Hi foodies!
I wanted to take a quick moment to chat about something that I, and many other people I know, struggle with- sticking to a diet. Even though I love fruits, vegetables, lean meats, eggs, greek yogurt, and an arsenal of other really nutritious foods, I really struggle with sticking to a diet because having foods labeled as ‘restricted’ puts me in a bad place mentally and emotionally. I’ve been trying to find a healthy balance in my mind of wanting to eat well and indulging in certain foods that I would normally deem ‘restricted,’ and I happened to stumble upon this article today from Greatist– How to Stop at Just One Cookie.
The article talks about making treats work into your day, thinking ahead about what the rest of your day / week will look like, and determining whether or not the cookie in front of you is worth it. (Enjoy the cookie if it’s warm and gooey, but pass on it if it’s stale).
The one big point the article made though? You’re allowed to have a cookie.
That may sound silly and obvious, but many people (myself included), don’t think that way. For example, I wanted something sweet today, and across the street from my office is a cafe and bakery called Specialty’s. I considered getting a cookie, and then opted not to. Why? I decided the 300 calories wasn’t worth it, and I got a no sugar added vanilla latte with almond milk instead. (side note, I love coffee, and the latte was delicious- but, I had it made that way so I wouldn’t feel guilty about a potentially high calories / high fat treat).
The point I’m trying to make is that I DIDN’T get the cookie because 1, I felt that the calories weren’t worth it and 2, cookies are one of the many foods I try to label as ‘off limits’ on non-cheat meal days. And you know what? I hate that mentality.
The Greatist article recommends having foods that you would normally label as off limits around you whenever you want, as it ultimately decreases the sense of urgency to have a ton of cookies at once. It takes away the mentality that you have to overindulge in something because you can’t have it later on for whatever reason. It’s something that I’ve wanted to try for a while, and I think tonight I’m going to take the plunge by buying one thing at the store that I would normally label as ‘off limits.’ (note: I haven’t decided what that will be yet, I’ll let you know once I get to the store).
As I mentioned, I love foods that are really healthy and really nutritious. This week alone, I’ve had sweet potatoes, lean chicken breasts, zucchini squash, onion, bell peppers, avocado, carrots, hard boiled eggs, and a few snack packs of walnuts and almonds as meals and snacks. I love and truly enjoy those foods. But I still find myself internally struggling with wanting certain foods purely because I have labeled them off limits, and that mentality is ultimately what causes me to slip up and have a few days of eating less nutritious foods.
So here are my goals moving forward:
1. Eat fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and unprocessed healthy foods as often as possible, because I love them.
2. Eat less than nutritious foods in moderation if I want them, and truly enjoy every bite of whatever that may be.
How many of you have the same feelings of restriction or guilt toward certain foods? How do you find a healthy balance? Post a photo of your favorite treat on Instagram and tag @laurenslovelyrecipes and #laurenslovelyrecipes.
(I promise, I’ll get back to posting recipes in the next few days)
xo,
Lauren
@laurenslovelyrecipes
#laurenslovelyrecipes
Lauren's Lovely Recipes 