Healthy Eating Habits
Having healthy eating habits promotes good mental and physical health. Eating foods that supply appropriate nutrition for energy, growth, recovery, and repair of the physical body, as well as support for proper cognitive functioning, is essential to overall wellness. Food can directly affect the reward system, resulting in emotional responses, and as such, can be misused. In addition, what we consume along with our physical activity plays a significant role in body habitus, which can also affect emotional state, self-esteem, and social functioning. Before making any dietary changes, please discuss any impact on health conditions or interactions with medications with your primary care doctor.
Winning Mind states:
Be intentional when considering your food choices.
Take the approach of establishing a nutritional relationship as opposed to restriction
Limit the use of food as a Reward System
Actions:
- Minimize processed sugars, salt, and or overly processed foods
- Avoid the elimination of any macronutrient, such as a fat-free or carb-free diet
- Ensure adequate protein and fat to provide a sense of satiety.
- Choose healthy cooking methods: broiling, baking, grilling, and air frying
- Keep healthy snacks readily available
- Limit the use of alcohol (calories and disinhibition)
- Stay Hydrated
- Know your true metabolic needs.
- Avoid overreliance on supplements
- Give yourself a break
Consider consultation with a registered dietitian for professional guidance.
For additional information regarding Healthy Eating Habits
Harvard Healthy Eating Plate