How to Stop Unhealthy Eating
In today's fast-paced world, many Americans have developed unhealthy eating habits. This usually is due to the ready availability of fast foods--which often are high in sugar, fat and salt--and the abundance of candy bars, sugary sodas and salty snacks in our supermarket isles. Changing these habits is not easy, as many of these unhealthy foods seem to be addictive. Giving up the soda and chips can be tough, but there are ways to get it done.
Instructions
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Read about the serious health risks of unhealthy eating. This will provide motivation for your efforts. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes and high-blood pressure are all risks associated with poor eating habits. The more you realize the dangers of your behavior, the more motivated you will be to change. This is important, as lack of motivation is a leading cause of prolonged unhealthy eating habits.
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Make changes over time. Don't expect to cut out all fatty, sugary and salty foods overnight. Your body is accustomed to these things, and will crave them, making it harder for you to resist. Eliminate unhealthy foods slowly, one at a time.
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While you're eliminating unhealthy foods, add healthy ones to your diet. Try adding blueberries and strawberries as snacks instead of chocolate, or nuts instead of chips---it helps psychologically to add foods, rather than just give up the things you've grown to like.
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Shop around the periphery of the supermarket. According to HelpGuide.org, the healthiest items at the grocery---fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy, and wholegrain breads--- typically are located around the store's edges. Avoid the central aisles where the processed snacks and unhealthy foods typically are kept.
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Don't ban foods. Banning foods outright creates a negative and deprived frame of mind. Slowly cut back on certain foods such as deep fried and heavily salted meals, but don't feel guilty if you occasionally give in to a bag of chips. Stopping unhealthy eating is a long-term project that should encourage sustainable eating patterns, not crash diets and fasts.
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Don't set weight loss as a goal of healthy eating. According to Healthkey.com, health-related goals, such as lowering blood pressure, are much more constructive than putting pressure on yourself to lose weight. Rapid weight loss is unhealthy in itself, and moreover is unsustainable.
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Cook more often. When you eat out, you have no control over the amount of fat, salt and sugar in the food. Most restaurants add these to enhance taste--without concern for the health effects. Cooking at home gives you back the control. If you're craving pizza, make a low-fat veggie version. Eating at home also gives you control over portion sizes.
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Eat regular meals. Skipping a meal is just as unhealthy as overeating. Moderate portion sizes and eat slowly, so that your body has time to tell you when you are full.
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