Creating a Diet Plan – Where to Start?

With work, family and social obligations, finding time to construct a solid diet plan that can fit seamlessly into your lifestyle may feel like an onerous task. Here are some tips to help you improve your dietary choices that will eventually become a regular part of your daily life!

Plan Ahead for Success

Planning for the week keeps you organized and on track. Decide on a week’s worth of healthy meals and create a list for the items that you need. Not only will you save money, but you will be much less likely to spend on impulse purchases. Stay focused on what you need for the well-balanced meals you are going to prepare. Shopping weekly with a detailed list will also save you from the need to make countless trips to the market for forgotten items.

Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach

Shopping while hungry can create an urgency that may lead to poor choices; the temptation to buy “convenient” processed foods may be overwhelming when your stomach is growling. Studies have shown that shopping on an empty stomach makes a person more likely to buy high-calorie foods.

Shop the Perimeter

The perimeter of the grocery store is where most fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables are located. Fill your cart with “real” foods in every color of the rainbow. If you select items that are nature-made in yellows, greens, reds and blues, you most likely have a health-filled shopping cart to make a multitude of meals with! Avoid the center aisles where the shelves are stocked with processed junk foods.

Watch the Labels

Reading food labels can help you make healthy, informed choices about what you are eating. Labels are an important source of information about the nutritional value of a given food item. Paying attention to food labels can help you find items that are higher in fiber, protein and vitamins and help you avoid those that are high in sugar and sodium.

Drink More Water

Every cell in our bodies needs water to perform optimally. Be sure that you are drinking plenty of it. Additionally, replacing sodas, flavored teas and sugary juices with water can greatly reduce your daily caloric intake.

With some simple, thoughtful planning, you can make long-term dietary changes that will nourish your body and mind. Get yourself on a sustainable steady path to wellness today!