Adopting a healthy eating plan is always a mixed experience. While you have the optimism of waiting to see the results of your efforts, there is always going to be some sense of loss at the things you have to cut out of your diet. This means that you’re going to have to have something more than optimism in your corner for those times - which will inevitably come - when you start to have doubts about the overall effectiveness of your plan.
So much of dieting is essentially one long negotiation with yourself. If you cut out carbs, you can enjoy that week-long beach holiday. If you eat sensibly for a month, you can treat yourself on your birthday. If you lose x amount of weight within six weeks, then you can reintroduce some of the foods that have been declared out of bounds in those six weeks. In short, if you want a diet to work out, you need to stack those negotiations so that the “sensible” you always has the upper hand.
Find at least a few healthy dishes you can look forward to
Even those of us not on a healthy eating plan will occasionally daydream about our evening meal, and when you’re feeling those familiar hunger pangs you’ll daydream all the more. If you want to have a chance of sticking to a sensible eating plan, you are going to need to not see healthy foods as boring, tasteless or a chore to eat. Good foods to prioritise include salmon, which is a staple of gourmet food hampers but also packed with nutrients, and porridge, which can be combined with healthy and tasty fruit to kick-start your day. Your choices may vary, but it is important to have at least three healthy foods you actually like.
Find a (healthy) way to eat the foods you just don’t like
If you’re used to eating a certain way, the idea of changing to ensure a healthier diet might not be particularly attractive. If dinner is usually pizza or something deep-fried, you’re not going to be enthralled by the standard lists of healthy foods. However, those foods are your path to the nutrients you need and the dietary goals you are trying to achieve. So if you typically can’t bear avocados, find a curry recipe that cuts against the taste and texture you dislike. If you’re not into tofu, find a marinade that makes it taste zestier. At the beginning, you’ll have to tolerate some meals you usually wouldn’t, but as you hone recipes you can find a way forward. Sadly, the answer is never going to be “smother them in cheese”.
Ketogenic dieting can be hugely effective, and allow you to drop weight quickly. A low-fat diet can prevent fatty build-up around organs and allow you to feel more sharp physically and mentally. If you combine these two diets, does it mean you’ll get the effects of both in full? No. Keto eating relies on high fat contents; a low-fat diet means eating some carbs. All you do by combining diets is expand the “bad foods” list to the point where it is unsustainable. If you know why you need to diet, simply pick the foods that are best for your goals and avoid the ones that will harm your efforts. There are few, if any, foods that don’t fall foul of one diet or another, so know what you need to prioritise.
Do you have any tips for eating healthy?
No comments