Deciding to eat clean and limit processed food is difficult. Breaking old habits gets harder as you get older. You get more set in your ways. Then when you want to change, you’re overwhelmed and not quite sure what to change.
Here are 7 tips that will help you start your clean eating lifestyle.
1. Eat Five or Six Small Meals
Purchase smaller plates and eat several meals throughout the day instead of the three large meals that you’re used of. You’ll feel more satisfied and won’t have the urge to overeat.
2. Learn What Portion Sizes Look Like
Most people think they can look at a portion size and know when it is a serving. This isn’t true. America’s tend to overfill their plates and that has become the custom. Don’t guess, you’ll no doubt over eat if you do.
3. Eat More Fruits and Veggies
Get more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Change a packaged snack for an apple, banana or a bag of grapes. An easy way to get a few servings of both fruit and vegetables is to juice or make smoothies
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4. Eat Three Servings Of Whole Grain a Day
Trade the unrefined grains such as white bread products to whole wheat. Check the ingredients and make sure that whole wheat is listed as one of the first three ingredients or that that package says 100% whole wheat.
5. Take Snacks On The Go
Make sure you pack your own snacks when you leave the house. You won’t be tempted to stop at the corner store to pick up something real quick. If you already have a bag of carrots in your purse or car it will help you until you get home.
6. Five Ingredient Rule
Making your food from scratch is not always an option. Sometimes there are circumstances where you need to buy sauces in a jar or packaged products. When that happens make sure that you can read each ingredient on the label and that there are only five ingredients total.
7. Include the Family
Take into account how your family feels and what they like. Find recipes that you know they will like. Start with their favorite dishes and substitute one or two things. Instead of buying spaghetti sauce with mushrooms and green peppers inside a jar, buy fresh vegetables and add those to the mixture.
These are just a few of the tips you will be able to start doing in your daily life. You can start with one or all of them. The important thing is that you take action towards your goal every single day.