More simple tips to help encourage you as you maintain your health!
Five weeks. Five posts. Five healthy habits.
#4 – Refuel {Good Food}
“One should eat to live, not live to eat.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
Last week I talked about the importance of rest, and right along these same lines is the importance of how we refuel our bodies. What we choose to eat will either influence our bodies in a positive or a negative way. The food we put into our bodies affects the way we feel and affects our energy levels. Always.
I’m a proponent of balance when it comes to eating choices. I believe in moderation versus limitations. You don’t need a list of all the things you shouldn’t be eating, but rather an emphasis that the majority of your food choices should fall into a “healthier” category. A healthier category meaning, natural, un-processed, food that has a minimal number of ingredients.
For example, look at the ingredient list on an apple. There isn’t one. An apple is a natural food choice that will benefit your body in a multitude of ways.
You need energy to manage your life and maintain your health. By consuming quality foods, you will be better prepared to face your days.
Try to daily focus on making the best food choices you can in an effort to maximize your energy levels and minimize your stress levels.
How do you make refueling with good food a reality?
- Plan your meals in advance, via menu planning.
- Pack snacks to keep your hunger at bay.
- Purposefully shop for your groceries with a health conscious mindset.
KISS – Refuel with the best food options available….your energy levels will thank you!
Alison @ Get Your Pretty On says
May 14, 2014 at 6:59 pmGreat tips! I love pre-planning. It really makes all of the difference! When I’m counting calories or trying to eat healthier, I actually put my entries in my food journal in advance of eating so I will stick to the healthy choice! it’s much harder to go back and change it after the fact.
Morgan says
May 14, 2014 at 7:52 pmI love that you plan your entries ahead in your food journal – so smart!!! That is true accountability!
Emily @ My Love for Words says
May 15, 2014 at 3:18 amI agree. We’ve really made an effort to improve our eating habits this year, and we’re doing a good job overall, but exhaustion got to me today so we ordered pizza. I regret it… less because of guilt (though there is some of that) and more because I just physically feel bad now. I’m amazed at how much better I feel just from eating good, whole foods and how bad I can feel after eating something that I used to eat regularly.
Morgan says
May 15, 2014 at 6:05 amThanks for sharing Emily! That is great that you have made an effort to improve your eating habits this year and that you can tell a difference. 🙂
mila bassett@mila's milieu says
May 15, 2014 at 7:06 pmMorgan, you have said it perfectly: moderation versus limitation! Brilliant! Kids should be told what is healthy and good for them and what isn’t. Adults should not have a list of “no” foods, but should be able to make a conscious and informed choice about healthy eating. I also believe moderation and right balance are key. Planning in advance is 90% of getting there, and also, stocking your pantry and fridge with food that can be thrown together in minutes with minimum effort. For me that (almost) eliminated the need in take-outs or commercial freezer meals.