2 Simple Ways to Eat Well
What does a simple, healthy diet look like? You don’t have to look far these days to find someone telling you what, when, and how to eat in order to stay healthy.
The problem with so much information is that it is very hard to know what is right for you! Before you know it, you’re trudging through one diet plan after another chasing results and eating has become a very complicated, almost dreaded event.
Then when things get too confusing, most of us are likely to throw in the towel and eat whatever and whenever we want….until the inevitable consequences of ‘free style’ eating puts us right back into the place of searching for the next right way to eat. And the cycle continues…..
At their core, scripted diets almost always involve black and white rules around food. So, unless you’ve done the foundational work around your emotional and psychological history with food, a ‘diet plan’ more often than not compounds unhealthy ideas with food.
While scrolling through social media, it can be easy to get caught up in how this plan or an eating style that worked for someone else, try it but when it doesn’t work think it is your fault. And the cycle continues….
Let’s simplify healthy eating so that you have a strong foundation on which to build a diet plan that is right for you. Then if you decide to tweak the details, you will always have a reliable basis from which to build.
- Simply Eat Real Food
Food is not only fuel for our bodies it is information to every cell. Therefore, eating real food is extremely important!
The parts of our cells that convert the food we eat to the energy we need don’t really know what to do with the preservatives and food additives that are in packaged foods. And yet, they are searching for the vitamins and minerals they need to perform every cellular function that we need to survive.
To ensure that the food you eat is real, focus on eating foods without labels. Fresh vegetables and fruits, locally raised meat and eggs are always best.
But when you do choose to eat something from a package, read the label. A short, simple ingredient list with words you can pronounce is the place to start. Quality matters in a healthy diet, so knowing what you are eating is a must.
- Simply Stay Curious
…about your thoughts and feelings surrounding food and how you think you should eat.
If you are or have been a perpetual dieter, then chances are you have not made many connections to what you think and how those thoughts influence what you eat. Many of us eat out of boredom or as a way to relieve stress. Then before we know it, the guilt sets in.
On the other hand, many women in particular, are always on the hunt for the ‘perfect’ diet often feeling obsessed with the search. Instead of looking within, they have come to believe the idea that simplicity with food involves someone else telling them what to eat. All of this takes us further and further from our own food connections.
Instead of beating yourself up for eating in a way that doesn’t support your health, or looking for someone else to tell you want to eat, try simply reflecting on what is going on inside when you feel off balance with your food.
If you find yourself feeling shame and remorse around eating, it is a very good sign that something else is trying to get your attention. Figuring that out can be the key to finding freedom and enjoyment with food while also supporting your health.
If your idea of simplicity with food involves drive thrus and take out, another lifestyle issue is likely needing your attention. By putting convenience above your health, you could be continuing to squash unfelt feelings or unmet needs. An honest look at those things is not always easy, but is more likely than not the truth of what is simply hiding behind the food.
Simply put, there is NO one-size fits all plan when it comes to a healthy way to eat. However, keeping things simple by eating real foods and getting connected with your thoughts around food, you can build a healthy eating routine that makes you feel great while also helping you reach your goals.
Health coaching is a great way to unpack old thoughts and ideas about food and other lifestyle factors that may be keeping you from reaching your goals. If you’d like to find out more contact Rhonda@makingmidlifemarvelous.com
