I consider myself a healthy eater, and even I struggle with it sometimes. Taking care of your body is hard when there are so many yummy junk food options available so quickly and cheaply. Even so, it is extremely important to eat healthily as often as possible. Here are a few tried-and-true easy ways to eat healthier.
- Brown rice instead of white rice. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s delicious. Brown rice has lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. White rice, on the other hand, is mostly just empty calories without health benefits. Next time you have a choice between white and brown rice, pick brown.
- Use cooking spray instead of butter. This is another really easy switch—instead of using butter in your pan when cooking things like eggs, using cooking spray instead. Your food will still taste great, and it’ll be a little bit healthier.
- Make your own popcorn. Storebought and movie theater popcorn tend to be loaded with butter, which, while delicious, is not very healthy. By popping the kernels yourself, you can control how much butter, salt, or other toppings you add to your popcorn. If you use an air popper, you don’t have to deal with oil either!
- Only eat when you’re actually hungry. It’s so easy to snack on something just because it’s there, because you want something to do, or because it tastes good. That adds extra calories that you often don’t need, and most of the time, we tend to think “snacks” means “junk food.” You have to get in the habit of listening to your body and only eating when you need to. If you do need a snack, pick something healthy, like vegetables, nuts, or fruit.
- Grow your own food. If you have the space for a garden, plant some fruits and veggies! It is so satisfying to harvest your own food and use it in your meals. Plus, home-grown food is usually healthier than storebought versions. As another bonus, gardening gives you a chance to get outside and work your body a little bit.
I hope these tips help! And remember, even a little is better than nothing. You can allow yourself to indulge every so often, as long as you don’t make it a regular habit. Good luck with your healthy eating!