Creating a Good Relationship with Food
T FIT
Blog
by Taryn Stephens
Eat good feel good
Food. We can all agree it’s amazing. So many different combinations of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, sweets, you name it! It is the thing that drives us (literally), and the thing that can destroy us. Heart disease is the leading killer in America right now. Can you believe it? People are eating so much and so poorly that they are dying. There are many reasons I joined the fitness industry, but one of the main reasons was to help educate the general population on the benefits of eating nutrient dense foods, exercising, and to decrease the obese epidemic spreading across the country.
In America our average daily food intake is about 70% processed food. America has a real problem with overconsumption of processed foods and that is where mainly the fat build up and heart disease is stemming along with minimal movement. If you didn’t know, processed foods stimulate dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter that lights up your brain in the same way that certain drugs do. So the more you consume these foods, the more you buy them and the harder it is to stop, therefore leading to NEGATIVE FOOD ASSOCIATION! All “healthy food” then doesn’t seem appetizing, you start feeling tired more, bloated, and less motivated (yes food affects your mental health just as much as physical)
Now hopefully I haven't bored you with facts but I want you to know food is absolutely key to living a healthy lifestyle along with exercise. Striving to have a positive food association with nutrient dense and whole foods will make you more happy than those bag of cheetos will in the long run I promise! Now in order to create that good relationship, most likely you can’t just cut everything processed out cold turkey because let’s face it, most people don’t have the discipline. Hey and if you do that’s great, get it cut out immediately and start fresh! Life is all about balance, so start with balancing what you are eating now with whole foods and there is no need to cut out food groups such as fats or carbs.
Here are some tips that you can start with to implement better food habits. Start with portion sizes and water intake. The rule of thumb I like to go by is fist size of carbs, palm size full of protein, and palm size full of vegetables on your plate, no more. Next buy a water bottle, keep it with you everywhere you go and try to get at least 80 oz a day. This will help regulate your metabolism and keep you more full longer. Next go to the grocery store and shop for snacks that are not processed. Snacks and mindless eating are where most people struggle with those extra/empty calories. Buy fruits, vegetables, nuts, hummus, etc. there are so many options out there besides those bags of chips or crackers! Next, limit your sugar intake which also goes along with processed foods. I can go on an on about the effects of too much sugar on the body but we will save that for another post! Lastly look at food as your fuel. It’s what keeps you going throughout the day. Put food in your body that will make you feel good, think better, and be a better person!
Bring balance and positivity into your life by just consuming whole foods. Stop looking at food as the enemy, you are being your own enemy by buying it and putting it in pantry. Balance though, is maybe rewarding yourselves with those two oreos at the end of the day, or one of the cookies that was brought to the office. What you need to remember is that BALANCE IS NOT RESTRICTION. Try new foods and desserts when you travel/hang with friends! Your overall lifestyle just needs the change, eat nutritious meals and snacks throughout the week, and don't “reward” yourself everyday with treats, think of the reward is that you are giving yourself a chance to live a long and happy life.
Here are some other articles to check out if you want to read more about the effects of processed foods on the body!
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318630.php
https://www.organicconsumers.org/essays/how-processed-foods-wreak-havoc-your-health