5 Simple Ways to Eat Smart

Don’t let your New Year momentum fade!

Check out these 5 simple ways to choose you over food.

If there is one fact I try to remind myself on a daily basis, it’s this: I’m not perfect.

I struggle, and I have my bad days. Especially when it comes to thinking positive thoughts about myself or choosing healthy foods. Ironically, it’s not a matter of “if” I struggle but “when.” And after tracking my struggles through journaling and self-reflection, I can tell you “when” is usually late afternoon when my blood sugar’s dropped because I missed lunch or a snack, or in difficult parenting/relational moments.

Unfortunately it’s these stressful times or emotional swings that rob us of momentum. Perhaps we’ve followed our meal plan diligently all week and then Friday rolls around and we throw the plan completely out the window. Or maybe we make healthy food choices all day long until our favorite nightly sitcom airs and we overindulge.

Momentum—moving forward one step at a time—is key to successful long-term weight loss and nutritional health. Therefore, it’s critical to remember that “when” (not “if”) we aren’t perfect, we can still make better choices. A choice to tell ourselves that:

1. Perfection is not reality.

2. I forgive myself and will not dwell on the past.

3. I choose to move forward and try again.

4. I will make better food choices and avoid stress-related foods.

5. My fallback plan is to return to my Thrive meal plan for the very next meal or snack.

In fact, Thrive’s weekly meal plan is chockfull of foods that can impact our moods positively, helping to relieve tension, stabilize blood sugar and send stress packing. When stressed, some of the best food choices include dark leafy greens, turkey breast, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, blueberries, and more.

For a list of healthy foods to eat when stress or emotions rise to the surface, and a list of foods to avoid, check out this article by Dr. Mercola: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/04/27/10-stress-relieving-superfoods.aspx.

“When” do you experience stress or emotional eating? Do you find it to be around the same time of day or on a particular day of the week? Set aside time this week to listen to your inner voice. How do you feel after eating a Thrive meal? After eating takeout or skipping a meal?

Journal, meditate or pray about these thoughts. Practice listening to your thoughts without judgement.