3 Tips To Simplify Healthy Eating

 Healthy Eating

With so much conflicting advice out there about the "best" way to eat, people are often more confused than ever about how to go about eating a healthy diet.

Countless experts all offer opposing viewpoints about eating for fat loss, longevity, or just all around good health. But sometimes, the best solution is to go with tried and true approaches that keep it simple.

To make things easy, I present 3 stupid simple tips to eating healthier:

1. Eat Mostly Whole Foods in Moderation

"If man made it, don't eat it" - Jack LaLanne
It doesn't matter what diet book you read, almost all of them agree that whole foods from nature are much better for health than processed foods made in a factory. It doesn't take a genius to realize that potatoes are better than french fries or water is better than soft drinks.

Simplifying Whole Food Eating:

Think about substitutions rather than restrictions. Eating fruit instead of a candy bar, water instead of a soft drink, and a side salad rather than french fries are an easy way to get started.

Tip 2: Think about practicality vs. ideology

So many people are trying to find the perfect diet, they forget about whether or not they can actually follow it. Be realistic about your lifestyle and your commitments, and then find strategies to make healthy eating work with your lifestyle rather than against it.

If someone recommends counting every single calorie you consume, but that's not practical, you may want to consider an alternative approach.

I personally recommend finding simple healthy recipes and meals you know you can make at any time. Cooking in bulk is another great time-saving strategy that can make healthy eating a lot easier.

You can make a commitment to learn one new recipe every week that only takes 5 minutes to prepare. That way you build up a solid foundation of meals you can turn to when you want something quick and easy.

Tip 3: Consistency is Key

Sometimes people get so stressed out about what they "should" or "shouldn't" be eating they end up giving up all together.
The ironic thing is that the stress can do more harm than many unhealthy foods!
A person's results comes not just from what they do, but from what they do consistently.

I eat many foods that aren't the healthiest and have the occasional "cheat meal." I can still stay lean and healthy because the vast majority of the time I eat a great diet. Then when I do have something a little less healthy, I'm not worried about it because I know my body can handle it on occasion.
So instead of worrying yourself to death, focus on sticking with healthy habits 80-90% of the time, and you'll find it's a lot easier to stick with over a lifetime.

The Simplest Diet Summary:

Eat a whole food diet and plenty of plant foods and greens
Keep your portions under control (eat until you're about 80% full)
Find ways to make whole food eating practical and easy in your life.

Relax! It's just food. Focus on consistently engaging in good behaviors 80-90% of the time making them habits.