Healthy eating is all the rage, especially here in Vancouver. People are always looking for ways to feel better, lose weight or maybe they’re just jumping on the bandwagon. Whatever the motivation, your health and wellbeing will thank you for eating right.
Being “healthy” has become an obsession of sorts, and with all the contradicting and overwhelming information out there, it's easy to get confused or be roped in to an unnecessary fad. For example eating gluten-free doesn’t make you better than anyone else or healthier – it's a diet made for people with a gluten allergy/sensitivity, and there are a lot of unhealthy gluten-free products. There is no one diet that cures everything, so if you want to make positive changes to your health, then be ready to make some lifestyle changes as well. But take it one day at a time and be compassionate with yourself. Here are some tips to get you started on your journey.
Be realistic
Set goals that you know are going to be attainable right away. Going from a meat eater to raw vegan overnight is not going to happen and will set yourself up for failure before the end of the month. Ease into your diet at your own pace, reduce the amount of “bad” foods in your diet and start replacing with a healthier alternatives and you will soon realize that you don’t even crave MSG-covered, fake-flavoured ketchup chips.
Replace instead of restrict
This is one of the best ways that you can help yourself transition to a healthier diet. Obsessed with chocolate? No problem! Switch to dark chocolate for a healthier choice. Crazy for chips? There are tons of different chips out there that are made with whole foods that are pretty tasty and will totally satisfy your salty cravings. You could also make your own.
Water
Ok this isn’t just a tip, it’s a great suggestion for life. Water composes 75 per cent of your brain, 22 per cent of your bones, removes wastes, helps convert food into energy, and helps your body absorb nutrients among many other valuable functions. So drink up!
The 80/20 rule
Let yourself indulge once in a while. If you are eating a whole foods, nutrient-dense diet most of the time, your body will know what to do with the extra crap and calories you have on cheap beer and wings night.
Get into a routine
A healthy routine is a great thing to have for anyone, but it is especially useful when starting something new and getting into a healthy lifestyle, making a new change just a part of your daily ritual will keep you keep it going longer and more consistent.
Lemon water
Try some first thing in the morning to help digestion and get things moving. Lemon water is a great addition to your daily routine.
Exercise
Exercise is so important for your overall health and wellbeing. Get those endorphins going by getting into a regular exercise regimen, maybe you will finally take that yoga or spin class you always wanted, or you could keep it nice and simple by just walking for 30 minutes a day. Baby steps create giant leaps.
Keep healthy snacks in the house
One of the best ways to stay on top of the game is to help yourself avoid temptation. Keeping healthy snacks around the house as opposed to your regular Twinkies will help you stick to your plan and ease into your new improved lifestyle. I personally love to always have raw nuts and seeds that I can munch on throughout the days for an added boost energy.
Recipe: Black bean dip
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup of dry black beans (or one can of canned black beans)
• 2 small tomatoes (cut in quarters so they can fit better in food processor)
• Juice of half lemon
• 1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 cup of cilantro
• Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
• For dry beans, submerge 1/2 cup of dry black beans in water and leave to soak overnight. Discard water and rinse beans well. Cook on medium to low heat until they are fully cooked. DO NOT add salt, as this will increase cooking time.
• For canned beans, thoroughly rinse off beans before using.
• Place all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth.
• Enjoy with whole grain pita bread or organic corn chips.
