Becoming an adult means taking responsibility for our life and accepting consequences for the decisions we make.  It is doing what needs to be done, and sometimes, whether we like it or not.  It includes making healthy whole food choices.

Eating like an adult isn’t hard. However, it requires some planning to make it part of everyday living. Once a healthy whole food diet is in place, weight management becomes easy, effortless and enjoyable.

Accepting responsibility in the following 4 key areas will help you live well with good health: 

  1. Learn to cook your meals. Cooking is a fundamental life skill, it’s more important than learning to read or write. Yes there are many companies that will prepare meals for you, but here’s the thing, without cooking skills you become a victim to their drive to keep you a helpless cook for their profit. Please understand, it is in their interest that you believe; you can’t cook, you don’t have time to cook, and you deserve someone else cooking for you. Cooking is your weapon against their cheap manufactured foodstuffs that have questionable nutritional value. You cannot believe what you read, you must trust food that you can see, grow and come wholly from Mother Nature. These foods don’t need a label to tell you; they are healthy.
    .
  2. Eat your veggies...seriously…What’s not to like? Vegetables add color, health, and vitality to your meals. They nourish, rebuild and replenish your body’s health. There are hundreds and hundreds of different and delicious ways to eat vegetables – tell me – have you tried them all to hate them still? Perhaps you have vivid memories from a childhood of force-fed boiled, tasteless veggies and vowed never to eat them again…Remember, your taste buds change over time – thank goodness! Eating vegetables is the fastest way to good health, there really isn’t another way. To help you explore the joyous world of vegetables, I have included in your January WELLth Challenge: 12 delicious and simple recipes that use vegetables – give them a go and find out how easy it is to add vegetables in your life.
    .
  3. Don’t drink your calories. I’m not talking about alcohol – I’m talking about, juices shakes and liquid meals. Our body has evolved to chew food, not drink it. Water is the only beverage recognized by the adult body, and its function is hydration. Digestion of food begins in the mouth with chewing. On chewing a signal goes directly to the brain to release hormones, which balance feelings of satiety (fullness). Your brain uses the senses of sight, sound and taste to regulate your feelings about what you eat. Without the chewing process, the brain delays the release of feel-good hormones that come with eating. Chewing more, helps you eat less and releases more pleasure centered hormones – it’s a win-win!
    .
  4. Ditch the daily sweets and glass of wine.  I’ve left the hardest to last; it’s the one that will have the most significant impact on your weight and health management. As an adult, you do know, sweets and alcohol are not nourishing your body towards better health. Sweets and alcohol are processed foods, designed to make you feel good. They can be an extraordinary part of living your life well on special occasions. However, if you “must” have them every day, in multiple qualities, then ask – why? If you don’t know the answer, then ask for help, it is not a weakness or a failure as a person. Asking for help is a sign of maturity, of taking responsibility for your troubles and finding a solution that will work for you.   

.
This blog may have been hard to read, it was difficult for me to write. I want you to have the best in your life. I don’t want you to struggle with self-image or doubt the caring and compassionate person you are. 

I want to see your eyes sparkle with childlike possibilities, to love, play and cherish those around you while living your life with good health.

I would like to know, what does eating like an adult mean to you? Do you agree with my 4 suggestions? I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Or you can send me an email any time. Anna@SquareBoxFitness.com

WELLth is about the simple things in life that bring great joy; food to share, with a little exercise for self-care. To find out more follow the link below.

 

Live well with fitness!

 

Written by Anna: Nutritionist and Exercise Therapist @SquareBoxFitness.com