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Healthy Eating Habits! (I need some)
Rainfall
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Long story short, I've been living away from home for about a year now, so I'm responsible for my own damn food. Unfortunately, when it comes to food I have an extremely short attention span. I'll think 'I'm hungry,' and five minutes later be lost in dreamland playing with my screaming Cthulhu plushies.
The net result of this is that I'm eating maybe twice a day, if that, and I'm either eating huuuge portions that make me feel bloated and sick afterwards because I was starving, or I just eat a tiny bit and then forget to finish it until it is cold and not-nice.
So, uh... what's a good way to start getting a regular intake of food? Any habits I should start forming?
(I'm not particularly worried about the healthiness of the food I eat, I watch that on my own. What I need is a way to start eating REGULARLY so that I don't end up doing bizarre eating/time gymnastics)
The net result of this is that I'm eating maybe twice a day, if that, and I'm either eating huuuge portions that make me feel bloated and sick afterwards because I was starving, or I just eat a tiny bit and then forget to finish it until it is cold and not-nice.
So, uh... what's a good way to start getting a regular intake of food? Any habits I should start forming?
(I'm not particularly worried about the healthiness of the food I eat, I watch that on my own. What I need is a way to start eating REGULARLY so that I don't end up doing bizarre eating/time gymnastics)
Rainfall on
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The food kind of depends on you - are you trying to gain weight? Lose weight? Maintain? You'll be wanting to have a good amount of protein in your diet, which can come from a variety of things - eggs, chicken breast, protein shakes, lentils - and a good amount of carbs with a low glycemic index such as whole grain foods and veggies. You'll be wanting a good amount of mono- and polyunsaturated fats, such as salmon, nuts, olive oil, that kind of thing. And of course, the amount of this kind of food depends on if you're trying to lose, gain or maintain weight - less calories if you're trying to lose, more calories if you're trying to gain.
If you want some really good information, I suggest the fitness thread in this forum. They really know their stuff and are happy to answer any of your questions.
On the subject of breakfast, when I wake up I am simply never hungry. I don't eat right before bed(hell I normally go to bed feeling pretty hungry but too tired to get food) and then when I wake up I just have a glass of water or something and that's it. Should I just eat anyway? Not to mention, is cereal(like corn flakes or something) and milk a good breakfast, or should I be trying something a bit more complicated? What would set me up for the day, I guess is what I'm asking.
No heavy carbs after lunch? Why not? What IS a 'heavy carb' anyway? I eat a lot of bread/buns when I have some in the kitchen but that's just light carbs is it not?
My habits have improved drastically over the last few years and although the main catalyst is most certainly my girlfriend something that has REALLY helped has been to develop an actual interest in cooking, and in supporting local, organic produce.
Cooking has now become an actual activity that I enjoy engaging in, rather than something which is easily forgotten about. We're also actually growing our own veg and salad now too.
My suggestion would be to pick a couple of nights a week where you plan a proper meal to cook. Source all the ingredients locally if you can - find an amazing local butcher, or fishmonger, or whatever - and take pride in the presentation, as if you're cooking a restautant meal. Perhaps even invite friends over and cook for them.
Forcing yourself to plan meals, even just a couple of times a week, will get you into a routine which you might then be able to expand to becoming daily.
If you're not a breakfast person (I'm certainly not either) then I suggest fruit. Easy and healthy.
Yup. Grab a bunch of bananas. They are cheap, easy to prepare (uhhh, just peel) and help the body absorb vitamins and minerals. Also, drink a big glass of water in the morning.
I love breakfast but even on mornings I'm not hungry, I still make myself have at least SOMETHING.
As an example, I have cereal and a protein shake in the morning every morning I wake up in my own home. For lunch at work, I bring 2 bananas, a sandwich, a yogurt and some carrots. I try to use each item almost like a small snack and eat throughout the day. I'm not always hungry, but I've found that eating something anyways helps with both the metabolism and I usually have a little more energy every day. I'm not usually very hungry for dinner and might grab a yogurt or make some eggs or toast.
If you bring smaller packed items, like a ziplock bag of fruit or something to snack on along with one item you consider lunch, in my case a sandwich, it might be easier to just snack every other hour or something.
These are very good and have a lot of good things in them for you.
I personally try to get things that are high fiber. Usually you can find bread that is like this or cereal or any other type of food. High fiber things are usually healthier for obvious reasons.
Stay away from Ramen Noodles or any other "quick fix" meal. Microwavable meals are not good for you, even the "diet" ones. They have so much stuff added to them that just aren't good for your body. And above all else, eat a lot of natural foods. Fruits, Vegetables, Eggs, Milk, Water, Meat, etc... Things that aren't processed are very healthy.