Healthy Ways to Avoid Temptation and Stick to Your Health Goals

Healthy Ways to Avoid Temptation and Stick to Your Health Goals

We know it. You know it. Eating healthfully is a state of mind as much as it is a journey. Each day, you make good-for-you decisions and take small steps toward your goals. Little by little, you create healthy habits that stick.

But temptation is everywhere: in your coworker’s candy bowl, on that restaurant menu and in your grocery store aisles (yes, even ours!). Unfortunately, those delicious enticements aren’t going anywhere, so how can you fortify yourself against them and keep on track? Glad you asked.

We polled our resident experts, the in-store Healthy Eating Specialists, for their best tips for resisting temptation and sticking to your goals. Their whole job is helping customers choose the best foods, recipes and meal plans for their particular diet and health objectives. (Many of our stores feature Healthy Eating Specialists. Check your store’s webpage to see if there’s one near you.) Here’s their pro advice:

Eat First

Nearly all of our Healthy Eating Specialists agree: It’s so much harder to make good decisions when you’re hungry, so make sure you’re not famished before you head to the store, and yes, even a restaurant. Ward off hunger with a healthy snack, like few pieces of fresh fruit or vegetables and an ounce of nuts.

“Eat before you go,” says Curtis Whitwam, “Letting yourself get to the point of being “hangry” (hungry + angry), which we all know too well, can set you up for a trip to donut land. Stay full on the good stuff to stay on track.” In addition, he says, “Eat regular, consistently healthy meals that you love, so that restaurant food doesn't impress you anymore. Learn to cook and you'll know that you can make better food at home where you control the quality.”

Plan Ahead

Make like a Boy Scout and always be prepared. Start your week by making a healthy meal plan.

Trick Your Triggers

Everyone has their version of kryptonite, those usually bad-for-you foods that render you helpless (cookies, ahem). It makes sense to avoid those temptations and keep them out of the house, but "Lindsey Kane" suggests you do one better: Learn how to make healthier alternatives of what you love to counteract your triggers.

For example, she says, “if ice cream is your downfall, learn how to make the equally pleasing "Banana Nice Cream".  If cookies are the culprit, become substitute-savvy, replacing plant-based whole food ingredients in place of butter, eggs and refined sugar (like these Carrot-Walnut Cookies or these Pumpkin Pecan Cookies).  If nighttime snacking is your flaw, paint your nails or drink tea instead to distract yourself.”

Create a Framework for Success

Claire Smith from the Kitsilano store in Vancouver, British Columbia, suggests keeping a food journal. “Write down how certain foods make you feel.  Sometimes the act of writing down a poor food choice can help you to make better choices in the future.” 

Give In – In Moderation

It’s okay to give in every once in a while, so long as you’re smart about it. “I know it sounds cliché,” says Kristina Voutas“but everything in moderation. For six days a week I adhere to a fairly disciplined food regimen but during that time if cravings come up I write down what I’m craving. On the seventh day I allow myself to have a couple of treats.”

And Lois Dorotiak from the Winter Park store follows “the 90/10 rule: Ninety percent of the time, eat for fuel and ten percent is strictly for fun!”

Keep It Up!

Finally, as Audrey Porter from the Cobb Harry’s store in Marietta, Georgia, advises, “Don’t let one slip up throw your whole day off! If you end up eating food that’s not very healthy, don’t get caught up in thoughts that the day is ruined and then eat whatever you want. You can totally turn it around!”

Looking for more practical tips for starting a healthy eating path? Check out our Healthy Eating and fitness hub for tips on https://strengthapexs.blogspot.com/, health Fitness techniques and much more!