Simple Tips to a Healthier You

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A diet and exercise plan is as unique as you are. There is a ton of information out there that guarantees to help you achieve your health goals. This can be overwhelming! I know I was at first. I've heard fitness trainers say that when it comes to diet and exercise, the biggest battle you have is mental. You already have the desire to want to be healthier but what can you do to help you cope mentally from desire to success. I believe it has a lot to do with our choices and sometimes we fall into temptation of poor health habits. Yes, diet and exercise is hard, but how do you feel when you revisit the unhappy state of your health. Start with your environment and make small adjustments to promote healthy habits. Here are tips that have worked for me and my family:

The Salad Plate. I had a dinner guest point out something funny and interesting. He said he was surprised at how thin we were with such good food. To this I responded that it was because of the size of our plates. Although I said it jokingly, this was an aha moment where I realized many of our choices, even with the size of our dinnerware, made an impact on our health. Health professionals have stated that most people eat way more in one sitting than they should. Portion control, I know...nothing exciting about that. By using a salad plate it helps us portion control by not having to feel like we need to fill every corner of a large dinner plate.

Don't Do Seconds. This will be hard at first. I grew up in a home where big portions was a good thing and encouraged as part of a healthy appetite. I struggled with this often because I have always been kind of petite. A lot of that I attribute to practicing self restraint even when I was criticized by family for being too skinny. Yes, genetics have some play in it but my parents are a bit heavier set now in their older years, something I didn't want for myself. Because I wasn't taught self restraint as a kid when it came to food, I've definitely taken an active role in teaching this concept to my kids. The rule is we don't do seconds for less healthier things like cereal and sugary treats. We do however allow seconds of food that is healthier like veggies and fruit. More often than not, the kids finish what is on their plate and they are less apt to be picky eaters.

Skip Dessert. Dessert is the icing on the cake so to speak. Everyone loves that part of dinner right? Well, rather than be bummed out that we don't get to have the treat we made or bought, we just skip offering it altogether. We really only have a dessert prepared when guests visit (rethinking this) or for a birthday. We rarely order dessert at restaurants which not only saves our health, but also our money.

Stick to Water. This is something I struggle with because of habits formed in my younger years. Soda was something we always had at home. We don't keep soda in the home now. If it is anywhere, we will consume it. If we do have it, we will choose something that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup. Whole Foods is our go to place for less sugary alternatives. Best option is to not even purchase it. Even when you go out to eat. I've noticed that the kids' mood is much better when they don't have any. Water is much less expensive and your body functions better with it. I had a friend in high school who that was all she drank and carried around a massive water bottle. I had never seen a teenager with such flawless skin. If this is something you absolutely cannot give up right now, try reducing how much you do have. Stick to having 8 oz cups only in the house instead of the 16 oz. Seconds rule also applies to sugary drinks in our home; no more than one cup of them, but have all you want of water.

Make Small Adjustments. Something amazing happens when you make one healthy choice, it is easier to continue making them. Know what is in the food you buy. The more I research about healthy food, I realize that so much out there is unhealthy yet readily available. This is why I can't stress enough that you need to do your homework and learn how to select healthier options. We used to buy any wheat bread thinking that it was healthier than white bread. Later I found out that most are only made to look healthier. We constantly look at our food labels now, even the kids do, and we leave anything that contains high fructose corn syrup or doesn't at a minimum contain whole grains. The less processed your choices, the better. Another small adjustment we made was to switch from beef to turkey. What we found was that turkey is not only a leaner meat, it is also cheaper in some instances. Make small adjustments to what you currently use. This will help the change be a little more manageable and increase your chances of sticking to it.

Incorporate Vegetables. We try to incorporate a vegetable with our lunch and dinner. If it is not in the main dish, serve it on the side. Sometimes we run out of a fresh veggie option, so we keep frozen steamable packs in our freezer for a quick way to serve them up. If you can, grow a vegetable garden. If you don't have a ton of space, even keeping a tomato plant will be a better alternative than buying from the store.

Limit Eating Out. It is sometimes the busy mom's go to when the day is demanding of our time. I've had days when we are out running errands and the kids start to get hangry, myself included. It is so much easier to just hop on the drive through lane at a local fast food place, but not the best choice. Plan ahead if possible and pack some snacks and a few bottled waters. This will tie you guys over until you can get home and get lunch. If we plan on being gone longer, we sometimes just go ahead and pack lunch. Again, healthier option and saves you money. You don't have to completely eliminate eating out. We limit ourselves to eating out as a family to once a month. That way you don't have to feel deprived at not splurging once in a while. For us it has become an incentive for being good all month.

Every Step Matters. I was running errands with my kids the other day and pulled into a parking lot. I first attempted to find a parking spot close to the entrance of the store. Well, many other people also had the same goal in mind and some waited for people loading their groceries in order to get what they presumed was a prime spot. I wasn't that determined to park close so I decided to turn into a spot further down. To my surprise the kids didn't even complain about it because they were wearing their pedometers and were happy to get more steps in. I had totally forgot they carried those things around, but came to realize they work hard at beating their previous step count. Parking a little further away from the store not only provides you with more parking options (including less opportunity for dings on your car) but also promotes getting a little more exercise in. If you are a visual person, then by all means invest in a pedometer to track your progress. Maybe that will also encourage you to take the stairs whenever possible instead of an elevator. And when visiting a shopping mall, park on the opposite end of your destination to get a little extra walking. In a hurry? Speed-walking can save you time and is a great form of cardio. Every step counts!

Don't be discouraged if your attempts appear to be insignificant. Remember the words of Alma "...by small and simple things are great things come to pass." (Alma 37:6). Any change and accomplishment, whether small or big, can have great effect on your well being. These are simple adjustments that anyone can make. Not only can they save money, but also promote a healthier you. A healthier you is also a happier you!