While in “quarantine” the stress of daily life has mounted for all of us. Many either have eaten ALOT or didn’t eat AT ALL. For some it was hard to find a balance. As the weather is warmer and we feel a bit less restricted, the importance of eating well is pressing. Now is the perfect time to both learn and practice healthy habits that hopefully will last a lifetime. Feeding your mind, body and soul is ALWAYS important. More than ever, as I work with young adults helping them prepare for high school and college (where their choices are their own) giving them the tools to do this is very important.
Here is a “cheat sheet” to get you started and to practice and prepare:
Set an eating schedule. Set a schedule to help prevent random snacking. Whether you are a 3 or 5 meal a day person, make a plan for when, where and what you will eat. And maybe you want to set your alarm on your phone to remind you of when you need to eat so you don’t get “hangry” or end up eating what you shouldn’t.
Don’t skip produce. Lucky for us all, the weather is warm and the produce is at it’s peak for variety and sweetness. Eating fruits and vegetables actually make you feel happy!
Stay hydrated. Go easy on caffeine- it’s easy to drink coffee and tea all day when you think you need to keep going, but don’t forget about WATER. When you find that you are stressed and constantly going for food instead, stop yourself in your tracks! Take a glass of water and listen to your body to see if you are truly hungry. If that does not work, try removing yourself from the kitchen. Find a task that will distract your mind and your hands.
Load up on Vitamin C. Supporting our immune system goes beyond drinking orange juice. Other food sources of vitamin C are strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kiwi and just eating the orange itself! Have you heard of Kefir, it’s described as a yogurt drink, and it has been shown to support our immune system as well. Give it a try in your next fruit/veggie smoothie.
Eat Mindfully. It’s easy to wander in and out of the kitchen all day and graze on whatever you have stashed up. However, this can also lead to overeating and weight gain. If you need a snack, make it a healthy choice that you have thought about (I love fresh crudite and hummus or a fruit and a small handful of raw nuts).
Feel free to contact me to help you learn and practice and enjoy a healthy lifestyle!