Healthy Diet, Healthy Skin
One of the first things you can do to ensure your skin looks its best is to remember that it’s part of your body! If your body is healthy, then your skin is more likely to be healthy too. And in order to get a healthy body, the first step you can take is to eat a healthy diet. Our guest writer for this week’s post is Sheila Olson, a personal trainer and author of the Fit Sheila blog. In this post she provides you with easy steps to not only to improve your diet – but to save money while doing so! Read on for her great tips and then take a look at our suggestions for maintaining healthy skin …
There are many great reasons to change your diet. In fact, such a change can be one of the most impactful transitions you can ever choose as it will elevate your life in more ways than one. The most obvious benefit is, of course, on your figure as healthy weight loss often starts with a diet change. Not only that, you will inevitably observe that the advantages are more than skin deep as you find yourself with more energy and endurance and, better still, have more mental clarity, better moods, and increased focus.
If you’re aiming to improve your overall quality of life, a change in your diet may just be what the doctor ordered. Best of all, doing so is not only potentially cost-effective, but may even mean that you can reduce your food budget in the long run. So without further ado, here’s how you can successfully change your diet and even stick to it for good.
Keep it Simple
First of all, a diet change need not be drastic. There are actually no “all or nothing” rules; nor do you have to give up entire food groups right off the bat. The key to avoiding being overwhelmed (and giving up altogether) is to take it a day and a step at a time. For instance, perhaps you can skip dessert after dinner, or you can gradually cut down your carbs by adding in more vegetables, instead. Such small, manageable changes are great for both your body and your wallet. You can then gradually build it up from there.
Plan Your Meals
Now, having a plan is always a great way to stay on track, which is why it’s very important to make meal planning a habit. Having a meal plan is a surefire way to keep you preparing and eating healthy food. Moreover, it can also save you a great deal of money as you can focus on buying what you truly need and eschew unnecessary ingredients and treats.
Shop Smarter
Remember that what you buy at the grocery store has a huge impact on how successful you are in changing your diet. For this reason, it’s essential to be very mindful of what goes into your cart. If you have a weakness for potato chips or chocolates, ward off temptation by not buying them at all. Instead, create a grocery list out of your meal plan and empower yourself to firmly adhere to it. It goes without saying that you will save a lot in the process.
Where you buy your groceries is just as important, too. Generally speaking, healthy food items can be costly, which is why, in order to sustain your healthy eating efforts, it’s wise to shop at stores like Sam’s Club where prices are more affordable and where there are deals aplenty on the regular. You can even use in-store Sam’s Club coupons to enjoy discounts, not just on groceries, but also on supplements, protein powder, and the like.
Make healthy swaps
Another great way to switch to a healthier diet is by foregoing certain foods in favor of others. This, however, does not in any way mean that you need to sacrifice flavor. It just means that for every delicious yet unhealthy item, there’s usually a healthier and just as delicious alternative. For instance, consider the spreads that you put in your sandwiches. Butter or mayonnaise are often the yummy go-to’s, but hummus is actually just as flavorful. It’s also packed with more protein and has a lot less fat—not to mention, you can easily make it yourself so it’s cheaper.
But no doubt, one of the best—and easiest—swaps you can ever make is ditching soda and other sugary drinks for water. Not only has such a change been found to help you live longer, but it can even save you over $1,000 a year!
A change in diet can be hard. It can even be costly. But by heeding these nifty, wallet-friendly tips, you will find that, in due time, healthy eating will become second nature to you. And yes, you will definitely see and feel the difference.
Author Bio
Sheila Olson is a personal trainer with more than five years’ experience, who believes in setting small goals to achieve physical fitness and good health. She’s a keen advocate of positive thinking and mindfulness as part of her training programs. Read more of her posts at FitSheila.com.
Photo Credit: Pexels.com
