It’s hard to over-emphasis the benefits of healthy eating habits. Habits are something you slip into easily on a daily basis, without thinking. So getting into healthy eating habits is a must if you want to be vibrantly healthy. Only then will you reap the benefits.

There are many foods which really are not foods. So it is possible to consume them, but food isn’t just about consumption. It’s about nutrition and the benefits to your body and to your life.

If you eat well regularly, you have a much higher chance of being healthy. So let’s look at what foods are (and are not) healthy.

• are advertised, on TV or any other media
• can be addictive
• come in pretty packages (some healthy food does too such as dried whole foods, but usually in plain packets)
• have a list of ingredients, especially unrecognisable ones
• have an indefinite shelf life (dried whole foods do too)
• are processed 

That’s not quite the whole story, but it’s a good start.

Let’s consider some healthy eating habits that you may be able to change.

Breakfast for most people consists of either toast and jam or marmalade or cereal and milk. All four of these items are in the unhealthy food category.

If you changed this to a green smoothie, consisting of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit, all of which come from the healthy food category, your health could improve exponentially.

Green leafy vegetables are a power house of nutrition containing just about everything we need in perfect harmony and balance.

They are quick to make and quick to clean up afterwards.

Lunch for many people consists of a sandwich or roll, usually white, filled with meat or cheese, with a dash of margarine. Or something from a fast food outlet. Everything here are unhealthy foods.

Suppose instead, you made your own lunch of salad, or leftovers from last night’s (homemade) dinner? That could all come from healthy foods.

Dinner for many is a take-away or a microwaved frozen meal. Neither are healthy. A better approach is a home made meal with fresh ingredients. It doesn’t have to be complicated. 

It could be a salad, a vegetable bake, a stir fry. Whatever it is, the ingredients need to be fresh and the bulk should be vegetables and fruit.

Making enough for two days can save time. Making extra for the next days lunch is a much healthier option than a sandwich, meat pie or fast food.

The true benefits of healthy eating comes from changing your habits. Making healthy choices a daily routine makes you immune to the sometimes hysterical advertising of unhealthy food.

Another benefit is that since you are supplying your body with nutrition it recognises and needs, you become less hungry. You don’t need to snack every five minutes. Constant hunger mostly means your body is desperately depleted of nutrition and is hoping you will eat something it needs.

It may take you time to get into these habits, but this is well worth the effort.

To recap :

• your health improves
• you have more energy
• you need less, if any, drugs
• you can spend much less on food
• you're not constantly hungry
• you can reach your ideal weight without effort

And all for such little know how. The important thing is to eat a diversity of the healthy foods. Seasonal fresh produce is the best. Certified organic is preferable, although not essential. Some freshly frozen fresh produce is also beneficial. Using whole dried food, such as dried peas, beans and rice, are also part of the healthy food group.

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to make major changes quickly, although some can. However, starting with one thing at a time, such as lunch, and adding to that every week, will get you to your goal in no time.

One of the interesting benefits of healthy eating is that you no longer crave the unhealthy food. It no longer has any appeal for you.

Subscribe and receive regular emails on restoring and maintaining health holistically!