Tank (c/o of Shopbop) // Leggings (c/o of Shopbop) // Water Bottle (have you ever seen someone hold a water bottle so awkwardly??)
Healthy living is always a priority for me, but with spring and a vacation coming up, it's on my mind more than ever at the moment! I thought I would share some tips and tricks that [in my opinion] are totally doable, and not too intimidating. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave me a comment or message me on social media, because I would love to chat more!
01 | Sneak a big handful of spinach into your smoothies and smoothie bowls. The first time I tried this I was shocked that I couldn't taste the spinach. I've never enjoyed eating spinach, so I put this off for way too long, but now it's an everyday practice for me. Breakfast isn't normally a meal where we eat a full serving of vegetables, so I love that this gets me on the right track for the day!
02 | Take a re-usable water bottle with you absolutely everywhere. I drink twice as much water as I used to because I now make it a priority to have one of my reusable water bottles with me pretty much at all times! These are my favorite water bottles + tumblers, and I love that they keep my water nice and cold. You can read more about why water is such a priority for me + the benefits I've seen from upping my daily intake here.
03 | Plan a few dinners at a time. This makes all the difference for me between a healthy week and an unhealthy week. If I'm already set up with a game plan and have all of my groceries at home, then it's simple to put together a healthy meal. No planning = unhealthy takeout for me and that can really derail a week (not that it's not fine here and there, but I can't get away with doing that every night).
04 | Use reusable shopping bags and baskets for shopping. As time goes on I'm trying to reduce how much plastic I use (waste). An easy way to do this is to use reusable shopping bags! They reduce pollution and waste, and are actually so convenient. I've started getting better about keeping some in my car so that I don't show up at the grocery store empty handed. I'm planning to order these to use instead of the plastic bags you put produce in, and I also have a large woven basket (made by women in Ghana - I purchased at a health food store) that I take to the grocery store along with my bags.
05 | Add some liquid chlorophyll to your water. Liquid chlorophyll has so many health benefits, including having many different vitamins and minerals, detoxing the body, oxygenating the blood, helping with anemia, improving the skin, and making the body more alkaline. I don't mind the taste at all, and just add a tablespoon or so into my tumbler of water once or twice a day. I use this brand, but can usually find it for a few dollars cheaper at a health food store (a bottle lasts me 2-3 months!).
06 | Grab a friend and try a new workout class. Trying a new workout not only keeps things interesting, but is also great for your body! Many of us get into ruts with our workouts, but it's so healthy to mix things up and work your muscles differently. I recently tried a Piyo class for the first time, and would love to try a boxing or kickboxing class sometime this year. As a hardcore introvert I can be bad at making plans with friends, but scheduling a workout class with someone is a great way to both socialize + be accountable for actually going.
07 | Add more fiber into your diet. I recently listened to a Skinny Confidential Him and Her Podcast episode with Tanya Zuckerbrot of the F-Factor diet, and learned soooo much about the importance of fiber! My favorite nutritionist Kelly Leveque also encourages eating more fiber. Most Americans don't eat nearly enough fiber, partially because we don't eat enough vegetables, and because many of our foods and grains have been modified so much. Fiber helps to cleanse your body, helps to control blood sugar, and helps to keep hunger hormones at bay. I plan to do a dedicated blog post soon, but one way I've been upping my fiber intake is by eating GG crackers nearly every day. They're super high in fiber, low in calories and carbs, and even though they're super bland on their own, there are so many ways you can eat them (I've pretty much replaced bread with them)! I add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds into my daily smoothie, and beans, berries, brussels sprouts, broccoli and pears are all high fiber foods as well.
08 | Wear SPF every single day. Now that preventing aging is on my mind more and more, I know it's time to start wearing a dedicated SPF on my face every single day (beyond what is in my foundation). I've been researching several different products, but am planning to order this one first!
09 | Swap almond milk for dairy milk. This is obviously up to personal preference, but I like that unsweetened almond milk is low in calories, doesn't raise blood sugar, and doesn't have the hormones found in dairy milk. I very much limit how much dairy I eat due to the hormones in it, and trying to keep acne at bay. So almond milk has been a great solution for me!
10 | Partner with an accountability buddy. This one doesn't cost a thing, but makes allll the difference for me! At the start of the year, my friend Jo and I decided we would text our daily food diary to one another every night! While I've definitely splurged here and there, it's really helped to hold me accountable, and has definitely reduced my mindless snacking! It's also way healthier mentally for me than counting calories, and it's nice to encourage one another!
03 | Plan a few dinners at a time. This makes all the difference for me between a healthy week and an unhealthy week. If I'm already set up with a game plan and have all of my groceries at home, then it's simple to put together a healthy meal. No planning = unhealthy takeout for me and that can really derail a week (not that it's not fine here and there, but I can't get away with doing that every night).
04 | Use reusable shopping bags and baskets for shopping. As time goes on I'm trying to reduce how much plastic I use (waste). An easy way to do this is to use reusable shopping bags! They reduce pollution and waste, and are actually so convenient. I've started getting better about keeping some in my car so that I don't show up at the grocery store empty handed. I'm planning to order these to use instead of the plastic bags you put produce in, and I also have a large woven basket (made by women in Ghana - I purchased at a health food store) that I take to the grocery store along with my bags.
05 | Add some liquid chlorophyll to your water. Liquid chlorophyll has so many health benefits, including having many different vitamins and minerals, detoxing the body, oxygenating the blood, helping with anemia, improving the skin, and making the body more alkaline. I don't mind the taste at all, and just add a tablespoon or so into my tumbler of water once or twice a day. I use this brand, but can usually find it for a few dollars cheaper at a health food store (a bottle lasts me 2-3 months!).
06 | Grab a friend and try a new workout class. Trying a new workout not only keeps things interesting, but is also great for your body! Many of us get into ruts with our workouts, but it's so healthy to mix things up and work your muscles differently. I recently tried a Piyo class for the first time, and would love to try a boxing or kickboxing class sometime this year. As a hardcore introvert I can be bad at making plans with friends, but scheduling a workout class with someone is a great way to both socialize + be accountable for actually going.
07 | Add more fiber into your diet. I recently listened to a Skinny Confidential Him and Her Podcast episode with Tanya Zuckerbrot of the F-Factor diet, and learned soooo much about the importance of fiber! My favorite nutritionist Kelly Leveque also encourages eating more fiber. Most Americans don't eat nearly enough fiber, partially because we don't eat enough vegetables, and because many of our foods and grains have been modified so much. Fiber helps to cleanse your body, helps to control blood sugar, and helps to keep hunger hormones at bay. I plan to do a dedicated blog post soon, but one way I've been upping my fiber intake is by eating GG crackers nearly every day. They're super high in fiber, low in calories and carbs, and even though they're super bland on their own, there are so many ways you can eat them (I've pretty much replaced bread with them)! I add 1-2 tablespoons of chia seeds into my daily smoothie, and beans, berries, brussels sprouts, broccoli and pears are all high fiber foods as well.
08 | Wear SPF every single day. Now that preventing aging is on my mind more and more, I know it's time to start wearing a dedicated SPF on my face every single day (beyond what is in my foundation). I've been researching several different products, but am planning to order this one first!
09 | Swap almond milk for dairy milk. This is obviously up to personal preference, but I like that unsweetened almond milk is low in calories, doesn't raise blood sugar, and doesn't have the hormones found in dairy milk. I very much limit how much dairy I eat due to the hormones in it, and trying to keep acne at bay. So almond milk has been a great solution for me!
10 | Partner with an accountability buddy. This one doesn't cost a thing, but makes allll the difference for me! At the start of the year, my friend Jo and I decided we would text our daily food diary to one another every night! While I've definitely splurged here and there, it's really helped to hold me accountable, and has definitely reduced my mindless snacking! It's also way healthier mentally for me than counting calories, and it's nice to encourage one another!
