How to trick yourself into eating healthier.

azazelrabbit

Quite simply, eating healthier foods is so much better than eating foods packed with fat, sugar and sodium.
They contain lots of vitamins and minerals, they keep you feeling fuller for longer (seriously), and it takes less of them to fill you up.
I also find I have a lot more energy to exercise if my 200 calorie breakfast is fruit rather than cereal.

Of course we all want to be able to eat healthy, but how do you it?
How do you stop craving sugar and snacks?
How do you stop feeling hungry all the time?
How do you stop mindless shovelling of food?

Well, there's no magic pill I'm afraid, but here's a couple of tips that help me:

> Eat fruit for breakfast.
I often find I start craving sugary food 1 to 2 hours later if I eat cereal, or if I have nothing at all.
But this morning, I had five pieces of fruit (which only came to 271 calories) and I didn't feel hungry or crave anything for at least 3 hours afterwards (and even then all I needed was a slice of toast to satisfy me).
If you eat fruit for breakfast (or whenever your first meal is) you get the satisfying sweet taste but you don't crave more sugar.
Honestly, just try it tomorrow.

> Exercise more.
I don't know about you, but I always feel so much healthier after a good workout (even just 20 minutes).
I'm not talking about intense 4-hour-long gym sessions, fitness DVD's, or hours on the 'elliptical' thing that everyone seems to have. You don't even have to run! (Personally I hate running). But go for a walk, even if your only chance is first thing in the morning. Walking is so good for you and people don't seem to realise this. I'm lucky to have a hill near my house and a beach too, but you could go walking down the street, or in a field. You'd be amazed. Do whatever you feel like.

> Fibre!
Yup, that stuff.

> Protein!
Uh huh, more of that stuff.

> Water!
Fills you up (for a short while)

> Coffee?
Well, yes, coffee is an appetite suppressant. Drink it black if you like it, or watch how much milk/sugar you put in it.
Alternatively, if you don't want to drink caffeine, decaf has a similar (if less powerful) effect.

Did I mention fruit?

There are no hard and fast rules, but I invite you to try them and see if they help.



On a side note >>
Buy a food scale! (preferably an electric one).
If you're just guessing how much you eat, you might be very surprised at the truth.

And that butter you're spreading on your toast and not counting? Yeah, that contains about 70 calories.

issyfit

I'm glad eating so much fruit works for you. For me all that sugar would give me cravings much more than a nice bowl of thick cut oatmeal with a little fruit and yogurt or scrambled eggs with lots of veggies.