Let’s face it when it comes to losing weight or simply sustaining it there are way too many times where we are tempted to fail. Parties, wedding, holiday parties seem to come at the worst time with the worst consequences.
First, don’t panic. Failure happens and it is a natural part of growing and becoming stronger. It is also part of understanding what you like and what you prefer not to experience. Remember that time you ate clean, lost weight and then had that weekend full of indulgence with sweets and all the other “forbidden” food? Most of us wake up feeling bloated, fat and sick, promising ourselves we never want to do this again. So, in reality it is good to experience it so that you could be reminded how awful it feels to cheat with food.
Healthy eating does not have to be difficult or overwhelming. You don’t have to be perfect 24/7. Failures happen and there is no reason to feel guilty about them. There are however ways to ensure you are not reaching for a bag of chips when you are constantly on the run or when time for cooking cannot be a priority.
Here are some of our favorite tips on how not to fail while trying to maintain your healthy lifestyle and keep that number on the scale stay at the number you are comfortable and happy with.
SNACKS ON HAND
Make sure that your pantry, fridge and freezer are stocked with healthy snacks that can be consumed on the go. When choosing fruit and veggies look for those that are nutritionally dense but low in calories.
10 BEST LOW CALORIE FRUITS TO SNACK ON
1 cup
STRAWBERRIES – 53 cal
PEACHES – 60 cal
CANTALOUPE – 60 cal
HONEY DEW MELON – 61 cal
GRAPES – 62 cal
BLACKBERRIES – 62 cal
PAPAYA – 62 cal
RASPBERRIES – 64 cal
APPLES – 65 cal
GRAPEFRUIT – 74 cal
10 BEST LOW CALORIE VEGETABLES TO SNACK ON
1 cup
CELERY
CUCUMBER
RADISHES – 19 cal
CABBAGE – 22
SNOW PEAS – 26
CAULIFLOWER – 27 cal
CHERRY TOMATOES – 27 cal
CARROTS – 30 cal
RED BELL PEPPERS – 31 cal
BRUSSELS SPROUTS – 38
FREEZE YOUR MEALS
For those days when you have no time to cook and could be easily persuaded to order a pizza or hit the drive through keeping delicious meals in the freezer can prevent you from sabotaging the number on the scale.
Make sure to choose dishes that won’t lose their taste after they have been frozen.
Freezing cooked food is very simple, it is important to know a few general key principles:
- Frozen food must be completely chilled. Keep the prepared dish at room temperature until completely cool. Then portion into portions of the desired size and transfer to the freezer.
- When freezing individual products, such as cupcakes or energy balls, it is important to make sure that they do not stick together. First, place the prepared products in a large tin or plate so that they do not come into contact with each other and keep it in the freezer for several hours. Only when they are already frozen, move them to a container or bag where they can touch each other. They will not cling because they will already be frozen.
- Not all products can be refrigerated. Some thawed lose good texture or taste (e.g. potatoes, cabbage, dairy products are not suitable for refrigeration). If in doubt, google will always find the answer. Just search for “Can I freeze” and you will find the answer really easy.
FREEZER MUST HAVES
These are products that you will not eat by itself, but they help to quickly make something healthy and delicious.
- A good chicken bone broth will help if you need something very nutritious or a quick soup
- Gluten-free bread. It could be frozen in slices – it can stay in the cupboard for about a week after being removed from the freezer.
- Humus – I made several flavors, I canned it into jars of 250 ml – after removing from the freezer it stays in the fridge for a week, it can be used as a snack with vegetable sticks or for a delicious sandwich.
If nutrition is important to you and your family it is such a great idea to prepare for some unexpected times when time for cooking is not a priority. Don’t let some hectic times break what you have worked very hard for!