Ah yes! A New Year… and probably new clothes too seeing as it was just gift giving (and consequently gift receiving) season. Let’s just hope you don’t have to exchange those new clothes for larger sizes. Instead, start fresh and exchange some of your old eating habits out for new ones. You can actually even eat more, achieve smaller waistlines, decrease hunger, and improve your overall health if you follow some of these helpful hints:
Think fresh and eat fresh!
When you visit the grocery store shop the perimeter. This is primarily where all the fresh lean cuts of meat, low fat dairy, and produce are all located. When you start venturing towards the center of the store you hit all the processed foods aisles that are typically high in fat, calories, sodium, and preservatives, but low in nutrient content.
Become more rabbit like!
If you haven’t noticed, Bugs Bunny is almost always eating but remains so thin and energetic. Unlike him you don’t have to stick to just carrots to achieve these sorts of results. It’s actually best 
to nosh on a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, and what’s even better is that you get to eat more and decrease calories as the same time! Doing this will provide you with a variety of vitamins and a nice dose of fiber. This will boost your immune system, keep your digestive track in order, and have you feeling full throughout the day. Try pairing a salad or steamed veggies with meals, packing sugar snap peas and hummus as a midday snack, or adding tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and even cucumbers to a sandwich made on any one of Great Harvest’s 100% whole grain breads.
Chug! Chug! Chug!
And I’m not quoting beer drinking contests from your wilder days . I’m talking about good clean water. Often times it’s hard to distinguish between thirst and hunger cues. So drink a glass of water before snacking to see if that’s what you really need. If you’re still hungry after 15 minutes, go ahead and enjoy a healthy snack. Also, sip throughout your meals and you’ll eat more slowly giving you time to recognize you’re full before you go overboard. Try unsweetened tea, lemon water, or even adding frozen fruit if you start finding the plain stuff bland.
Plan ahead!
If you know you get hungry around 3:00 pm at work, pack a healthy snack so you don’t make a beeline towards the vending machine. Also, pack your lunch using Great Harvest’s whole grain bread and lean protein to make a sandwich, throw in a low fat
yogurt, an apple with peanut butter, some carrots and yogurt veggie dip, and if you know you’ll still crave something sweet at the end (I know I do) toss in a small piece of chocolate to cap off your lunch. It’s better to eat what you crave in a controlled amount than deprive yourself entirely.
Find a friend, your significant other, or a coworker to help you stay on track and follow these tips. Start by picking one tip you want to work towards and then adding another on a monthly basis or as you feel comfortable.
What other tips work for you?
