So, you have set yourself the goal of eating healthier this year, but where do you begin? There is so much information out there in internet land that it can seem overwhelming and you just don’t know what to do first. I thought I would break it down for you and give you some tips on how you can start eating healthier this year.
These are all tips that I followed myself when I started out on my journey to lose 100lbs and making one small change at a time is what helped me to stay focused.
How To Start Eating Healthy
Here are my tips on how to be kinder to your body by fuelling it will healthier food.
Eat More Fruit And Vegetables – This might be one of the easier things you can do to be healthier, as it doesn’t involve necessarily eating anything different, just adding more fruit and vegetables to the things you already do eat. All those extra vitamins are going to make you feel so much better and those vegetables will keep you fuller for longer.
Even if you are not a huge vegetable fan, there are still ways that you can sneak them in to your diet like making green smoothies or hidden vegetable pasta sauce.
Sign Up For a Vegetable Delivery Box – Following on from the above, start getting a fruit and vegetable box delivered every week to encourage you to not only eat more fruit and vegetables, but different ones too.
The key to a healthy life is variety, which stops you from getting bored. Getting something new in your veg box every week will force you to be creative and you might discover a new favourite healthy meal.
Focus on all the things you can eat, not the things you shouldn’t eat very often – When you make the decision to eat healthier, I am sure the main thoughts that fill your head are all the things that you can’t eat as often any more. Notice that I didn’t say the things you can’t it, as nothing is off the menu, it’s just about balancing it out.
But don’t focus on those things, just direct your attention to all the new delicious things you will be eating. Lots of colour, meals that keep you fuller for longer and food that is going to give you energy.
Simple Carb Swaps – No one is telling you to ditch the carbs, or at least they shouldn’t be, as they should be included in a healthy balanced diet. But, there are some carbs that are better choices than others. Look at getting carbs from fruit and vegetables and switch to brown rice instead of white and eat plenty of whole grains.
Cut Back on Liquid Calories – Since tracking my eating and drinking again from joining Weight Watchers, I have really noticed that those liquid calories really add up. A latte here, an orange juice there, and a few G&Ts here and there can really add up the calories.
So, I am trying to swap most of them out for just water which is also helping me to stay more hydrated. Not a fan of water? Try adding some slices of lemon or lime to it to jazz it up a bit.
Read The Labels – Don’t just focus on the calories and points in what you are eating, focus on the ingredients too. Try to stick to products that have least amount of ingredients and the least artificial ingredients possible.
Have a Balanced Plate – Try to include some protein, carbs and healthy fat with every meal.
Take Lunch To Work With You – Those sandwiches at Pret every day or a quick trip to McDonalds can be tempting, but not only does the money add up, so do the calories. This year, make the change to taking your lunch to work with you most days and see if your energy levels are any better come mid-afternoon.
Smart Snacking – If the mid-afternoon slump still hits and you are used to reaching for the cookie jar to perk you up, try swapping the sugary treats for fruit, nuts and seeds for a more natural boost. Your energy levels will be much better for it.
Watch Your Portions – When you start tracking your food, you might be surprised that you have been eating double the portions you should have been. Try getting new plates that are smaller, so you still have a full plate, but the portion is less because of the smaller plate.
It will take your body a little while to get used to the smaller portions, but as long as you are eating enough you won’t go hungry, it’s just your brain getting used to it.
Change Your Cooking Methods – If you are used to frying most of your meals, try baking and grilling instead. If you are still going to fry, use non-stick pans or spray oil for a healthier way of cooking.
Plan – On a Sunday night, or whatever night is best for you, sit down and plan your meals for the week. Look at your favourite food blogs, Pinterest, the Weight Watchers website, cook books and food magazines for inspiration.
Having all your meals and snacks planned out can make it much easier to stay on track and not just grab something unhealthy because you didn’t have anything else planned. You could also try doing a bit of food prep once a week too.
Serve Sauces On The Side – Do you take 10 minutes adding sauces and dressings to your meal whilst everyone else is nearly finished? Those sauces are packed full of calories and they end up overpowering the whole dish.
Serve them in a little dish on the side and dip your fork in to them before using the fork to pick up your food. That way you get a little taste of it without too many extra calories.
Take Part in Meatless Monday – You don’t have to be a vegetarian to get the benefits of vegetarian eating. Make the effort to take part in Meatless Monday and fill your Mondays with delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Doing this will get you to be more creative and naturally add more vegetables to your meals.
Switch and Swap – A few smart swaps can make your favourite meals that little bit lighter.
- Swap mayo for Greek yoghurt on a sandwich
- Use mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potato
- Swap half of your spaghetti for courgette noodles
- Love potato fries? Try making carrot fries and dipping them in homemade BBQ sauce
- Blended frozen banana slices is an incredible ice cream substitute
- If you have a pizza craving, add all your favourite pizza toppings to a Portobello mushroom to skip the bready base. It’s all about the toppings anyway!
- When it comes to burger night, ditch the bun and use a giant lettuce leaf to wrap around the burger instead. This works for tacos too!
- Thinly sliced courgette can replace pasta sheets in a lasagna
- Avocado blended with some cocoa powder, banana and a little milk is an incredible chocolate dessert full of healthy fats
- Banana, eggs and peanut butter make a lighter flourless pancake
- Naturally sweeten cakes and cookies with dates
Being healthy doesn’t mean totally depriving yourself and that is something that Weight Watchers prides itself on. You don’t have to cut out your favourite foods completely, just make some small healthier changes, watch your portions and focus on balance and you will still enjoy food whilst being a healthier and happier you. This is a healthy lifestyle, not a diet!
Let’s stay in touch!
You can find me on Facebook at Hungry Healthy Happy, on Instagram at @hungryhealthyhappy, on Twitter at @HHH_Dannii or on Pinterest at hhhdannii or you can subscribe via email.
Lauren Deegan
Great article. I was really thankful for the part about packing lunches and smart snacks. Because for me I think it's always at work where I seem to get off of eating healthy. I think I will pass this along to some co-workers as well since most of them too have the same problem as me while at work.
Dannii
You should have a day once a week where you all bring something in and share lunch. Everyone might learn a new lunch recipe.
Paolo U
While I know that eating fruits is good for the body, I tend to forgot buying fruits whenever I am at the market. This post serves as a good reminder of what should I have bought.
Dannii
I try and have fruit with breakfast every morning.
Rach @ This Italian Family
I love your switch & swap section! That could be a post on it's own! All of these tips are great! :)
Rach @ This Italian Family
I should clarify: I didn't mean that it SHOULD be a post on it's own and that you shouldn't have included it here. But just that it's such helpful information that I could easily see it being a stand-alone post. You probably knew how I meant this, but I wanted to clarify just in case. :)
Dannii
Haha, I know what you mean. Maybe I should do a separate post for it :)
Simone | In Simone's Kitchen
Some great tips. Like most people I've been meaning to eat more healthy this year or at least more consistently. I have my good moments but I find that especially on busy days I tend to revert back to bad habits...
Dannii
Consistency really is the hard part.
Vineetha @ Mint and Mimosas
Great tips Dannii!! Great timing with the start of new year resolutions :)
Dannii
I am glad they helped :)
Sally Akins
There's some really good advice in this post - the comment about following a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet is spot on!
Dannii
It's the best way to stick at it I think!
Debs
Thanks Danni - I've been following you with some time...I've tried to get into the healthy eating on numerous occasions (and have enjoyed some of your recipes!) but I lacked the motivation to stick with it.. I've joined Weight Watchers since the start of January and I am loving it! I'm making far better choices and it is allowing me to have the freedom to choose which is great.
Im loving your little tips - I also like focusing on what I can eat :). Thanks
Dannii
I think that is what I love about WW, it's the freedom and nothing is off limits, you just point it all.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
Dannii, I love everything that you've said here! esp: focus on all the things you can eat, not the things you shouldn’t eat very often!! I love this! I can't wait to read what you'll be sharing!!! different ways that you can be kinder to yourself, including food, exercise and positive body image, that's all so important!!!
Dannii
It's all about being kind to our bodies Alice!
Ashley
These are fantastic tips Dannii!! Always packing my lunch, planning and eating lots of fruits and veggies are the big ones for me that help me stay on track!!
Dannii
You can save so much money by packing your own lunch too, can't you.
Anna
this is super informative post Danni! I am trying to eat healthy and i am the one who eat at pret and maccie upss!
Dannii
Try packing your own lunch - it's much healthier, not to mention cheaper.
Petra / Be Healthy Now
Some great tips here Dannii! I haven't made mashed cauliflower before so definitely need to try this but how do you make it more tasty?
Dannii
I add some butter and herbs too it. Yum!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
You always have great tips that I've never thought of before when you do these kinds of posts, Dannii. I love your chocolate avocado dessert idea! :-)
Dannii
Thanks Helen. That dessert is amazing - I might make some this weekend.
Anna @AnnaTheApple
Planning I think is so important. Personally for me I'd rather spend a bit longer planning and organising to make sure I have enjoyable healthy foods rather than panic last minute in a peak of OMG I'M SO HUNGRY AND NEED ANY SOURCE OF FOOD NOW. It also saves so much money to pre-prepare your own snacks and lunches. At the weekend I'm far more relaxed as I have more time, but in the week it's a lifesaver (and bank account saver!).
Dannii
I totally agree. Also, I love knowing what meals I have coming, so that I can look forward to them.
Fashion and Style Police
Great tips here Dannii. Thanks for sharing them.
Dannii
You are very welcome!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Loving these tips, Dannii! I pretty much follow all of them, but I have been meaning to sign up for the veggie box delivery. My favorite tip is the carb swap - I LIVE for swapping out carbs. Love that it forces you to be creative, which normally turns something into a fun and delicious dish. Cheers, doll - to a fantastic weekend! <3
Dannii
Creativity can also cause some disasters, but that's part of the fun, right?!
Jackie
Fab tip about the salad dressing. I have tried the non creamy dressings, but I just don't like them. Maybe this will help.
Dannii
It's a good way to cut back on the calories in salad dressings.
Olivia
That weight watchers video made me cry. It's really made me realise that I spend so much time making sure that everyone else is okay, and I neglect myself.
Thanks for sharing Dannii xx
Dannii
Time to start focusing on looking after yourself a bit more I think!