Are you looking to bring more order into your kitchen? A good place to start would be getting rid of the unhealthy food options in your pantry. Eating out less and filling your kitchen with wholesome, healthy food would be excellent next steps.
Many people assume these steps will be pricier and less accessible than their current eating habits. However, if you really think about it, eating better and improving your health doesn’t have to be a costly affair. There are ways to do so without incurring extra expenses. To prove this point, here are five ways to improve your eating habits, no matter your budget:
1.Cook More, Waste Less
As with anything, healthy food gets expensive when you waste it. For best results, use your healthy groceries to meal prep and cook larger portions.
Why larger portions? Because they create leftovers! You can use leftover food to make more meals or freeze it and use it later to reduce waste.
It may be worth investing in one of the newer nonstick cookware sets that are ideal for preparing your food. Options like ceramic cookware are eco-friendly, safe, and perfect for healthy cooking.
2.Create Healthy Grocery List
Go to your monthly grocery list and start replacing any unhealthy options that you see with healthier ones. This is how you plan for a healthier life.
When you hit the supermarket, start on the outer edges first, then move towards the inner aisles of the store. You will notice the inner aisles have more processed foods, which is why you want to avoid them for the most part.
Ideally, you want to replace those crispy packets of chips you like with carrots and cucumber sticks (plus something delicious like hummus for dipping) when you are writing this list. Doing so will help you avoid temptation while shopping.
3.Go Easy on the Sugar
One of the unhealthiest things in the average person’s diet is processed sugar. It is known for causing all kinds of health problems, and it can leave you feeling tired and sluggish.
That’s why one of the first things you should do when investing in healthier eating habits is to start with a sugar detox. You can ease into this slowly by not adding sugar to teas and baked goods. Replace it with healthier alternatives like dates, maple syrup, or honey.
Once your body becomes accustomed to the idea of not eating sugar, you can even replace these alternatives with spices like cinnamon. Eventually, your tastebuds will become accustomed to this new way of eating, and your tolerance to sugar will diminish. When this happens, you’ll be able to discern subtle sweetness and more depth of flavor in foods.
4.Shop with the Seasons
Always aim to buy in-season fruits as they cost less than out-of-season produce. When stocking up on fruits and vegetables, buy them by the bag as buying in bulk can save you lots of money. Use your bulk produce to cook in bulk and prep your healthy meals for the week.
5.Drink Plenty of Water
We often underestimate the value that water offers. Water helps the body get rid of waste products, and hydration is essential for energy and health. Drinking 8 or more glasses of water per day is ideal.
While these simple steps will set you on the right track towards healthier eating, you may still get cravings from time to time. This is absolutely normal, and it’s okay to enjoy indulgent food. Healthy eating is all about balance, so think of this as a journey to be enjoyed, not endured.
