Meals Matter
Meals Matter
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The Meals Matter Blog offers advice and tips on using a positive and realistic approach for meal planning, healthy eating, feeding families and fitness. Posts are written by registered dietitians, staff and guest bloggers of the Dairy Council of California.
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We may have all heard this riddle: "How do you eat an Elephant?" The answer is: "One bite at a time." How does this apply to taking small steps toward being healthy? When making changes to your diet and health, it is better to take small, manageable steps for lasting success.
Health experts agree that making changes in small steps leads to a greater chance of making those changes stick and achieving your overall goal. When goals are too vague or too broad they become difficult to achieve, often leading to disappointment.
Small steps can be simple too. It can be as easy as choosing a nutritious snack to get through an afternoon slump rather than a candy bar, or walking around the block after work. Over time, you can increase those changes to bigger ones and incorporate other changes along the way. All of these small steps will add up to a lifestyle change that can have big results. Here are some small changes you can make right now to help get you started.
- Eat breakfast in the morning. This will help you to avoid over eating later in the day.
- Walk around the block on your lunch break.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Eat half of your dessert. Sharing with a friend can help you to achieve this.
- Schedule exercise two days a week - walk with a friend, use a DVD or take a class at a gym.
- Pack a healthy lunch instead of going out to eat.
- Bring a portion-controlled snack to work - yogurt, string cheese, baby carrots, raisins.
No matter what your small step is you must choose something that is meaningful to you. You must also be realistic about what you can commit to. If working out five nights a week isn't realistic, you will be frustrated and give up quickly. Make your goal realistic -- for example, I will decrease my stress level by walking for 15 minutes after work every Monday. You can increase the number of days you walk after you've established the habit.
Then, commit to your goal. If you are not determined to meet your goal, obstacles will be very difficult to overcome. Setting realistic and achievable goals is the first step to making changes.
The Personal Nutrition Planner can help you plan your nutrition goals. Good luck -- now start working on creating your goals!