These habits address the three factors at the core of all our eating behaviors: where we eat, what we eat, and how we eat. While there are multiple factors and habits that impact our food choices, we’ve found these habits are the first step most folks need to take in their journey. Here’s why:
• Stock For Success
Where we eat
What we have on hand—at home, work, in the car, etc.—impacts our food decisions. You can only eat what is available to you, and alternatively you cannot eat what is not there. Therefore, you can only make changes to what you eat by first changing the food that’s available to you.
• Eat Plant Foods
What we eat
While there are many ways to fine-tune our diets, the very first thing to consider is balancing everything you eat with healthful foods. It can be helpful to first focus on getting enough fruits and veggies every time you eat—that automatically balances other food choices. The simplest way to do this is by practicing Half-Plate Healthy: Fill half of every plate with fruits and veggies and half with anything else. It’s easy, visual, and can be practiced by anyone, anytime, for any meal, snack or dessert.
• Eat Mindfully
How we eat
The way we approach food—our mindset and feelings about food and eating—impacts the decisions we make about food. Often, a negative mindset can lead to decisions we don’t feel good about, and this cycle can continue indefinitely. To disrupt this cycle, we must first develop awareness. You cannot change what you do not know; eating mindfully is about becoming aware and paying attention to your relationship with food—without judgement—so you can identify anything you’d like to change or improve.