Searching for the Benefits of Healthy Eating will result in 4.5 million results in less than a second. That is a lot of information to absorb. There are a few things that we have heard throughout the years: An apple a day keeps the doctor away, don’t play with your food. I am sure you could name a couple more.
If y’all have read my newsletter this past weekend, you’ll know I’ve been having a hard time getting back to my health routine since my big move. I’ve decided to take it ONE. STEP. AT. A. TIME!
My first step towards regaining my health routine is meal prep! If I don’t watch what I put into my body, then the rest is useless. Some of my favorite meal prep recipes to date are Salad in a Jar 101, Quick & Easy Zuppa Toscana (Whole 30), and Instant Pot Lemon Herb Chicken! These are simple and wholesome enough to have in stock in your freezer for the crazy times (which is basically every day).
And while I am sure that an apple does keep the dental doctor away, I know for a fact that you SHOULD play with your food. This is essential when learning the benefits of healthy eating and playing with your food enables you to enjoy the ability to gain your healthy!
Benefits of Playing with Your Food!
Think of it. Catch your own fish (fun). Grow your own fruits and vegetables (fun). Use a spiralizer to make curly fries, or make your own zucchini noodles? VERY FUN!
The benefits of healthy eating start by developing how you deal with edibles. They expand your relationship with food so the moments of eating are not only sitting at the table gobbling it down, but you are valuing the hard work that went into preparing your meal.
Benefits of Understanding Your Relationship with Food!
The first part of the benefits of healthy eating is knowing this is a relationship and knowing how your body will respond. For some whom normally ‘eat right’ and have just lost their way, your body will crave the crunchy juice of a freshly cut cucumber just as easily as it did the crunch of chips. Your body will tell you what it wants and needs.
This may mean making chicken when you do not normally or drinking more water. Either way, learning to listen to your body when it is telling what it wants is the first stages of your body accepting the benefits of healthy eating.
For others, the benefits of healthy eating may come a bit tougher. Making the transition should be done slowly over the course of a week or two. Start with increasing your water intake, then work on the food. I suggest this because many of our fruits or veggies are water-based. Starting with water will help your body start to flush out fat cells and crave the good stuff! This will also help you be ready for when the stressful/hard times come.
Benefits of Healthy Eating (Again!)
Life is HARD. Tough times may always be on the horizon and how you deal with or get through them can be helped by eating right. When tough times happen, eating right will come naturally. It will also improve your body’s ability to cope with stress, maintain a decent sleep pattern and remain healthy as we age.
The benefits of healthy eating go beyond stress and eating right, but are designed to connect us with what nature has already decided is good for us to eat. It is about extending our lives, improving how our children eat and understanding that the most benefits we will receive from healthy eating begin with the first step!