Are you the type of person who enjoys their food or just eats to eat? Now I know for some, this might seem like a no brainer because obviously, we wouldn’t eat something unless it was enjoyable. But with the rise of so many new diets within diet culture, people are eating certain meals to fit their macros or restrictions. In my opinion, this is a recipe for disaster and unsustainable for long term healthy living. There is a way to enjoy food while adhering to a specific “diet” or nutrition lifestyle.

Educate Yourself

The first and most important way of doing this is to research the lifestyle you are introducing. Figure out what foods are a no go and which ones aren’t, then use the information to look up meals you have had before as well as new ones. If none of them sounds appealing, do a test week before fully committing to a change, even if it’s a part of a four, eight week, or six-month plan to aid you in a nutrition or fitness transition that you want in the name of living a better life. Doing this will help create an enjoyable, nourishing lifestyle instead of a forced short term one.

If you have no idea how to research or feel overwhelmed by a google search, check social media, there are tons of people who post short clips on a variety of lifestyle choices. My go-to is finding someone who is already doing it and asking them for pointers on how to manage/ sustain nourishing this way.

Committing

It’s easy to say something, but committing to it is a whole other ball game, especially when it comes to nutrition. The reason behind this being commitment means stepping outside our comfort zone and risking not going back. Our brain doesn’t like either of these notions, which causes anxiety, stress, feeling down and much more as ways of convincing us to retreat to safety.

However, when we tell our brains NO, the switch becomes easier. The ways to do this is to follow up our verbal commitment with actions as soon as possible. I say start the minute you finish researching/ educating on the specific lifestyle. Furthermore, creating a recipe book or a simple list of meals for the first week or two. Doing this will ensure the meals are enjoyable rather than eating to hit calorie or macro counts. Most of the time, there are free meal plans or videos of delicious meals to try when switching to a new nutritional lifestyle.

Have Fun

Lastly, we have to make it fun, try new things and be open to spending more time in the kitchen even when our days are jam-packed. Listen to music, make a game, invite friends, or enjoy the “me” time as you cook.

That said while eating, be present, try to taste the different flavours and enjoy the process. Doing this opens a world of new tastes and enjoyment that was once a mindless task. Furthermore, you will get a sense of what foods are truly enjoyable vs the ones that are just fillers. Fillers will come in as you find better alternatives to hit macro or general calorie goals.

The goal is to curate a lifestyle that’s is enjoyable, sustainable and healthy. Not healthy by everyone’s standards but per your goals/ standards and eventually learn how to eat intuitively. A post on intuitive eating coming soon.