March is National Nutrition Month and we want to know what makes you healthy! Studies have shown repeatedly that your best health starts in the kitchen and we agree that is definitely the case! But if you’re having some trouble getting started, we’re here to help!
Find what you love!
Look, some people are just not made to eat kale. But there are other healthy alternatives like collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, swiss chard, spinach, and that’s just to name a few! The truth is that everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to their nutrition preferences, and so it’s important to find what you love. We want you to look for long-term health changes, not short-term health fads!
Expect the unexpected!
You’ll be amazed at the kind of things that you’ll find delicious once you start eating healthy! You might find yourself trying things you never thought you’d try, and even stop craving unhealthy things you used to love. Set a goal to be vulnerable and try something new and healthy every day!
There’s an app for that
Looking to track your food? There’s probably an app for that! Sites like Supercook.com can help you figure out what meals to make from what you already have in your pantry. Apps like MyFitnessPal and LoseIt! allow you to track your food and even put in your preferred goals of how much protein, fats, or other macronutrients you want to be tracking!
Get the whole family (and friends) involved!
It can definitely be hard to keep the momentum going, but getting your social circles involved is a great way to keep meeting your nutrition goals! If you’re a fan of cooking, you can invite all your family and friends over once a week to cook for them. Not a fan of cooking? Try a health-centered potluck and create health themes! Have your kids or your partner help you create meal plans for the week, or make them up with your friends. You can even have a cook-off with your friends each night and send photos to see who made it better!
Don’t give up, ask for help!
It can definitely be hard to ask for help around food. You may think “Why do I need to ask to eat healthy when so many other people do it naturally?” It’s not your fault though, so many of us have bad health habits that have been trained in our brains for so long that we have to work to break them. Don't be discouraged if you have a bad day (or three!) Just remember that tomorrow is another day, another chance to practice healthy nutrition, and another day to unlearn a lifetime of bad habits!
Sitting down with someone for an empathetic nutrition consult will help go over where you can make better food choices, and also can help you understand what habits you may need to be breaking. It’s time to take charge of your health in a holistic way, so call 703.291.6677 and set up a nutrition consult with Dr. Ben.
