Tackling Nutrition, FitQuest Style Part 4

Changing your nutrition habits can be hard and even anxiety-inducing at times, but you are not alone in feeling this way! Every FitQuest visit, we talk about the intimidating factors of the MyPlate. Some of us may never have fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, so seeing that they should make up half of your meals on the MyPlate can be discouraging or make you feel negatively about your eating habits. That stress, mixed with the pressure of being told to eat “healthier” in general, can make us scared to start the process. We want to remind you that eating healthy does not mean changing everything you eat and never eating your favorite foods again, we just want you to have the knowledge and power to choose when you can!

I know it may seem like you never eat nutritious meals or food items, but you may be more ahead than you think! For example, I want you to imagine your favorite fruit or vegetable, just like we do in FitQuest. If you were able to think of one, there is just one reminder that you already enjoy healthy foods when you can. As we mentioned last week, having this favorite fruit as a snack throughout the day could be helpful in starting the process, as it would increase your produce intake, while also tasting sweeter like foods likened to candy because of its natural sugar. There is a reason strawberry flavoring is popular, it is modeled after the real thing! Using this example, I want you to make a goal for yourself: reduce your sugary sweet intake by replacing it with a fruit option instead when available. Once this minor change is achieved, the bigger changes, like having more whole grains in your diet, will seem much more doable.

Making changes to your nutrition is not always easy, but what if you already do not have a good relationship with the topic of healthy eating? Or, what if your mental health feels at a low and the topic of nutrition makes those feelings worse? These are normal feelings! Without the proper tools, your relationship with food may become complicated. This often begins when we are young, but you still have time to make changes and confront your fears regarding nutrition. To minimize healthy eating anxiety, I encourage you to explore the MyPlate and learn more about the food you eat. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it can help minimize the stress of making changes. For more nutrition-based knowledge and helpful tips on where to begin, read these dietary guidelines for Americans.

Next week, we will conclude our Tackling Nutrition segment by discussing how what you eat can help, or hurt, how you feel emotionally!