Making Bad Food Choices Again?

We all have a pretty good idea of what foods are good for us and which foods aren't. While this is true in general, there isn't really such a thing as a "good" or "bad" food, per se. There are really only good and bad eating habits. These bad habits can be changed. 

Have you ever tried to uproot a tree with your bare hands? No? Why not? Is it because it's too hard? Well, using this logic, why would you try to change your eating habits overnight? These habits are just as entrenched as that tree. You can't change everything overnight, but small changes can make a big difference. 

Start small. It's much easier to make gradual changes. First you have to know where there is potential for improvement . Take three days to write down everything you eat and drink. Take a hard look at this list afterwards to see what you could change. From there, choose a bad habit to target and start to change it slowly. If you eat too little fruit, for example, start your day with fruit at breakfast. Keep at it until the habit is a part of your routine. Then move on to the next part of your list. 

Here are a few tips to help you start:

  • Fruit and vegetables should be on the menu at least five times a day. This is not only extremely healthy, keeps you from getting bored because there are so many different varieties.
  • Eat a varied diet. The body needs more than 40 different nutrients to stay healthy. There is no single food that has so many ingredients. Variety and balance are therefore important. Eat different things to ensure a balance. If you have a fatty meal for breakfast, eat low fat for the rest of the day, for example. 
  • Eat regularly: skipping snacks leads to hunger. Small snacks (like apples, bananas, etc.) help keep you from feeling starving.
  • Eat dinner early: there should be a period of at least four hours between dinner and bedtime. Thus, your sleep is not disrupted by digestion. If you do not eat carbohydrates at night, your body will switch to fat metabolism and metabolize fats while you sleep.
  • Drink a lot. Drink at least 1.5 liters per day, drinking more during physical activity or when it is hot.
  • Move more. This is not so much about sports, but movement in general. The human body is made to move, but the modern man no longer does. So skip elevator, walk even if it is all the way to the eighth floor, or take a walk in your lunch break.
  • Incidentally, there is no point in banishing individual foods forever. It isn't worth the torment. One large portion of ice cream a week won't hurt you. Changing your habits has more to deal with your daily routine and changing your impulses. Long term success depends on you!