How To Improve Your Health By Creating Good Eating Habits

We are all creatures of habit and lead busy lives.  Without knowing it we can fall into bad eating habits, but the good news for all of us is we can change them.  To help get you started creating your own good eating habits we would like to share some of our tips.

1. Pay Attention

Bad eating habits can creep up on us slowly without noticing. Life is busy, sometimes we eat on the run, while watching television or when we’re stressed.  Paying attention to what, when and how we eat are the first steps in identifying bad  eating habits.  We can pay attention by taking a moment to really focus on what we’re doing or feeling during the day, e.g. are we snacking when watching television? What exactly are we snacking on, do we always do this, can we have a healthy snack instead?

2. Eat Regularly

Improve your diet by planning meals ahead of time and eat regularly.  Shopping more wisely for healthy foods improves your diet and can even save money.  When shopping look for healthy alternatives or visit your fresh food store and above all be adventurous. Trying new foods can be a wonderful experience.

3. Listen to Your Body

Our body instinctively knows when we are hungry.  By taking the time to listen and understand its signals we can eat at the right time and this creates good eating habits.  Eating regularly lets our body set its own internal clock which over time becomes regulated. By eating regularly you really are helping your body maintain weight in the long term.

4. Make Small Changes

It takes time to get to know, understand and change bad eating habits.  However, the good news is that once you start to recognize them you can change them.  A small but important change in your day could be to have a healthy breakfast  instead of skipping this important meal. Take it one step at a time and be kind to yourself.

5. Share A Meal With Others

If you’re in the habit of eating alone, try cooking a meal for family and friends. Organize a dinner date once a week or at the weekend. Take pleasure in the food you prepare and eat, while sharing it with others.
Becoming aware of your diet and how you eat can help you to create good eating habits.  Preparing and sharing meals with family and friends also helps you to focus on good food and creating  enjoyable experiences. Remember, changing eating habits using small steps will set you up for long term success. Don’t be disappointed if you fall back into old habits.  Be happy that you can recognize them now, and that you are creating good eating habits and improving your diet.