Can it really be that simple? Yes, it really can… with some patience.
A few days ago, I asked the community in our free facebook group this question:
I loved the responses:
.
.
“Yes!”
“Absolutely because I do! I crave the avocado cream sauce daily!”
“You have to start one day at a time. It is totally about consistency. Just like healthy eaters can be trained to eat garbage food.”
“Yes! The more you eat healthy the more you’ll crave healthy food 100%. Same goes for the opposite… when you have takeout a few days in a row you’ll notice you crave not only the junk food, but the convenience of just picking up and not cooking.”
“I do all the time”
“Yes!”
and a few more along those lines.
Then I asked if anyone wanted tips on how to get there and the answer was yes!
I went on to do a Facebook live to discuss how to crave healthy food with nine tips but felt like I should write it all out. Not only for the Facebook community to have something to refer back to but also for you – in this digital space.
Wanting to eat healthier and crave those foods is great but actually doing it and getting started is a WHOLE different thing right?!
Super Simple Steps to Crave Healthy Food
- Change the way you think and remember why you started.
What motivates you to want to eat better? For me it was the way I felt. I knew I was tired of my body hurting and that motivation and strong WANT to feel better kept me going. Over time, that desire and want turned into a lifelong habit.
This is when I started to rethink food and crave more whole foods. - Plan ahead and work out a healthy meal plan.
Stop shopping for the processed food and start working on healthier meals… slowly add in more produce into your meals. Add extra veggies into your spaghetti sauce or eat one less meat focused meal a week and swap in some extra veggies. If you need some help with meal plans and shopping then I recommend you check out ‘Living Prepped’ . Your dinners will be planned out for you weekly with recipes and itemized shopping lists to make it as easy as possible. - Form new habits.
The habits I wanted to break were drinking a glass of milk at every dinner (it was not helping my skin or joints and I know now because my body is sensitive to it) and I also wanted to stop drinking one coke a day.
Heading back to tip number one, I had to remember why I wanted to change my habits and what was motivating me. I stopped the milk at dinner and went to water. As for soda, I started drinking carbonated water or tea. Eventually I stopped craving soda and have fallen in love with tea. I no longer want milk or coke at all. - Focus on non-edible rewards.
Is there something else you love to do that doesn’t involve food?
We live in a world where everything we do revolves around food – which I actually love – but the problem I see is the food revolving around our activities. It happens at the office, parties, and even at school with kids. Here is an idea:
– Instead of treating yourself at the Starbucks drive-thru because you ‘worked out that day’, give yourself the $5 in a jar to go shopping for a new outfit once it adds up in a month.
- Enlist support.
Tell your friends, family, or co-workers that you want to eat healthier. Be proud of your desire to change! With support, your want for healthier foods grows much faster.
Also, you never know who you are inspiring. - Add in healthy fats.
Crazy idea right?! BUT adding in healthy fats like avocado, coconut oil, or even salmon can help you stay full longer, give you more energy, and prevent your body crashing and wanting sweets. Over time, this addition of fats will help you crave healthier foods. - Where are you eating?
Is it just me or does a cluttered and messy table stress you out too? When I eat, I want the presentation to look clean and presented pretty. By doing this, I will want to stay at the table longer and eat slowly. Eating slowly helps me learn how to enjoy what I am eating and provides me more of that motivation.
- Keep healthy snacks on hand at all times.
I’ve been there. I am out and about and home is still no where in sight. I am hungry and decide to stop somewhere to feed my growling stomach. Depending on where I stop, I may not have the best choices. If I were to pick something sweet that could create a downward spiral.
However, If I have something on hand, I am able to keep up on my healthy eating track and that not only helps with the motivation but also I feel SO much better.
Here are some of my favorites to have with me in the car:
-Homemade granola
-Granola bars
-Nuts/seeds mix
-Fruit
-Plantain chips - You gotta keep it convenient.
Prep. Prep. Prep.
It doesn’t have to be a ton of prep but even the tiniest time saving tip like cutting my veggies the night before, cooking large batches of rice, or making extra meals for leftovers have really helped.
Nothing makes me want to head out to eat more than not having a plan, nothing prepped (even a little bit), or a long drawn out meal. If I didn’t set myself up for convenience in the kitchen, I would not be craving the foods I eat now. It would seem overwhelming to me.
These nine tips are how I have learned to crave the healthier option.
This has become my habit and a way of eating that I look forward to living everyday. The biggest thing was keeping my motivation in focus and having that desire when I started. Mentally I wanted it and knew I needed it.
Now it is just habit and everything comes effortlessly.
If you are wanting to change anything – not just food – it takes time and patience. But it can be done. AND trust me, you are worth it!
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