Don’t Make This Nutrition Mistake, My Philosophy Works Better

I’m a big picture person, even when it comes to nutrition. I do understand, however, that it’s easy to get caught up in the details, especially if you’ve always heard you have to weigh your food, measure every little bit out, and count every calorie you put in your mouth. Honestly, that would drive me nuts. I’ve never done it, nor do I believe it’s the most effective way to move toward that body you want to live the rest of your life in.

My philosophy goes a little like this. I believe in understanding the big picture first, then digging into some details, while panning out frequently to ensure that you don’t lose sight of the big picture. On the contrary, what happens when you start counting every calorie and measuring every kernel, you end up disappointed, discouraged, and frustrated when your small results are not matching your strong efforts.

Staying true to the big picture, meaning the major concepts and principles, is what really matters in the long run. This mindset not only allows you to feel more flexible with your food choices, but you simply enjoy your life more. You start to see some results, which not only boosts your confidence, but also makes you happy. When you’re happy, confident, and enjoy what you’re eating, you don’t quit; rather you stay the course, allowing yourself to see more results, and the positive cycle continues. Doesn’t that sound better than counting points, calories, or measuring out kernels of corn? It makes me tired just thinking about it.

Last week, I discussed the importance of choosing high quality foods rather than processed foods. Since then, my hope is that you’ve gone grocery shopping and opted for foods that go into your fridge, rather than your pantry. If you did that, congratulations! You’ve taken a major step on your healthy eating path.

Remember, an improved body begins with an improved mindset. Before your body changes, your mind has to change. Today, I want to continue our conversation on healthy eating by touching on one of my “13 V.I.P.’s (Very Important Principles) to Eat By”:

Find ways to make your salads more interesting, nutritious, and delicious! When beginning to eat healthier, many people start to substitute some unhealthy meals with salads, especially as we enter the warmer months. This is great, however, it’s not uncommon that they soon find themselves bored with the same old salads day after day or week after week. This is called a nutritional rut. Another thing that often happens is that they make their salads so small and wimpy that they end up feeling unsatisfied and deprived afterward.

My suggestion is to fill a salad bowl with spinach (much more nutrient dense than your regular romaine or iceberg lettuce). Then, the first thing you want to think is, “What will my protein be?” It doesn’t always have to be meat. It can be tofu, kidney beans, chickpeas, black beans, or a hard-boiled egg for example. Then think, “How else can I make this salad more nutritious?” Start adding those ingredients.

I don’t know about you, but I must have a salad dressing to accompany my salad. The only problem is that the bottled salad dressings you find out there can quickly turn your healthy salad into an unhealthy one. So, you’re going to want to pour something much more nutritious over your healthy salad. I make an easy and nutritious salad dressing by mixing a little flax seed oil, salsa, and Greek yogurt together. Who would’ve thought salad dressing could ADD nutrition? Give it a try!

Now you have a spinach salad with some protein, could be chicken, turkey, ham, beans, hard-boiled eggs, whatever your taste! Then you add more nutrition with whatever veggies you like. Top it with a healthy salad dressing and you’ve got a nutritious and tasty salad.

You may be wondering about quantity. You may have this huge salad that you know is too big for you. What I suggest is eating your salad slowly. Try eating twice as slow as your normal eating speed. How long does it usually take you to finish a meal? Now, eat your salad in double that time. This takes a lot of discipline, which is why it’s important to not enter your meals ravenous. If you’ve had your fill and have some leftovers, keep the rest of it for a few hours later. This exercise will give you a better idea of the appropriate size to start making your own salads.

As you continue your journey toward a healthier lifestyle, I hope you find my salad suggestion helpful going into this new week. That was just one of my “13 V.I.P.’s (Very Important Principles) To Eat By” that I offer in my 21-Day Nutrition Home Study Course that is coming out next month.

More exciting details about that to come shortly, but for now, keep in mind the big picture and beware of getting caught up in too many details when you eat. This week, I suggest experimenting with your salads. See how colorful and nutritious you can start making them and eat it twice as slowly as you usually eat your meals.

Next week, I’ll be sharing a few of “My 10 Social Situation Survival Tips” from my home study course so that you can stay on track even when you go out to eat! Stay tuned!