Caving to Cravings? Here Are 5 Ways to Return to Your Healthy Eating Habits

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We’ve all been there. You’ve had a long day, you’re starving, and a take-out meal sounds way more appealing than cooking something healthy. It’s just a little naughty indulgence as a reward for surviving the day . . . but now that little indulgence happens a few days a week. And before you know it, you’ve fallen out of your healthy eating habits.

First of all let me say this: it’s OK.

We all lose control sometimes, or are overwhelmed by our demanding schedules. There’s nothing wrong with a little sneaky treat every once in a while to remind us to loosen up.

It’s when those treats become an almost everyday occasion that it becomes a problem and starts to wreck your healthy eating habits. The five steps in this article will help you pick yourself up and get you back on the healthy eating train.

Here Are 5 Ways to Return to Your Healthy Eating Habits

1. Familiarize Yourself With Your Unique Hunger

It’s important to learn how your body feels when you’re actually hungry in order to regain your healthy eating habits. Cravings will come out of nowhere, and you can be overcome with the intense urge to eat a donut.

But when you start to feel the urge for sweets or fries, pause and listen to your body. Are you actually hungry, or is it just a craving?

If you aren’t hungry, reach for a piece of sugar-free gum to occupy your taste buds. If you are hungry, reach for fruit like strawberries or an apple that have natural sugars that can help put that sweet tooth to rest.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Set goals for yourself that you know you can achieve. If you ultimately want to eliminate processed foods altogether, don’t try to do it all at once. Take it one step at a time so you feel empowered – as opposed to overwhelmed – to reach your goal.

When it comes to your healthy eating habits, if it’s difficult for you to cut back on junk food, try to limit yourself to once a week. Allow yourself to indulge on Friday night (only) as a reward for doing so well during the rest of the week. Just remember to reserve your treats for Friday, and avoid letting them sneak into the rest of your week.

3. Plan Your Meals

One of the biggest struggles of maintaining healthy eating habits is setting time aside to cook . . . which is where meal prepping comes in. Meal prepping for the week can take as little as an hour! Try different prepped meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to find a routine that works well for you.

Just remember: whatever you’re prepping, make sure you’re making food you like to eat. Otherwise, it will be completely unappetizing when it’s time to eat.

4. Create a Schedule . . . and Stick to It

Time management is so important for healthy eating habits, especially if you often use “I’m too busy” as a convenient excuse. Instead of working yourself to death aimlessly, figure out what absolutely needs to be done for the day and work on only those tasks.

There is no need to get yourself worked up about Friday’s tasks on Monday. By prioritizing your work and creating a schedule, you’ll free up time to get back to meal prepping or exercising.

5. Hit the Gym

Start out small, and look up routines if you aren’t sure what to do. A regular gym routine will help you with your healthy eating habits because it’ll help you crave healthy food that fuels your body. And if the gym isn’t your thing, get outside for a hike or take up a different form of fitness.

There are great online yoga classes that can help you strengthen, stretch, and tone. There are also apps that help you set daily reminders for you to practice yoga or get out for a walk. There are so many options, you just have to find the one that works best for you!

When you’re committed to a fitness routine, you’re more easily able to stay committed to healthy eating habits.

It’s Time to Get Your Healthy Eating Habits Back On Track

Getting off track with your healthy eating habits can be discouraging and uncomfortable. But trust me – you will find the motivation to get back! You just have to go back to the beginning.

Start with eating foods that make your body happy, and exercises that won’t put you over the edge at the start. Over time you will start to remember how good it feels to feel good, and you will find that motivation to push yourself harder.

Happy healthy eating, everyone!

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