So you're thinking maybe you should eat healthier. What are three things to consider when making healthier food choices?
Taste
Eating good tasting food is a top priority, but that doesn't mean it should be used as an excuse to make unhealthy choices. Learn how to make healthy foods taste great. There's nothing wrong with eating things like chips every once in a while, we are, after all, humans at the end of the day. But with the access we have today to spices & seasonings, flavor enhancers, texture substitutes, etc. you can alter just about anything to your liking and really expand your palette.
Juices or smoothies make fruit taste great
If you have difficulty eating a variety of fruits, consider making fruit smoothies/juices to help your body get everything it needs in one drink. You can buy bags of frozen assorted fruits, which yes, are just as good as fresh, to keep on hand at all times so you don't have to worry about getting through fresh fruit before it goes bad. The great thing about smoothies and juices is that there are millions of recipes out there, so you're bound to find one you'll like!
Sneaky soups help add a tasty serving of veggies
Do your kids refuse to eat leafy greens like spinach and kale? Don't be afraid to use them in flavorful soups/stews! The wilting process they go through in soups makes them much easier to stomach, and you'll barely taste them if you season the rest of the dish generously.
Think about prep time and number of ingredients
While everyone is dealt with 24 hours in a day, not everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. Working parents with kids, students, and individuals who travel often are just some examples of people who don't have all the time in the world to learn how to cook. And that's perfectly fine! It's more important to find recipes that work with your schedule so you're actually inclined to try them out and incorporate them into your diet.
Similarly, there's nothing wrong with not knowing how to make some of the more fancy recipes out there. If you have the time and energy for some simple pasta, go for it! You can easily customize it to your liking so you have 3-4 variations you can rotate between so you don't get bored. And eventually, you'll feel more comfortable to try your hand at more refined techniques.
Consider the long term effects
You've probably heard the phrase "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" at some point in your life. It's usually uttered in reference to skincare, but I'd say it aligns pretty nicely with lifestyle choices, such as diet, as well. While it may sound like a dream to eat nothing but processed food that doesn't fail at providing us with instant gratification, take a few seconds to think about how that'll play out five years from now, ten years from now, etc.
Take some extra time to think about it if you're more inclined to contracting certain health problems (diabetes, heart disease, etc.) whether it be because of genetics, lifestyle, etc. Now it doesn't sound so hot, right? The correct decision seems clear as day when you take time to really think about it like this, but the hard truth is that we don't do this all the time. The good news is that there are small things we can do to condition our mind to become more aware of what we eat. For one, don't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach; you'll want to buy the whole store, including the candy aisle.
Author: Shruti is a current intern and recent graduate from The University of North Texas holding a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing. She has a passion for digital marketing, with a focus on social media, and advertising. In her free time, she enjoys baking, watching movies, and going on hikes.