Are your food choices educated?
Who dictates what you eat? When I ask people this, I get all sorts of responses: “TV commercials”, “family”, “colleagues” – the list is endless! Before the blame game begins, I ask the question again and second time around, it usually hits home.
YOU are responsible for the food you eat. You have the ability to make empowered decisions about the food you put in your body. You have choices.
Now ask yourself these questions:
- How are my junk food vices benefitting me?
- How can I replace these items with equally delicious, yet nurturing foods?
- How will my life change when I remove junk food?
Many people turn to junk food when they are stressed and looking for a quick energy boost. What they really need is a well-rounded meal comprised of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to nurture their bodies and provide slow-burning energy.
It may sound counterintuitive, but adding in MORE real food could be your saving grace. When you place a strong emphasis on real food, there’s little room left for empty calories. This concept is called Crowding Out.
Let’s do some Crowding Out today – replace one junk food snack with real food:
- Apples, oranges, and bananas are great on-the-go snacks. Feel free to have two if one leaves you hungry.
- Homemade trail mix of almonds, raisins, chia seeds, pecans, and dried blueberries.
- Greek yogurt parfait layered with sliced fruit and granola.
A few tips to ensure you won’t end up overeating junk food:
- Always eat breakfast. Include protein to stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings.
- Make sure that you are getting a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats at every meal and/or snack.
- Get enough sleep! Our hunger cues are thrown off track when we aren’t sleeping enough. Sleep balances leptin and ghrelin, the hormones that tell us when to start and stop eating.
See you again tomorrow!