Featured image credit: Unearthed Comics

Let’s face it – when it comes to eating healthier and having a healthier life style, although we all have the best of intentions, most of us usually fall short of our goal to obtain a healthier diet and healthy lifestyle habits (at least I know I do). Typically, a reason why we might fail may be because we attempt to do a complete 180° turn with our diets, and actually end up making a 360° turn instead to be right back where we started. Rather than attempting to do these drastic changes all at once, why not try these few baby steps first? After all, what matters most is that you are indeed making progress and heading closer to the healthy life style that your body deserves. What better place to start these wonderful steps than your own workplace? Work is a great place to begin to make healthy habits, while also going at your own pace. In my opinion, a healthier lifestyle is really more like a marathon, not a sprint race. Therefore: On your mark, get set, Get Healthy!

1. Cut back on the sugar… Maybe way back.

Photo credit: Robert Pavich

One of the biggest enemies to our bodies is the incredible amount of sugar that we feed it. It can cause numerous problems with our digestive system since bad bacteria (stomach yeast) feed off of sugar, and it is also the cause of many other health issues – we all know the big one: Diabetes. Now, this is a tricky one; often times we consume sugar without even knowing it. A good way to start cutting back is to eliminate sugary drinks. Some of these include: Soda/Pop, Juices, Coffee (depending on the amount of sugar you put in it), energy drinks, etc. (I have personally eliminated all drinks altogether that are not water or the occasional cup of coffee – no sugar, just black! O_O). So, basically, my best advice would be for you to stick to water as much as you possibly can. When I was carrying my second child, this was a big struggle for me, I was a big Twinkie eater and juice drinker (you can imagine all the sugary cravings *_*). So my doctor recommended that instead of having a glass of juice, to just eat a piece of fruit, then drink some water. This is not to say that you can’t have any sugar at all (fruits are great for you and they have natural sugar), or that you shouldn’t have an occasional sugary drink (remember – baby steps!), but do your best to stay hydrated with the best that nature has provided us with: Water. While at work, get a bottle of water with your lunch instead, and encourage your fellow co-workers to join in on the water challenge. It can be a fun journey for everyone! It’s also good to remember that most packaged foods do not include the natural amount of sugar on their Nutritional Facts – for the most part, they only include the additional sugar added to the product. Can you imagine how much more sugar you are actually consuming with most of these things? Yikes!

2. To Snack or not to Snack?

Photo Credit:  Steven Guzzardi

Aaahh how we love a good snack; cheese puffs are my go-to! But let’s be real, cheese puffs do absolutely nothing good for my body. Snack time is usually a very weak time for a lot of us, because who doesn’t love to snack – especially at work? However, most of these snacks are filled with sugar, packed with carbs and calories, and since we’re only having them as “snacks” we might think that we’re in the clear. But we’re often mistaken – big time; a lot of us will eat endless, empty calories throughout the day without giving it a second thought. So what are some good alternatives to the bowls of chocolates, chips, and candy at work? For one, fruits are a great choice (I know, totally unexpected, right?). Fruits are packed with lots of vitamins and although they contain sugar, at least it is a natural sugar that’s going into your body. We all know the old saying “An apple a day keeps a doctor away!” Although this may not literally be the case, do take advantage of the great benefits that fruits have to offer. My personal favorites are bananas, cherries, and avocados (yeah, Avocado is not the most popular, but it is great for you!). Another alternative would be nuts. Nuts have great nutritional value and healthy fats that will turn into energy, so they serve as a good “boost” as well. Bring some of these to work with you and place some nuts in a bowl instead of candy or chocolates. On most mornings, I try to make a smoothie with lots of berries, a vegetable (usually kale or spinach), almond milk and nuts, and I drink it before or on my way to work. These are simple and take a few minutes to make, and although I’m no Mixologist, I think they’re pretty tasty =).

3. Got Milk? Maybe you shouldn’t…

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Many people will disagree with me on this one (my mother included), but I guess it’s all based on what you’ve researched. According to some scientific studies, milk does more harm to your body than it does well. Some of these studies claim that the calcium found in milk is actually not able to be absorbed by your body. Now, some also argue that raw milk is actually great for you, and that it’s the milk we find at our common grocery stores that is bad for you. Author of best-selling book “Grain Brain,” David Perlmutter, says that dairy can be enjoyed in moderation, and that what you definitely want to avoid is low-fat and skim milk/dairy products. His reasoning is that low-fat milk has less fat in it, and more lactose sugar. In our society we are wired to believe that in order to be healthy we have to stay away from “fat” like our life depended on it. But, as you will find it, healthy fats are great for you! (Notice I said healthy fats – these can be found in nuts, avocados, meats, and other delicious, natural treats).  A great alternative to milk is Almond milk. Almond milk is a great source of vitamins and, unlike milk (for some of us), it will most likely get along much, much better with your tummy ^_^.  So, stay away from milk altogether? Well, although I’d say yes, some will say that maybe not completely. Nevertheless, milk/dairy is definitely something you’d be advised to keep an eye on. Maybe instead of creamer or milk in your coffee, try bringing some almond milk to work and using that instead.

In conclusion…

Now you know of some good ways to start your healthy journey: cut back on sugar, eat healthier snacks, and cut back (or modify) your milk/dairy consumption. Maybe we’re not all cut out to easily be the absolute healthiest (although there are lucky ones who have no problem at all!), but we can always do our best. Whether it’s in the work place or in our own personal time, we can always try to move a step closer each and every day to treat our body as the beautiful temple that it is. And keep in mind that these are just some suggestions; if you have other and/or easier baby steps that work better for you, absolutely go for them! Remember it is a marathon, not a sprint. Go get healthy! =)

Written by Nayadee Wilson