Some of my major body & lifestyle philosophies (and how I keep up with them!):
Eat the Rainbow: I have always been a health foodie, hence my Jamie Oliver obsession. Combine that with the fact that I am a vegetarian and well let's just say it gets pretty creative in my kitchen. There's no wrong way to do fruits and veggies, its not like meat where heaven forbid something is cooked too long or not long enough! Play around with textures and combinations. One simple way to do this if you don't want a veggie only meal is to pick a base- so oatmeal, yogurt, noodles etc- and top it with at least 2-3 different plant based items. Cooking in big batches at the start of the week or meals the night before is the only way I can make sure to grab healthy options. Flavors are your friend, add seasonings and spices to your heart's content!
Liquids are magical: I rarely drink sodas or store-bought juices. Our bodies crave water, and after you incorporate more water into your diet you will see how odd they feel after a sugar loaded drink. This is a slow transition for most people, so don't beat yourself up to much just try to cut down on the bad stuff.
Other good fluids are homemade vegetable soups, pretty much any combination of broth and veggies heated for about an hour, pureed if desired, makes a super low calorie filling options.
Juices/smoothies are another absolute favorite. Fruit ones are good, but keep in mind sugar. It always helps to incorporate vibrant veggies like spinach, beets, and kale. I usually add ginger and cinnamon to mine for their awesome health properties, as well as for flavor.
Every step counts: Whether it means taking the stairs or walking rather than driving- every extra bit of activity is a good thing. I recently downloaded Map My Fitness because it keeps track of pace, calories, distance, etc during my daily walks to and from school. I highly recommend it for runners too.
Inspiration/Tools
Other tools I use beside Map My Fitness include the Blogilates App and MyFitnessPal.
- Blogilates features workout videos from Cassey Ho whose motto "Train like a beast, look like a beauty" explains it all. There are also instagram-like forums for sharing meals, motivation, and recipes. I adore seeing other people's ideas for super simple healthy options with minimal ingredients.
- MyFitnessPal remains my absolute favorite database for logging meals because it has such comprehensive lists and gives me nutrient breakdowns for the day. I always need to make sure I get enough protein and iron so this really helps.
