Many of us could stand to improve our eating habits. Even if your diet isn’t relentlessly unhealthy, there’s a good chance that it could use a bit of reworking. Furthermore, improved eating habits stand to benefit you in a number of ways. From a slimmer waistline to better health to heightened stamina levels, good eating habits can serve you well on many fronts. Anyone here are some effective tips for curbing unhealthy eating habits, you should consider the following pointers.
Limit Restaurant Visits and Takeout Orders
Limiting restaurant visits and takeout orders can benefit you in a number of ways. For starters, constantly dining out can be a tremendous drain on your finances. Even if you typically stick with reasonably priced restaurants, dining out multiple times per week can eat up a sizable chunk of your monthly income. Second, placing strict limits on how often you dine out can be a boon to your healthy eating efforts. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, restaurant food tends to have a very high content, which can be a hindrance to anyone trying to make healthy dietary choices.
With this in mind, limit restaurant visits and takeout orders to no more than once a week. Furthermore, if the restaurant you’re ordering from shares the nutrition facts of its menu items, have a look at the nutritional value and fat content of each entrée you’re thinking about ordering.
Limiting yourself to one restaurant meal per week can also make dining out or ordering in seem like more of a treat than it would be if you dined at restaurants all the time. So, in addition to saving you money and helping your healthy eating efforts, this level of restraint can provide you with something to look forward to. For example, dining out on a Friday or Saturday can be a great way to reward yourself at the end of an exhausting workweek.
Limit the Amount of Junk Food in Your Home
The easier junk food is to access, the more likely you are to indulge in it. So, if you have a pantry full of junk food, it’s reasonable to assume you wouldn’t let it go to waste. Conversely, by limiting the amount of junk food you keep in your home, you’ll be better equipped to make smarter eating choices. After all, if junk food is all you have on hand, it’s liable to constitute all of the snacks and meals you consume.
So, the next time you find yourself at the grocery store, make a point of stocking up on healthy snacks and meal ingredients. Additionally, to help stave off cravings, keep an eye out for health-conscious alternatives to your favorite snacks. For example, instead of potato chips, opt for kale chips or mixed nuts. Similarly, instead of candy bars, opt for granola bars. If you’re a fan of milkshakes, consider swapping them for shakes made with vegan protein powder for weight loss. While such alternatives won’t produce the same taste sensations to which you’ve grown accustomed, they’ll help you sate junk food cravings and become less dependent on unhealthy foods over time.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the occasional junk food indulgence is completely off the table. Whether you’ve achieved a personal milestone or are celebrating a special occasion, a little bit of junk food can be a fitting reward – it just shouldn’t be your go-to whenever you have a snack craving or need to prepare a quick meal.
Don’t Skip Meals
Although some people erroneously view skipping meals as being conducive to weight loss, the opposite is actually true. Eating three healthy, balanced meals a day helps prevent overeating and keeps our metabolisms from getting rusty. This doesn’t mean snacking is forbidden, either. Enjoying health-conscious snacks – like fruits, veggies and nuts – between meals can effectively stave off intense hunger.
Although many of us set lofty goals for ourselves with regard to eating habits, said goals often go unrealized. Between fear of change and the inherent difficulty of altering learned behaviors, curbing unhealthy eating habits is generally easier said than done. However, with the right tips at your disposal, getting your eating habits in order doesn’t have to be an arduous uphill climb. So, if healthier dietary choices are what you’re after, put the advice outlined above to good use.
