Importance of a Healthy Diet--Is it Important to YOU?

The importance of a healthy diet is a no-brainer. Of course, you know you SHOULD eat healthy. And if you really think of this topic as a "SHOULD" as opposed to a "WANT TO" then this perhaps is not the time to approach this issue. Because knowing that you should eat healthy does not motivate you to actually do it. Honestly, who doesn't know that they should eat their fruits and veggies?! So, what's the real problem here? It's that you don't actually DO it.

What's Your Excuse?

And yes, I know from years of experience working with busy women in the weight loss/fitness industry, what the excuses are. I'm busy too, and believe me, I do understand, but as your weight loss coach, it's my job to inspire you to get results, and negate the excuses. So I warn you now, you can regale me with the minute details of your day from morning til night and I will still tell you point blank: The importance of a healthy diet outweighs the perceived inconvenience of preparing healthy food. If your life is really that crazed, it's really all the more reason to place a weighty importance on a healthy diet as it will help your body combat stress and keep your body more fueled with the right kind of energy.

Is Eating Healthy Too Time Consuming?

That's the other thing that has many women stuck...the perception that eating healthy is too time consuming. It's easier to hit the drive-thru. Truly, not so. As I mentioned before, you'll have more energy by making a nutritious choice. Also, the time spent sitting in the fast food lane could have just as easily been used earlier to pack up a few healthy items. For some examples of a couple meals I had recently that were incredibly easy and satisfying check out (LINK quick weight loss). Apples and carrots are two great foods to easily transport in your purse. Quick and simple to eat on the go, too.

What's the Plan?

My husband and I say that to each other a lot. "What's the Plan?" It works in so many situations. (: Here's my advice: You plan for nearly everything else in your life, right? You schedule all the kids activities into your day, you make appointments for your work stuff, etc. So why not plan for meals? After all, you do know perfectly well that at some point you'll be hungry. For example, every morning you know that at some time during your hectic day you will (I hope) eat. So why leave it to chance? You could so easily grab an extra bag of apples when you're at the store and keep them in your desk. One a day for better health, you know. So couldn't you? And yes it would be ideal to have some cashews or other protein with that apple, but hey, an apple is better than a sandwich from Burger King. If you know you're going to the kids soccer games twice next week and won't have the time to make a meal from scratch, there's the crockpot (although I'll be honest—I have yet to make anything tasty in there myself!). A crockpot meal will very likely offer more of the benefits of a healthy diet than frozen pizza. Quick side note: We do occasionally have a frozen pizza at our house. Shocking, I know. But what I do is add a bunch of spinach, fresh herbs if I have them, olives, and mushrooms. Cram in those veggies wherever you can. Even in frozen pizza! Another option for the game nights is to just grab those carrots, cashews, apples, celery, whatever and eat right at the game.

Bottom Line

The bottom line to all this talk about the importance of a healthy diet is: keep it simple. Don't overcomplicate it. Plenty of quick and easy solutions exist, if you will just attempt to be prepared. And don't forget the benefits of a healthy diet will be yours only if you are CONSISTENTLY partaking in it.