Looking to make big changes for your health and wellbeing this year? Once you’ve figured out your big picture goals, it’s time to come up with a detailed plan for success. Think about it this way: If the goal is a destination then the plan is the route. On your journey, try these 5 little healthy hacks. During my recent trip to Los Angeles, I stopped by the KTLA news studio to share how these hacks can help make a big difference. In case you missed the live segment, check it out here:
Healthy Hacks
Pre-Prep Veggies
The most time-consuming part of cooking is often the prep. So, as soon as you get home from the grocery store, take a few minutes to wash your salad greens and chop your veggies. For leafy greens, pre-wash them and keep them in a large Ziploc bag. For chopped veggies — like carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, and onions — keep them in airtight containers.
Stock Homemade Salad Dressings
One of the key components of an amazing salad is a killer dressing. That’s why I like to keep a few bottles of homemade dressings in the fridge at all times — so a healthy meal is always just an arm’s length away. Here’s what I do: Make a few salad dressings either in a blender or using a bowl and a whisk, pour your liquid gold into a squeeze bottle or mason jar, label with the dressing name and date made, and then keep in the fridge. Depending on what’s in it, dressings usually last about four days in the fridge. Want some simple yet tantalizing recipes? Check out the salads chapter in my cookbook, FOOD YOU WANT For The Life You Crave.
Change Up Your Plates
Okay … not your entire collection of plates. Just the plate size that you eat from! There’s actually research that shows your plate size contributes to how much food you’ll wind up eating. The larger the plate, the more food we tend to pile on! So, if you struggle with portion control, stick to a smaller dish.
Portion Out Snacks
Here’s another tip to help you with better portion sizes: If you’re someone who tends to reach for a mid-afternoon or late-night snack, load up on mini snack size Ziploc bags. Once you get home from the grocery store, immediately portion out your snacks so they’re ready to go when tummy grumbles strike.
Keep Your Yoga Mat In Sight
It’s not all about the food. Along with a good diet, it’s important to move your body regularly. But, I get it, we don’t all have time to get to the gym. My advice? Keep your yoga mat and workout clothes next to your bed so they’re the first thing you see when you wake up. Carve out a few moments to stretch and get your body ready for the long day ahead.
