I know that when the ball drops at 12:01 on January 1 we are all making a list of New Years resolutions. One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions is to eat healthier. The New Year serves as a great time to make big changes in one’s life, and there are so many people interested in doing the same thing.
While many people want to make healthier choices in their eating habits, they can sometimes take it a bit too far. Fad diets and really strict dieting plans can actually be extremely harmful and have the opposite effects than what they were intending.
Where to Start?
Here are a few things to focus on as you get further into your healthier lifestyle:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are a crucial part in a healthy diet and can often make delicious substitutions for junk foods we tend to gravitate towards. Those that like to buy in bulk and are afraid they’ll waste fresh fruits and veggies might try freezing these items to prolong their use or to try canned or dried options as they can be just as good! When purchasing canned or dried options please read the label for added sugars.
- Pay attention to the ingredients
Even “healthy” foods can be misleading in what they actually contain. We recommend paying close attention to the actual ingredients in grocery store foods – a good rule of thumb is that you should be able to pronounce the ingredients.
- Cut back on sugar
Food or drinks with lots of high fructose corn sugar that can wreak havoc on a healthy diet. While natural sugars can be a good thing, having too much can encourage weight gain. One of the first things you can do to cut back on sugar is to reduce your soda intake. I lost 10# cutting Coke out of my diet!!
- Drink enough water
Most people don’t prioritize the amount of water they consume in a day, which can have a great impact on your healthy eating. The recommended amount for most people is to have around 6 to 8 glasses in a day, although this should increase with activity level. If you struggle with drinking enough water, try writing on a reusable water bottle different times of the day so that it can act as a reminder to where you should be.
Healthy Recipe Ideas
Making healthier choices doesn’t necessarily mean you have to eat tasteless food and dread mealtimes. In fact, there are tons of healthy recipes out there that even the pickiest of eaters will love. To find exactly what works for you, we recommend trying out different things until you find what fits your lifestyle and tastes! Here are some of our favorites here at Circle B Ranch:
- Easy Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Sweet Italian Sausage
- Baked Pork Chops
- Zucchini Noodle, Tomato, & Avocado Salad
- Pork Chops in Lemon-Caper Sauce
- Butternut Squash Noodles with Sausage
- Italian Sausage and Cabbage Soup
- Beef with Peppers
Almost everything is good as long as it’s in moderation! The best way to take charge of your health is to really pay attention to what makes your body feel good. Constantly cutting back and not allowing yourself some of your favorite foods is a great way to start resenting healthy eating and ultimately lose any inspiration for making good changes in the first place. My rule for myself is enjoy all the foods you like with moderation. Don’t deny yourself everything since that will cause cravings and you will fall off the bandwagon!!
You can still enjoy desserts too! Check out some of our healthy takes on some classic desserts:
Some Simple Tips to Help With Healthy Eating
Some tips include eating from a smaller plate, taking vitamins and relevant supplements for your diet, and even shopping on a full stomach! Making sure you get plenty of sleep, stay active, and have a good way of keeping your motivation are also important in making sure you don’t lose your healthy decisions momentum. Another tip I find helpful is eating a yogurt before you go out for dinner. I find that it really help curb your appetite.
Bring it Back to the Basics
While you’re making the switch to a healthier lifestyle, start taking a look at where your food is coming from. Here at Circle B Ranch, our pork is raised naturally and humanely all right here in the United Stated. Our hogs are never get any added hormones or unnecessary antibiotics, making for a redder and more succulent pork product than others on the market! We truly pride ourselves in offering delicious, natural, and handmade products from our kitchen to yours.
We are extremely passionate about healthy eating, and it all begins with a simple decision – to take ahold of your life again! Eating delicious food doesn’t have to be a regretful choice afterwards as long as you pay attention to what you’re putting into your body. If you are ever looking for new, healthy recipes to try out, we encourage you to check out our website blog that houses tons of ideas we’ve personally tried and recommend! Using great, natural ingredients, you will be off to a healthy life again in no time.
So enjoy your journey to healthy eating because “eating healthy is good for you!!”