Recently, I had a group of clients meet me for a grocery
store tour. During our tour, the main learning lesson was “food awareness”
and understanding that healthy food intake is the key element to enhanced
living. I want to share some of
the guidelines we talked about at this tour:
· I was adamant advising my “eat to be healthy” philosophy. Specifically, I was talking about the
fresh vegetables and fruits that are loaded with vitamins, nutrients and minerals
that aide in our performance. Not
just sports and fitness performance but life performance. Mindful and healthful nutrition
supports an energized and vibrant life, brain health, total body wellness and immune
system strength. You eat to feel
good. You eat to limit your
chances of sickness, some even deadly.
You eat to have consistent energy.
You eat to perform. You eat
to improve your memory. You eat to
improve your productivity. And you
shop for the foods that support the above reasons. Many people eat for weight loss. In my opinion, this way creates the wrong mindset. This individual becomes frightened of
food instead of recognizing the importance of it. They think certain nutrients are bad for them instead of
understanding how and when they should be consumed. The idea is to be honest with yourself and start making
progressive steps to creating an overall healthier way of thinking regarding
food intake. Maybe that is cutting
your soda drinking down from six a week, to two. Maybe it’s fine-tuning your macronutrient intake. Maybe you need to simply drink more
water and eat more vegetables and fruits.
Just remember, that food can be your friend and supplies the body with
powerful vitamins that are needed to live a strong, long and vibrant life. Be consistent, not perfect.
· As we were walking around the produce area, I made a comment
that stuck with me. I said, “This
area is your supplement store.”
The surrounding fresh vegetables and fruits are the best source of
nutrients, therefore should be your “supplement of choice”. Relying on a pill or capsule to deliver
your body with vitamins should not be the priority. Do your best to consume the real thing. Fill your cart with a variety of
vegetables and fruits. Try a new
vegetable every time you shop.
Make smoothies and load them with greens, beets, carrots and a couple
different fruits. You will feel
better immediately when you provide your body with these vital nutrients. Oh and by the way, make the produce
section your first stop. And
ideally, you should spend the most time in this section during your grocery
store visit.
·
Here is an important
point I brought up, “Do not eliminate any particular food, rather you should limit
unhealthy options and eat more of the healthier choices.” This goes back to the mindset about fearing food. Do your best to not think this
way. Food is a wonderful necessity
and should be consumed with imagination and variety. Building a plan that supports your fitness and life goals
should happen but it’s very possible to eat many different foods, even the
“unhealthy ones” in moderation, and still attain the results you are going
for. Read labels, understand
portion control, be aware of your calories, periodically measure and weigh your
food and identify your various habits.
Simply making minor
adjustments can guide you to achieving your results. It does not have to be
about following one specific diet. The key is to build a nutrition plan that supports your lifestyle
and fitness goals.
Thanks for reading. Please share to your friends or leave a comment of what you thought of the article. I appreciate you!
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