5 Ways to Simplify Your Eating Habits

We have been introduced to more diets and types of eating than we can count on both hands in our lifetime. It seems as if there is a new fad to learn about every few months and explore if it's "the one" for us. The truth is, though, these diets set us up for failure, and that's precisely why they never pan out the way we hope.  

There's a silver lining, though -- it's actually way more simple than we are making it. The results we're looking for come when we simplify our eating habits and focus on fueling our bodies with nutrient-dense foods that make us feel good.  

Here are five tips for simplifying your eating habits: 

Eat more raw, whole foods.

Eating more food in its most natural state is a great way to cut some time and stress from our mealtimes. For example, grab a piece of fruit on the way out the door instead of breakfast from the coffee shop. Add some fresh veggies as a side at lunch instead of packing chips. Toss everything in a bowl to create a big salad for dinner instead of a complicated recipe or take-out.

Look for simple ingredient lists.

There's a reason the Whole30 diet gained so much popularity, and it's because it really opened our eyes to how many chemicals, additives, and fillers we eat each day. Put an emphasis on reading labels and choosing foods that only include ingredients we know (and can pronounce). This is a simple way to make better choices at the grocery store. 

Figure out your staples.

Everyone has staple foods and favorite meals. By identifying what we love to eat, it's easier to keep those healthy items in the rotation, either as snacks, pantry items, or meals that we plan each week.

Reevaluate how you're supplementing.

You may have a protein shake every day, without fail. But do you really enjoy it? It probably has just become a habit. That protein powder likely has many ingredients that can be good, but equally as many that aren't so great. Perhaps you'd actually rather eat your protein each day because a well-rounded dinner is way more fulfilling than a shake on the go. Check in with your habits and decide what works best for your life.

It's not what we do once - it's what we do once a day - day in and day out - every day that brings lasting change into our lives.

Declare an end to the day.

By choosing a specific time each day when we know dinner is over, we allow our body time to digest everything that we have enjoyed before heading to bed. This allows us to sleep better and also keeps us from gaining unnecessary weight. It also limits things like acid reflux flare-ups.

I have found that these habits begin to come naturally after practicing them for a couple of weeks. It may take a few more minutes to prep raw food or check labels while shopping, but once you get into the swing of things, you'll be saving yourself time overall by paring down and simplifying as much as possible.

How to turn your new healthy habits into a lifetime of health and wellness.

A few things you may want to take advantage of is my seasonal signature program, Spring 5 Day Detox for Beginners.  Spring is a good time to lighten up, let go of what feels heavy, and emerge feeling fresh and new.  This detox is now available.  

I have something special for you.  I'm offering an exciting and transformational session to help you map out your wellness goals and make them a reality.  You'll want to take advantage of this.  Feel out the contact form letting me know of your interest and questions.

Share, Share, Share!

In health and happiness, Teri Sewell Huff
Holistic Health Coach and Culinary Nutrition Educator
terisewell@gmail.com
www.luvyourhealthylife.com
IG - @terishealthyways

Adding More Greens

 

When it comes to vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, leafy greens are hard to beat.  But if you get stuck on what to buy and always end up grabbing spinach on the way through the produce section, I'm here to share some other favorite green veggies to spark inspiration. 

Broccoli Raab: You can eat the whole plant. Blanche and sauté in olive oil for the most flavor. Top with some freshly squeezed lemon and your favorite herbs.

Kale: You can eat the whole plant, but the stalks can be woody. For the most tender bite, massage the leaves with a drizzle of oil to break them down. Then, add a squeeze of lemon.

Collard Greens: Separate the stalks from leaves, coarsely chop the leaves, and sauté in oil. Then, slightly squeeze moisture from them.

Swiss Chard: Discard the bottom inch of the stem, then chop the rest of the plant. Add the steamed leaves to omelets, quiche, or a frittata.

Other leafy greens worth looking into include dandelion greens, beet greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens.

Aim for one serving a day, and as you get more comfortable incorporating them, you can up the serving size.

Yours in Healthy Nutrition,

Teri

Are kale chips healthy?

Kale chips are loaded with powerful antioxidants.  It's an excellent source of vitamin C and K.  It can help lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.  It is low calorie but will make you feel full.

Your Plant Based Kitchen Coach, Teri :~))

Weekend Rituals that Kick Your Week Off

 Do the weekends feel like they go by in a blink of an eye to you? 

You get home from work Friday evening, then Saturday rolls around, and you want to enjoy your one primary "weekend day," so you make your weekend plans for Saturdays. By the time Sunday comes, it's time to start getting ready to start the week again, and you're in errands mode. Grocery shopping, tidying the house, doing laundry, meal prepping -- and before you know it, your weekend has ended.  

But what if I told you that it's possible to not only enjoy your weekend but also feel like you're beginning your workweek on the right foot? I set out to make this a goal in my own life, as I thought the weekends flew by too quickly, and I never quite had a grasp on time or my responsibilities well. 

I like to call these weekend rituals because it implies that it's a habit. And I genuinely believe finding your own personal weekend rituals and making them a routine will help you tremendously to feel on top of things and enjoy every moment of your weekends! 

Here are some weekend rituals to help you slow down and savor: 

Make yourself a priority.

Have a running list of things that help you feel pampered and relaxed. Choose at least one of these self-care practices to do each day of your weekend. For example, Friday night, enjoy a bath with a book you're reading. Prioritize a long walk on Saturday. Make plans to see a friend on Sunday for lunch or coffee. These seem simple enough, but prioritizing adding one thing that nourishes you to your schedule each day on the weekend will help rejuvenate you and fill your cup. 

Put health first.

Whatever this means for you, prioritize your health on the weekends. This could look like enjoying a longer workout that you may not have time for during the workweek, getting outside for some sunshine each day, or even pre-planning your workouts for the week ahead.  

Get organized.

Whatever your main workweek issues tend to be, start here. That means, if your inbox gets overwhelming during the week, give it a quick once over on Sunday before you start your week again. If you struggle to feel confident in your wardrobe, spend some time choosing new and unique outfits for the week.

Make a detailed to-do list if you get to the end of the week and feel like you didn't accomplish much. And, of course, planning your meals for the week will help set you up for success so you can eat nourishing meals all week long. 

When you start incorporating more of these actions, you'll begin to feel a greater sense of purpose and peace. The goal is to be intentional with your time so that you can also spend some of the days doing absolutely nothing. After a few weeks, this becomes a habit, and now your Sundays have a slight structure that will help you enjoy them even more.

What do you think? I’d love your take on this in the comments below.

Teri ;~))

Adding in Fresh Herbs

One effortless way to add nutrients and flavor to your meals is by using fresh herbs. Even better, these are so simple to grow at home on your windowsill or your balcony for an abundance of fresh herbs you'll be able to share with your neighbors. These are so easy to grow, and the herbs last all season long, adding fresh flavor to your favorite dishes. 

You can also dehydrate and dry your extra herbs to create your own seasoning blends or freeze them in ice cube trays with olive oil to use in your recipes. 

Some popular and easy-to-grow herbs include basil, cilantro, parsley, and rosemary. 

I don't know about you but herbs have been an amazing way to create yummy dishes. What do you think?

Look Good, Feel Great Wellness Consultation

If you're ready to make some changes that stick.  I have something really special for you.  I'm offering an exciting and transformational session to help you map out your goals for health and make them a reality.  This (60-90 minute, whichever you feel is best for your style) Look Good, Feel Great Wellness Session is sure to help you dive deeper and see what needs some refreshing in your life.

I have a few spots available every week, who wants one?  Fill out the form and I will reach out to you.  Click Here  

In Health and Happiness,

Teri Sewell Huff, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Culinary Nutrition Educator