Once you have made the decision to change your trajectory toward a path toward health and wellness, one of the first things you must do is establish a healthy eating plan.
This is where many of us get stuck. There is so much conflicting information out there regarding nutrition, it is difficult to know where to start. Should I go “keto? What about the benefits of a vegetarian or vegan diet? Should I focus on low fat foods or low sugar?
What I have found helpful is to look for patterns in common diet plans and identify what is the common denominator in these diets. Whether it’s paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian, or the mediterranean diet, there are several common features. Even the more extreme diet plans focus on consuming a large portion of your daily intake from whole, unprocessed leafy green vegetables and restricting your sugar intake.
Focus on the big picture, then find a plan that works best for you. First you need to eliminate items from your diet that have the biggest negative impact on your health. Sugar is the biggest culprit.
The first step is to eliminate any sugary drinks from your diet. If you frequently like to frequent the local coffee shop on your way to work to get a frozen “frappuccino” or hot flavored latte, you need to find a healthier substitute with less sugar.
Perhaps you can make some cold brew at home and blend it with ice and protein powder and drink it for breakfast? If you like hot coffee, try drinking it black or with a bit of whole milk without the sugar.
If you find yourself drinking several sugary carbonated beverages throughout the day, substitute these with diet soda for now with a goal to slowly transition to low calorie flavored water.
If you normally eat a breakfast high in sugar or processed carbohydrates, try to transition to a breakfast high in fiber and protein. If you normally go for a bowl of cereal or waffles, try eating an omelet filled with chopped vegetables. If you are short on time in the morning, make a protein shake.
The most important thing is to make a small consistent change to your diet that you can maintain over the long term. Once you have incorporated this healthy habit into your life to the point that you don’t really need to think about it, it’s time to make another change.
I wish you continued success in your journey toward the best version of yourself!
