So you want to eat better, improve your diet, lose weight and just feel better overall. Well it starts with what you consume. How we look and feel on the outside has a direct correlation to what’s on the inside. If we consistently put “garbage” inside, we will eventually look and feel like garbage on the outside….. that’s not the goal!
If you want to be successful in any task or goal, you have to set your environment up for success. So let’s create the nutritional environment that is most conducive to helping you EAT WELL!
One phrase that I live by is, “if it’s in the house, it’s in my mouth!” That means we need to “Purge the Pantry” and get out all of the junk so we don’t put that junk in (our mouths).
Take some time over the next few days to go through your pantry, refrigerator and freezer and assess what’s in there. Most of us probably have things that are old and outdated way back in the back. And surprisingly, we often don’t even know all that we have and or what we don’t have…..so take inventory!
Start this inventory process by pulling out and separating foods into categories. For example, put all canned goods together or all “snack foods” together. Next, separate out all the foods that you want to eliminate from your diet. If your goal is to eliminate or decrease starchy carbohydrates, put all pastas, noodles, rice, breads, cereals and potatoes together.
Now it’s time to PURGE! Make sure you have a giant trash bag nearby because we’re going to potentially be throwing out a lot. Get rid of anything that is not in line with your healthy goals. Don’t look at it as throwing away money. You’d much rather get rid of $5 worth of cookies than to put the unwanted sugar and calories into your body and portentially have to spend more health-wise down the line. You’re worth it, your body is worth it, your health is worth it!
Now doing this purge does not mean you have to eliminate all indulgences or treats. The point is to create an “out of site, out of mind….out of mouth” mentality around temptation and unhealthy foods. So if you want an ice cream treat, take a trip to Goodberry’s, get a scoop, enjoy it and be done with it. Don’t go to the grocery store and buy a big container of vanilla ice cream and bring it in the house. Remember the motto “if it’s in the house, it’s (more likely) to be in your mouth”.
Once everthing is cleaned out and thrown out, it’s time to reorganize and restock. Let the majority of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer be filled with healthy foods and snacks.
Set your healthy eating goal. Clean out and throw out. Restock. You’ll be one step closer to making it happen!
You have ONE body, if YOU don’t take care of it…. Who will?
