In our fast-paced world, it’s no wonder that so many of us feel stressed out about our nutrition. We’re constantly being told to eat this or avoid that, and it can be hard to know what to do in order to stay healthy without adding more stress to our lives. In this blog post, we will discuss five simple ways to add healthy nutrition habits to your lifestyle without having to worry about it! These tips will help you reduce stress around health and nutrition, and enjoy life a little bit more.
Destress Around Nutrition
In a world where nutrition is constantly changing and we are bombarded with the latest trends, it can be overwhelming to know what to do. So many of us feel stressed out about our nutrition because there is so much information available on how you should eat, but no one tells us which diet or way of eating is right for YOU! This can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety around nutrition, which is not good for our health or our well-being.
The Dangers of Stress on Health and Nutrition
Stress can be a major contributor to poor nutrition. If you are stressed out about your nutrition, it can even affect how much time and energy you have available for other important things, like cooking healthy meals at home or going grocery shopping! Stress increases cortisol levels in the body which makes people crave more sugary foods than usual due to changes in blood sugar regulation. This leads to weight gain, as well as increased risk of obesity and type II diabetes (1).
Top 5 Tips for Low-Stress Healthy Living
We all want to be healthy and feel our best, but nutrition shouldn’t have to add stress or anxiety into your life. Here are some tips that I use in my own nutrition practice with clients every day!
1. Keep it Simple
Keep things simple by creating a nutrition plan that works for you. Stop trying to follow every nutrition trend out there, and find a way of eating that works with your lifestyle. You don’t have to follow any specific diet or rules; just make sure that whatever you’re doing is sustainable and fits into your life. This means eating foods that are easy to prepare, which could include frozen vegetables or pre-chopped fruits and veggies in a bag. You can also make sure your nutrition habits are balanced by using portion control tools like measuring cups or weighing food on scales (there’s an app for that!).
2. Shift Your Focus
The best nutrition advice is to focus on your nutrition habits instead of trying to lose weight. This means eating a balanced diet that includes all five food groups and getting plenty of exercises every day. It also means making sure you get Dieting can often lead to feelings of guilt and anxiety, which is the last thing you need when you’re trying to eat healthy! Restrictive eating can also be counterproductive, as it can lead to cravings and binging. Instead, try to think about nutrition in terms of balance and moderation. This means enjoying a wide variety of healthy foods, including both fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
3. Set Realistic Goals
When you’re trying to add healthy nutrition habits to your life, it’s important to set realistic goals. This means not expecting yourself to overhaul your entire diet overnight or expect to reach unrealistic weight goals! Start by making small changes that you can stick with over time, such as adding an extra serving of vegetables to your lunch or dinner, or swapping out unhealthy snacks for healthier alternatives. Keep in mind, it’s important to focus on your own health rather than comparing yourself to others, and remember that healthy nutrition looks different for everyone. Gradually make more nutrition changes as you get used to them and feel better about yourself!
4. Give Yourself Some Grace
Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up occasionally. Nobody is perfect, and that includes nutritionists! If you eat something unhealthy or miss a workout, don’t worry about it. Just try to get back on track as soon as possible. This means forgiving yourself, setting realistic goals, and creating a plan that you can stick to.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
If you’re struggling to make healthy nutrition changes on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a friend or nutrition professional. This could mean joining a support group or meeting with a nutritionist for regular check-ins. Having someone else to help you stay accountable is a great way to make nutrition changes that last!
Conclusion
Implementing these five simple steps can help reduce stress when it comes to making healthy choices for your lifestyle. Remember, you don’t have to overhaul your life overnight – start small and work your way up! And if you ever feel like you need a little more guidance, our team is always here to help. So go ahead and take a deep breath, relax, and get started on adding some healthy nutrition habits to your life!
- Yau, Y H C, and M N Potenza. “Stress and eating behaviors.” Minerva endocrinologica vol. 38,3 (2013): 255-67. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4214609/
