If you want better eating habits, the first step is to simplify your approach. There’s no need to overhaul your diet all at once--you don’t have to go gluten-free, low carb/high fat or vegan right now. Instead, consider changing how you eat before you try to change what you eat.
Here are three ways to lay a foundation for a better diet, without having to buy wheat grass.
- Before you eat anything, ask yourself: am I hungry? Am I truly, physically, in need of food? If the answer is ‘yes,’ move on to the next question: ‘how will what I am about to eat make me feel?’ Don’t think about the first five seconds that you spend tasting your food; think about twenty minutes from now when your body will start to register the physical effects of what you’ve eaten. Will the food or drink you've chosen leave you satisfied, or still hungry? Will you feel sluggish, or wired? Keep track of what you choose and when; your mind will start to register any patterns you notice.
- Take an inventory of the most joyful and the most peaceful parts of your day. Do you have fewer than you desire? Is food a crucial part of those moments? Food might be filling a void where other, more fulfilling pursuits are missing. Start to ask yourself if food is standing in for something (or someone) else. Perhaps you crave more intellectual stimulation, emotional connection, physical activity, sunshine and fresh air, or creative expression. This is difficult mental terrain to explore, but this was a radical eye-opener when I started to ask myself (and honestly answer) these questions.
- How do you experience your food? Do you regularly rush through your meals, or eat on the go? Do you graze constantly? Do you only eat once a day? Become aware of your patterns. It is through awareness that we begin to change.
Once you have been mindful of these questions for a few weeks, you will have an idea of where to begin to focus your efforts for healthier eating. Chances are, you know what healthier nutrition choices look like for you. Take time to discover what kinder nutrition choices would look like as well.