Whats the hardest part of trying to consistently eat healthy?

As a dietitian, I'm always interested in learning why people struggle to consistently eat healthy. A lot of what I'm hearing is that the following through part is particularly hard - you plan the meals, and buy the groceries, then making a new recipe sounds like a pain in the butt, so you make a grilled cheese sandwich instead. So tell me, where are you struggling?

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Permalink Reply by Maria Soto on April 8, 2010 at 4:03pm

I think it is ok to have a candy here and there, but as a snack, a small piece. for instance a chocolate bar, go for dark cholocate and have a small piece only, make that bar last all week. is hard but you can do it. I have a donut once a week in the am, but is not glazed or covered with anything, is just a simple plain donut. and I look forwards to having this as a treat, again once a week. I see people at work eating donuts around lunch, time, at home when the family gets together for birthday parties, I make a dessert to bring, like a fresh fruit salad, it works everyone enjoys it and I ignore the sweets, because the fruit satisfies the sugar craving. don't feel guilty, just know that the next time you feel like giving in, remember how you felt the last time you gave in, and it might help you it has helped me. you should have fresh fruit salads with you to bring to work, so while they have their sweets you can have your fruit and feel good about it.

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Permalink Reply by Lora Fleming on January 2, 2011 at 5:07pm

Everything I read on here I agree with! I find people pick on others who eat healthy, I think it makes them feel justified about the way they eat because they don't have the inner strength to do it themselves so they want those who do to look like "weirdos" thereby making themselves "normal" you know? Just like the bullies in school ...

Family pressures are the hardest for me. My husband was in the hospital for 9 days because of a blocked colon and I still can't convince him that changing his diet would be good! He refuses to switch to whole grains, eats about FOUR CUPS of ice cream every day (I'm not exaggerating), buys three to six cream filled donuts every two or three days ... need I go on? His idea of a good meal is a two pound steak with a potato smothered in butter and sour cream. The most frustrating part is he's thin so he doesn't understand that he's not healthy. I am overweight, so it's hard to convince him to jump on board with me! My goal is to stay on the Whole Life Action Plan and lose enough weight to impress him and show him that he should change to my way. He also thinks organic food is too expensive, although I have convinced him to not use any chemicals in our gardens, lawns etc so my homegrown produce has been all organic for several years ... I've also taught him to ask at the farmer's market about their farming methods and we've found two farmers that we buy most of our summer produce from. He's a work in progress ... but he'll never give up his refined flour and sugar! PLUS he loves buying me treats ... from now on they will be given back to him or thrown in the trash in front of him until he gets the message that he will not sabotage my efforts any longer : )

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Permalink Reply by craftyncer on January 3, 2011 at 11:14am

The hardest thing for me is to design it myself. If I have a shopping list, menus with recipes I am fine and can stick with it. I don't mind have to cook, including chopping, grating or whatever for prep.

Hugs!
Cat

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Permalink Reply by Pemme on January 3, 2011 at 7:18pm

The biggest challenge is finding the time to cook for me and for the kids, feel like I'm cooking two meals..

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Nardine on February 15, 2011 at 7:46pm

I have been earing lots of feedback from people similar to what craftyncer said. It seams like people don't mind cooking that much but they hate deciding every night what to make. And, compiling meal plans takes a while and so does shopping with an un-organized list.

I have been working on a solution to this problem and finally have it ready. Check out my new website OrganizedEating.com. You can sign up to get a healthy meal plan and organized shopping list created by a Registered Dietitian (me!) e-mailed to you every week. We just launched the business a couple weeks ago and have 17 customers so far, everyone seems to really like the meals!

Cheers and good luck eating healthy everyone!

-Michelle (now Dodson! - got married in sept :).

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Permalink Reply by plexy on September 11, 2011 at 11:17am

Everything in moderation Amoura! There is nothing better than a lovely mac'n'cheese after a long work week or - something spectacular that culinary wizard you married has cooked up for you! What could be more comforting than that!?

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Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Miller on September 10, 2011 at 11:19pm

what I find hard if that healthy food is hard to find at restautants. I do a dirty called metabolism medical which works do well for me but the carb thing is hard. I think people don't think out side the box enough. For desserts I eat a low fat ricotta cheese some splenda vanilla and cocoa powder throw it in my ninja it comes out like pudding. Is a great deserts, you can use cinnamon or sugar free coffee flavoring as well. I live this stuff. I freeze it as well it tastes and feels like a fudgepop.

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Permalink Reply by MP on October 28, 2011 at 11:24am

The hardest part is getting past the cravings for unhealthy/sugary foods... and planning enough in advance to be able to make a quick healthy meal.

There are a lot of great ideas and postings here. I've decided to share some of my new knowledge to hopefully help others.

I recently had a holistic nutritionist create a plan for me. (I've never been a very good cook, or really enjoy it). She provided me with a grocery list every week (for 4 weeks), with the recipes, and with a listing of what I needed to prepare each night before bed so I'd be ready for the next dinner. She took into account my budget - and the fact that I don't want to buy a package of food and only use a quarter of it before it goes bad. So many recipes in one week will use repeated ingredients in different ways.(nobody had a clue that I pureed broccoli into my butternut squash soup) To top it all off, she made sure each meal was healthy and full of nutrients that we often miss out on when we are in a rush.

She also spent some time in my grocery store with me - giving me tips for shopping... One of my best tips from her was that if I find the organic chicken too expensive, try to buy it every other week to begin with... and gradually increase that if you can afford it. At the very least you are taking a step.

I shop and do my most time consuming prep work on Sunday and that has already made a difference in my attitude towards dinner, and in 2 weeks I have already made 2 meals that I never thought I'd be able to make, and they were easy. She has told me that if I can live on the 80/20 rule I'll be just fine... meaning I eat healthy 80% of the time, and allow myself to have something unhealthy 20% of the time - without beating myself up about it. This way you also avoid the binging from not allowing yourself to every have that guilty pleasure. (so yes - you can have that thick crust pizza with extra cheese and lots of toppings every few weeks... just make sure that your next meal is back on track.)

AND how to get past the sugar cravings - I try to remember what my homeopath told me - it takes 3 weeks to create a habit or start to lose the craving... so I focus on that, and keep my goal in mind when I have that craving. OR if I've been good for at least a week - I allow myself to indulge, but remember to drink a bottle of water when I crave that treat at the same time the next day.

Michelle I haven't looked at your site yet, but it sounds similar to what I have had done for me... and let me tell you it's worth it! I hope many people subscribe to your service as I am sure it will greatly help them succeed.

Thanks