Finding a balance between healthy foods and delicious snacks shouldn’t become a sacrifice. Here are some ways to create a balanced and satisfying diet.
While it may feel hard to turn down your favorite red velvet cupcakes, you also don’t hate the idea of eating a chopped salad either. So, it’s necessary to find different ways to create a balanced and satisfying diet that won’t cause you to crash and help you achieve your health goals.
Eat Foods That Your Enjoy
Your meals don’t have to become a formulaic chicken, broccoli, and rice dish. So, one of the easiest ways to create a balanced and satisfying diet is through discovering and using your favorite foods.
If you enjoy salty-crunchy foods, make a spicy chicken dip with cucumbers or bell peppers for a pop of sweetness. Try dark chocolate drizzled popcorn for a light and satisfying snack if you love sweet and salty combinations.
Don’t Overly Restrict Yourself
Eating bland salads for every meal will lower morale and motivation, increasing the risk of binging on sweet treats or salty snacks. So, it’s necessary to find the right balance between eating healthier meals and not cutting out everything.
Eating isn’t just about satisfying your health goals; it’s also about satisfying the soul. So, a great tip is to track what you eat throughout the day and make room for a couple of chocolate chip cookies or a handful of caramel squares in your meal plan. You’ll allow yourself to have your favorite treats without worrying about going overboard.
Set Realistic Standards
Everyone changes their lifestyles and habits to meet the specific goals they set for themselves. However, if you set your goals too high, you’re more likely to crash and end up frustrated. Results take time and don’t happen overnight, so instead of shooting for losing 20 pounds in two weeks by eating only chicken and broccoli, aim for losing 5 pounds in a month by eating fiber and protein-rich foods.
Setting small goals will help toward the larger goal you’ve set yourself, creating milestones along the way. Additionally, have small rewards for yourself every time you achieve your small goals, keeping your motivation and satisfaction high.
Eat Plenty of Protein and Fiber
They are essential for keeping your cravings low and feeling full for an extended period. Try to incorporate at least one kind of protein in every meal, whether it’s a chicken breast or tofu.
Experiment with different ways to cook a chicken breast, as having grilled chicken every night can become tiresome. Foods’s high in protein and fiber take longer to break down in the stomach and help repair muscle fibers after a long workout. Try out eggs, poultry, and lean meats, while adding fruits, veggies, and nuts for fiber. Just make sure to wash your food properly to avoid E. coli, and review the right foods to eat when sick with E. coli.
Meal Prep as Much As You Can
After coming home from a long day, you have little to no energy to cook for yourself. In these scenarios, you probably rely on takeout meals or going to a drive-thru. However, you can save money and eat healthier by meal prepping ahead of time.
You can set aside weekends to prepare a week’s worth of meals and snacks that taste great. You’ll have a smaller chance of ordering from your favorite restaurant, and instead, you’ll eat food that you made yourself.
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