5 Tips to Eating Healthier

Eating healthy can be simple; all you need is a little focus, planning, and inspiration. First things first, though: You also need to create healthier eating habits that you can build into your daily routine. Something as simple as starting your day off with a delicious green smoothie and making sure to pack snacks (for the day or the whole week), is an excellent place to begin. Another easy step that can make a world of difference: Bring a water bottle that you can track and refill.

Now that we have a little groundwork laid down, here five simple tips to start eating healthier today:

1. Drink a daily green smoothie

Green smoothies are chock full of nutrients and antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to any diet. What’s incredible about green smoothies is that they only take minutes to prepare.  Also, green smoothies last all day if you blend them in the morning and store them in a mason jar in your fridge. What is in a green smoothie? Well, the possibilities are endless, but here’s a good formula to try: a leafy green (spinach, kale, or romaine) + fruit (frozen strawberries or banana, etc.) + liquid (almond milk or coconut water or juice) + some superfood (hemp seeds or avocado, cacao nibs, cinnamon or chia seeds).

Try this simple recipe:

• ½ cup frozen ripe mango
• ½ ripe banana
• (2) handfuls of spinach (or any other type of leafy green)
• 1 to 2 cups of coconut water
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds
• Add everything to your blender and blend until smooth.

2.  Set one day of the week aside for meal prep.

Set aside one day a week to plan and prep what you are eating. This makes it super easy because you will have stuff to grab on-the-go, or to easily put together for a meal.

• prep veggies for snacks or a salad
• make a batch of quinoa (can use this for a veggie bowl or a breakfast cereal)
• make salad dressing for the week
• homemade hummus or spread
• soup or stew (even easier in the crock pot)

3. Keep your snacks easy and use real food.

Snacks should be whole foods, not processed foods. Avoid anything that has artificial additives, artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, or vegetable oils. This includes fried foods, sweets, and refined grain products such as cookies and bread. Get in the groove by having chopped up veggies and fruit in the fridge, or by making a jar of homemade trail mix.

• celery/apple and almond butter
• baby carrots and bell peppers with homemade hummus (already prepared from prep day)
• avocado and nori
• green juice
• superfood smoothie (leftover from breakfast)

4. Keep your blood sugar balanced.

Don’t forget to eat breakfast and to make sure you’re snacking often. If you feel like you are constantly hungry, try adding a bit more protein to your meals or healthy fats like avocado and nuts. When ordering a dinner salad, order a serving of lean protein to be placed on top to help you fill up and stay full. Add coconut oil to a green smoothie or nut butter to a snack, or eat half an avocado as the snack itself.

5. Drink more water.

Water aids your body in digestion and keeps your skin looking youthful and hydrated. On days where you are training or outdoors for a period of time, be sure to consume extra water. Drinking water throughout the day will prevent you from overeating and thinking you are hungry when really you are thirsty.

Try incorporating a few of these nutrition tips into your daily routine. Something as tiny as JUST drinking more water can really make the world of a difference.