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Baking bread, hand-churned butter, and seven-layer magic bars. All things that adorned my kitchen recently and not even for the holidays. Just because we were home, and it was somehow comforting.
Now it's summer, and many are doing the 'let's see what fits' game in our closets, as the temps jumped straight to August in the last week, and we ran for the shorts and swimsuits.
We all know that fitness comprises many different components: water, moving, eating, mental health, and the list goes on. As we creep into yet another wave of eating events, as I like to call them, it's best to prepare to succeed, rather than wing it, at the next wing-ding event.
You may have heard some of these tips before, but we all need reminding. Also, post-COVID eating and activity levels have changed, so it's a good time to make your mini health assessment to examine your health snapshot.
Minimize the comfort foods
Most people changed eating styles during the COVID-19 outbreak over the last 13 months, but society is slowly coming out of it. The excuse of comfort eating was understandable for a while, but pulling yourself out of it or slowly turning the ship is a step in the right direction.
That said—if you found a new Italian restaurant that you can't bear to part with, try only visiting monthly.
Perfect mac and cheese? When you prepare it next time, cut the recipe in half, so you have only a smaller portion to be tempted by, and even then, make sure you share the meal.
Have you developed a killer recipe for muffins? The next time you make them, freeze half instead of being tempted to finish the whole batch before they mold.
Food, the smell, the preparation, the experience stays in our memories, sometimes a lifetime. It's OK to hang on to those, but reconsider the frequency and portion of those items. You may find yourself enjoying them more if it's not around so often.
Absence may make the stomach grow fonder.
Fresh
Farmer's markets are popping back up. Some offer the traditional experience, while some have curbside ordering now. Regardless, these are a great way to get locally sourced produce, sometimes even cheaper than the grocery store.
If you do go to a traditional grocery store, start in the fruit and veg section first. Filling up your cart with pretty, bright, fresh items may deter the desire to head down the snack aisle.
Eating the rainbow is always a good plan. Also, try to pick from as many color groups as possible to get a wider variety of nutrients.
Lighten up
Choose lighter foods. Have one or two nights of the week be meatless. Many times the feeling of heaviness can go hand-and-hand with large volumes of meat-based foods. It takes longer to digest and physically weighs you down.
According to the MayoClinic.org website, "it takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon. All in all, the whole process takes about two to five days, depending on the individual."
"It's ok to treat yourself but me mindful of your portions. Our eyes are usual bigger than out stomachs," said Shayla Jones, DFAS wellness program manager.
Angel food cake over cheesecake for dessert, veggies with ranch instead of cheeseball for appetizers, popcorn over nachos. Swapping can be simple—and often cheaper.
Planning
Planning is the No. 1 component of healthy eating. Even with all the good intentions globally, if the right foods aren't in the house, it's not worth much.
Heart.org has awesome articles to help eat healthy on a budget.
Also, CDC.gov has printable planners to help with meal planning, even broken out by food groups similar to the food pyramid or the balanced food plate visual references.
If you are already a planner person, find a blank page and jot down ideas. It doesn't have to be the whole meal, and it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Making notes about a vegetable side or a different meat preparation can give you a repository to pick from, ideas to combine elements, and even just inspiration to get started.
Share recipes with friends. There's nothing worse than a recipe fails, so ask around to see what's good. Those tried and true recipe cards that have the splatters and well-loved stains on them are the winners.
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2021 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 412001 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Healthy eating post-COVID, by Michelle Young, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
