People often ask me what my general guidelines are when it comes to eating healthy. While I do have some general "rules" I ask clients to follow, it's really about being smart and listening to your body. For the next few weeks I will lay out some healthy eating thoughts for you. If you follow these guidelines each day for a week, you will start to notice that you are eating less junk (more good stuff), and gaining more energy from your food.
But it all starts with a little patience. Are you ready for rule number 1?
Rule #1: Eat when you are hungy!
Seems simple right? But most people are really more about eating on a schedule, than eating when your body is craving food! I've worked at my company for almost 12 years. I am on a schedule- we start work at 6:30 and lunch, for most of us happens between 11 and 11:30. I find myself looking at the clock and saying "oh, it's lunch time, I should eat". But, I have to stop myself and ask, "am I hungry yet?" Sometimes the answer is no, and I will wait 30 minutes (sometimes it's only 5 minutes and my tummMy schedule is like this; I'm usually having breakfast around 6am (a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with fruit and almond milk). From that point on, I find myself on a schedule eating about every 2 hours. Often there are two morning snacks (typically yogurt, and almonds), lunch around 11:30, and an apple or granola bar around 2. I feel MUCH better when I wait til I'm hungry and eat a small snack.
Try it.. pack yourself several fun healthy snacks, and see where it leads. Lunch could be a small salad or a half sandwich. I recommend trying sunchips, or crackers with hummus in the afternoon-- I feel like I HAVE to have a salty crunch! Just wait until you are hungry... actually hungry, not just bored or thirsty or on a schedule. You will enjoy the food more and your body will thank you!
But it all starts with a little patience. Are you ready for rule number 1?
Rule #1: Eat when you are hungy!
Seems simple right? But most people are really more about eating on a schedule, than eating when your body is craving food! I've worked at my company for almost 12 years. I am on a schedule- we start work at 6:30 and lunch, for most of us happens between 11 and 11:30. I find myself looking at the clock and saying "oh, it's lunch time, I should eat". But, I have to stop myself and ask, "am I hungry yet?" Sometimes the answer is no, and I will wait 30 minutes (sometimes it's only 5 minutes and my tummMy schedule is like this; I'm usually having breakfast around 6am (a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with fruit and almond milk). From that point on, I find myself on a schedule eating about every 2 hours. Often there are two morning snacks (typically yogurt, and almonds), lunch around 11:30, and an apple or granola bar around 2. I feel MUCH better when I wait til I'm hungry and eat a small snack.
Try it.. pack yourself several fun healthy snacks, and see where it leads. Lunch could be a small salad or a half sandwich. I recommend trying sunchips, or crackers with hummus in the afternoon-- I feel like I HAVE to have a salty crunch! Just wait until you are hungry... actually hungry, not just bored or thirsty or on a schedule. You will enjoy the food more and your body will thank you!