5 Ways to Change Your Eating Habits

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Having trouble getting out of the cycle of eating processed or unhealthy food? Try on these tips.

1) Find recipes - Look for good recipes online or in cookbooks (no, not on the back of a Hamburger Helper box) and buy several meals worth of food next time you shop.

2) Shop at the Farmers Market - Unless you already shop there, many people aren't even aware they live near a farmers market. There are a ton of great benefits:

• You will find "real food" much more easily.
  
• You will instantly become a better chef. Seriously. Using real, fresh ingredients immediately improves the taste of your meals.
  
• You will be supporting local producers and reducing your food footprint.
  
• You will be forced to cook the recipes you selected. Because the food you buy at the market won't have additives or preservatives, it spoils relatively easily.

3) Real Ingredients - Forget the nutritional facts, read up on what your food is made of. Aim for 5 ingredients or less and/or make sure they are whole foods. Stay away from those that sounds like chemicals.

4) Purge the Bad Stuff - It's easy to avoid eating processed food when there isn't any in your house.

5) No Exceptions - Commit to cooking your own food for at least several days in a row. Bring lunch with you. Making exceptions here and there is a slippery slope. Don't allow yourself to buy any food not part of your preselected recipes.

Although your own mileage may vary, I've found that making a drastic change overnight is more successful than trying to slowly incorporate changes in your eating habits. It leaves less room for excuses.