Food! Everyone loves food.  It not only tastes good but it’s also good for our body as it is the driver of your day.  Food provides you with carbohydrates, nutrients, and many more things so your body can turn it into fuel to help you successfully get through the day.  However, your biggest pleasure in food may also be your greatest weakness.  

The term “you are what you eat” has been a classic saying for years on end.  It’s something parents would tell their kids to indirectly convince them to eat better and/or choose healthier food choices.  And like most parents, still to this day, they are right.

Food and nutrition is so important for keeping your body young, active and healthy.  In today’s world where every food choice seems to be processed, deep fried, covered in sugar, or battered with bread or cheese (especially living in Wisconsin), it’s hard to differ good from bad and right from wrong.  It’s especially difficult to flip or change your eating habits after so many years of doing the same thing or even trying to choose healthy food options while on a budget (because it’s so fun being a broke college student).  

Many people are caught up in these dieting programs or are just completely lost on where to start when looking to begin a healthier lifestyle.  Well, here’s how to make it super simple: eat less calories than you burn on a daily basis. That simple. Less in, more out. I know what you’re probably thinking… okay Ashley, but how do I do that successfully?  Here’s how:

1. Work out at best for an average of an hour/day or at least a few times a week.  Make half the workout high intensity or low intensity cardio to somehow break a sweat to burn calories faster and the other half strength based.  Like Shawn-T always says, “time to sweat, people!”
2. When grocery shopping for food for the week, plan out your meals in advance so 1) You don’t waste food.  2) You don’t waste money and buy more than you need. And 3) This way you are already making healthy decisions for food so you’re not aimlessly wandering in the store, tempted by all the good looking snacks. 
3. KEY point: Fill your grocery cart AND your meal plate with at least half fruits and vegetables.  Raw, perishable food is always going to be the freshest and best for you. The more packaged or long lasting it is, generally the worse it is for you.  It is also extremely important to check nutrition facts/labels to see what percentages of nutrients are in the food and what type of ingredients they are using.  
4. Always start with fresh fruit and vegetables at the beginning of every meal so you fill up on the most natural and nutritious foods for you.  If you don’t like raw vegetables, cook them in a certain way so you do. If you only like salads with fruit and/or veggies, then make a salad before every meal.  Make options that work in your favor!
5. Eat smaller portions by starting with smaller bowls and plates.  This prevents you from overeating and tricks your brain into thinking you’re getting a lot of food since the plate is full but in reality, it’s just a smaller portion size.  If you feel like you need more, you really don’t. It’s all about mind power and training your brain to be satisfied with what you already have.

Throughout the week, I will be sharing some other helpful tips and information about food and nutrition so stay tuned for more.

Suggested links to read:

• https://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-FHS-Report-FINAL.pdf
• https://www.eatrightpro.org/-/media/eatrightpro-files/career/career-development/flyers-and-handouts/eating_right_on_a_budget.pdf?la=en&hash=A27E1F99F434E0553C5D04DA04F1805E352454AF
• https://www.eatrightpro.org/-/media/files/eatrightdocuments/nnm/19healthtipsfor2019.pdf?la=en&hash=9F9525A97A386FAB15B6AA7F113F765F6239BC60
• https://www.eatrightpro.org/practice/career-development/marketing-center/eat-right-nutrition-tips-and-handouts
• https://www.afpafitness.com/blog/top-7-holistic-nutrition-blogs

As always, stay fit, stay healthy, stay beautiful Warhakws!

Talk soon, 

Ashley Borowski