So Many Food Choices -- Choose Wisely

This may be counterintuitive but one of the most important reasons we all have trouble eating healthy, losing weight & feeling good about our bodies is that we have so many food choices ALL THE TIME.
 
A baby boomer like me remembers when you could only buy candy in an actual candy store, a drugstore and a supermarket.  That was it.
 
Now as we run errands, we constantly see all kinds of tempting foods – at clothing stores, gas stations, hardware stores & department stores.
 
In supermarkets, we have access to every flavor of every cookie & candy.
 
Sugar is addictive & other than calories, provides no nutritional value, no vitamins or minerals, no proteins & no fats.  So why are we eating it?
 
Simply put, it tastes good!  Also, it’s readily available and it’s easy.  The only thing you have to do to eat a candy bar is take off the wrapper.  It requires no washing, chopping or cooking.
 
During a busy day, when we’re hungry or grouchy or stressed out, we reach for this simple, pleasurable food.
 
In the moment, we get a dopamine hit and we feel good. Occasionally, this is fine. But if we reach for a sugary treat often, over time this creates havoc in the body.  Too much sugar has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and poor oral health.  Yikes!
 
Fortunately, there’s a way out of constant sugar cravings & blood sugar surges & drops.
 
By substituting healthy snacks in place of sugar, we can free ourselves of this addictive cycle.
 
Here are 2 ways to begin this process:
 

1. The next time you go grocery shopping, buy hummus, guacamole, nuts and turkey sticks.  Reach for these when you need a snack.
2. Make a list of healthy snacks that you can buy on the run.  Nuts & popcorn are healthier than candy bars.  Starbucks sells egg bites.  Whatever your list is, stick to it when you’re out running errands.

 
Let me know how these work for you.
 
And, if you’re interested in doing a deeper dive into shifting into healthier eating patterns, there are still I few spots left in my Yummy Healthy Food Group that starts on September 25th.

Find out how eating well for 90 days can change your life.
 
Learn more here
 
With you on the road to better health!
 
Bonnie
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