Most of us have experienced a chaotic time in our lives–anywhere from a few days to a few months–where a healthy lifestyle is low on the priority list.
For our family, after Kidlet was born last summer was one of those times. Good luck trying to find time to even make it to the grocery store with a newborn, let alone cook dinner every night! We lived on granola and yogurt, sandwiches, and Chipotle for the first six weeks.
No shame… you gotta do what you gotta do as a first-time parent!
Nonetheless, healthy living is an incredibly important part of our lives. So once Kidlet started sleeping a bit more, we were eager to get back to meal prepping, exercising regularly, and taking time for ourselves (for mental health).
Now that I feel we’re really back in the groove, I thought I’d share a few tips for anyone who’s looking to get into or get back to a healthy lifestyle. (The key word here being lifestyle–because crash diets and crazy fitness programs aren’t our thing!)
- Make small, sustainable changes. For example, for food, you could aim to prep three dinners’ worth of meals once per week on Sunday afternoon (that’s what I do!). You have to be realistic with your goals. Committing to the Whole30 when you’ve been eating prepared foods and going out to restaurants for the past few months? Probably not realistic for most people.
- At the very least, have plenty of ready-to-eat fruits and veggies on hand at all times. We aim to always have 3 fruits (bananas, apples + whatever was on sale that week) and 3 veggies (pre-washed salad greens, cherry tomatoes + carrot, pepper or cucumber sticks) in the fridge. Most people aren’t going to bother to eat a salad if they have to wash and chop all the ingredients every single time. This way, you don’t have an excuse to not eat fruits and veggies!
- Focus on adding things to your plate, not taking them away. Making “food rules” for yourself is a diet, and diets don’t work. Instead, focus on adding more fruits, veggies, protein and healthy fats–leaving less room for sugar, simple carbs and other nutrient-poor foods.
- Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan! The time to decide what to eat for dinner is not when you’ve gotten home exhausted and hungry at 6pm, and there’s nothing in the fridge.
- Cook big batches for dinners. Always make leftovers! I love to cook but I also love not having to cook every night (which totally burns me out). Leftovers are also great for lunch because they tend to be healthier than a sandwich or takeout, two go-to’s for busy people.
- Take stock of your grocery cart. Your cart should look fresh and colorful! Stick to shopping around the perimeter of the store and less in the middle where the prepared foods are.
- Drink more water. I hate when people say, “If you’re hungry, just drink a glass of water” because that’s bad advice sometimes. Obviously a glass of water won’t help if it’s dinnertime! But if you’re feeling snackish late at night, it is possible you could be dehydrated–so it’s worth a try.
- If you want “prepared” foods, make them yourself. We love granola, muffins, cookies, etc. as much as anyone else. An easy way to moderate our intake is to simply make them ourselves. I certainly do not have time to bake everyday! They’re almost always healthier than the storebought versions when I do bake, too.
- Exercise doesn’t have to be intense. Right now, I go for 1-3 walks a day around our neighborhood or at the park. I’m usually pushing a stroller, so I’m not exactly booking it–but it’s enough activity for me at the moment. Sure you can go all out with a gym membership or fitness class, but just getting active and outside makes a huge difference.
- Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. So many times we think of healthy living as all about food and exercise–but our taking care of our mental health is just as important. Right now, I have three scheduled times per week to be by myself and have Eric take care of the baby. I get coffee and work or read on Wednesday mornings. On Saturday, I have a food photography session. And I take a long walk alone on Sunday afternoons. I would go crazy without these times and enjoy Kidlet and homemaking a lot less. Always make time for your own personal growth and relaxation!
What are your tips for starting a healthy lifestyle or getting back to one after a busy season of life?
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