Healthy eating is not just a diet, it is a form of self-care that can have a positive impact on your overall well-being. By nourishing your body with healthy foods, you are not only fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, but also boosting your energy levels, improving your mood, and reducing your risk of chronic diseases.
In fact, research suggests that a healthy diet can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to start viewing healthy eating as a form of self-care and prioritizing it in your daily routine. In this blog post, we will explore the many benefits of healthy eating and simple ways to incorporate it into your lifestyle.
Dietary Changes to Make For Self Care
Changing your diet is important for so many reasons, not just physical health or weight loss. It can also improve your mental health and help a lot with stress, anxiety, and depression. Here are some dietary changes to make when working on better self care.
Drink More Water
There are practically an endless amount of benefits to drinking more water, and self care is one of them. When you want to take better care of yourself, drinking water to hydrate should be one of your top priorities. It is great for diet and physical health, which in turn can help with your mental health as well. Sometimes, when you are extremely stressed out or having an episode of anger toward someone, sitting alone to drink a glass of water can do wonders for you.
Fill Up On Nutritious Food
Another way to change your diet for self care is to fill up on healthier options before eating the less healthy options. This means you are not sticking to a diet, but just trying to add more healthy options like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. If you find that you have a lot of cravings for sweet and salty foods, skip the cookies and fast food, and instead opt for a handful of nuts with a few pieces of dark chocolate. Or if you are going to a party, fill up on veggies and fruit first before going for the less healthy party foods.
Eat More Superfoods
Another good way to eat healthier diet while focusing on self care is to eat superfoods. This is another good way to avoid being on a ëdietí but just try to follow a healthier eating routine. There are many different superfoods you can try, from fruits and vegetables, to lean protein, nuts, seeds, and even dark chocolate. Here are some superfoods to consider:
- Dark chocolate
- Dark leafy greens like kale and spinach
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Almonds, cashews, walnuts
- Chia seeds
- Pomegranate seeds
- Quinoa
- Wild salmon or tuna
- Avocado
Find Healthy Comfort Food
If you want to eat healthier, but prefer comfort food, you can still do this! You donít have to eat nothing but salads and fish just to eat healthy. There are lots of ways to take your favorite comfort foods and make them healthier. For example, you can make meatloaf by using half ground beef and half ground turkey, make veggie or turkey burgers, or make shepherdís pie with sweet potatoes and less cheese.