How do I start eating healthy?

bskiles18
bskiles18 Posts: 4 Member
edited February 13 in Food and Nutrition
I need to start eating healthier but I don't know how/where to start. I use to workout and do the exercise bike about 5 days a week, so even though I was still eating a lot of junk it kind of balanced out and I was able to stay in decent shape. Over the past year or so my exercising has slowly declined and now it's at a point where I don't even remember the last time I was at the gym. I still weigh about the same weight but pretty much all the muscle I had is turning into flab. I know if I don't start eating better and exercising regularly again, it's really going to start catching up to me as I get older (I'm only 20, now). The only problem is that I'm a SUPER picky eater, so I'm really confused as to how to start eating better and I need some guidance. I can eat broccoli, carrots, and sometimes small amounts of lettuce as long as they're mixed in with things but that's about it and I can't eat them by themselves. My fruit intake is also at poor levels. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind though, that I'm actor living in Los Angeles and I'm on a budget. Thanks!

Replies

  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Define healthy? I had Del Taco this week, and Panda Express just yesterday. I also have ice cream and chocolate and other assorted sweets throughout the week, and I consider this perfectly healthy. Are you just looking for ways to get more fruits and veggies into your diet? What are your specific goals?

    Rigger
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Try a new vegetable every week. If you like it, add it to your list. If not, try it again in a few weeks (it doesn't count as your new veggies for that week, though). Try everything at least three times before crossing it off.

    Try them roasted. Cut just about any veggie into bite sized pieces, toss in 1 Tbsp of olive oil and spread in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes, until they begin to brown.

    Dice veggies to add to meatloaf or meatballs.
  • brevislux
    brevislux Posts: 1,093 Member
    Do you cook for yourself? Because that's step one I think...
  • bskiles18
    bskiles18 Posts: 4 Member
    I do make my own food but currently that includes: ramen, easy mac, and cereal.
  • Quieau
    Quieau Posts: 428 Member
    yep, you have to decide what 'healthy' means to you. for me, it's organic, even ice cream and pizza. (full real fat, grass fed butter and meats, real sugar instead of corn syrup or artificial sweeteners). for others, 'healthy' means diet coke and lean cuisine. (YECCCCH! poison!)

    and there are lots of variations on both themes. for health reasons, i cannot eat fruits, veggies, nuts, tea, cocoa or whole grains. all the stuff that is super healthy for others gets me in real trouble, so i have to go weeks without those and when i do eat them, do so with such frugality it compares to how others eat sugar or fat. but i am still losing weight because it's really all about calories in and calories out. the healthfulness of your diet will have more impact on your overall health and longevity but no so much on the weight loss.

    that said, my vote is, as stated above, for real food made with organic ingredients. if i can buy that quality already made, i do ... if not, i cook myself. i bake my own bread, make my own 'fast food' and store it in the freezer for convenience. i sometimes eat out, but am usually pretty picky about making sure it's not out of a can or freezer truck. the occasional drive-thru but will look for a smoked pit bbq place rather than a chain like mcd's or taco bell whenever possible. also, grocery store delis usually have better options than most drive-thru windows.

    it's about your personal goals and health status. the younger set tend to not worry so much about ingesting toxins but the older you get, the more it matters. trust me. :)
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I do make my own food but currently that includes: ramen, easy mac, and cereal.

    Add broccoli to your ramen, fresh basil to your mac and raspberries to your cereal.
  • bskiles18
    bskiles18 Posts: 4 Member
    By eating healthy, I mean including more fruits and veggies into my diet.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    By eating healthy, I mean including more fruits and veggies into my diet.

    As the above poster said, add some broccoli to your ramen, or even your mac-n-cheese, and fruit to your cereal. How do you feel about stir-fry? Great way to do veggies with some protein. Also, a blender is pretty cheap, toss in some assorted fruits and a scoop or two if ice cream, instant fruit milkshake.

    Rigger
  • bskiles18
    bskiles18 Posts: 4 Member
    By eating healthy, I mean including more fruits and veggies into my diet.

    As the above poster said, add some broccoli to your ramen, or even your mac-n-cheese, and fruit to your cereal. How do you feel about stir-fry? Great way to do veggies with some protein. Also, a blender is pretty cheap, toss in some assorted fruits and a scoop or two if ice cream, instant fruit milkshake.

    Rigger
    I do love stir fry! It's one of the things I can eat broccoli in.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    By eating healthy, I mean including more fruits and veggies into my diet.

    As the above poster said, add some broccoli to your ramen, or even your mac-n-cheese, and fruit to your cereal. How do you feel about stir-fry? Great way to do veggies with some protein. Also, a blender is pretty cheap, toss in some assorted fruits and a scoop or two if ice cream, instant fruit milkshake.

    Rigger
    I do love stir fry! It's one of the things I can eat broccoli in.

    Well there ya go, you can toss just about anything in stir-fry, add some chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, or tofu if you're a veg, and you have a meal. Fried rice with veggies is also highly recommended.

    Rigger
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