistencies in food information – this will help you avoid “fad diets.” Find out what really makes a food healthy, and decide what food groups you are going to keep or discard (some people decide not to include dairy in their diets, for example, or they will lean toward a primitive diet that does not include grains).
Replacements Chart
Once you are comfortable with what constitutes a healthy food, you can make a chart. This can be so helpful in making grocery lists and planning meals, and in making the transition in general.
To make the chart, you will need two basic columns (if you are into the details of nutrition, such as glycemic index and nutritive value, then you might want more columns).
On one side of the chart are the foods you normally eat. On the other side, put a replacement. For instance, you might have donuts on one side; you can put wholemeal cinnamon toast on the other side as a replacement.
If you aren’t sure what to replace with what, a good rule of thumb is: replace white with brown, artificial with natural, and processed for whole. For instance, traditional pasta can be replaced with whole grain pasta; fruit snacks can be replaced with natural dried fruit and nuts; and potato chips with lightly salted organic popcorn.
You’ll want to make the transition gradually; health experts agree that this is less shocking to your system.
This is where the chart comes in handy – you can choose one replacement a week or even month – you know your own and your family’s ability to make the changes successfully!
Increase How Much You Eat
Sounds ironic, doesn’t it?
But research suggests that the “crowding out” theory can really work for some. If you load up on healthy food, you may simply not want the unhealthy stuff.
Make a point of eating lots of high-quality, whole foods which will, theoretically, leave less room for the bad stuff – and this is also helpful for your grocery budget as well. Some find this makes for an easier transition than cutting out unhealthy foods and feeling deprived.
Need more help learning about food that is right for you and your family… and how you can get healthier?
Be sure to Like and Follow my FB page Leap Into Health and learn more about food, health, mindset and creating change one step at a time.
Much Love,
Nat xx
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