DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by LARABAR. I was compensated for my time and products mentioned in this post. All opinions stated are my own.
Howdy, fit friends!
When it comes to living an active lifestyle, eating healthy seems like a natural complement. But eating in a way that nourishes your body and allows you to enjoy life can be much more daunting than we’d like to admit — especially during the holiday season. Today, I’m sharing more on my personal approach to balancing healthy eating with my active-living activities, such as yoga, hiking and dance. Enjoy!
“IF YOU KEEP GOOD FOOD IN YOUR FRIDGE, YOU WILL EAT GOOD FOOD.” — Errick McAdams
#1) STOCK UP ON THE ESSENTIALS — Without healthful options to easily choose from day to day, meal to meal, and snack to snack, the alternative eating options are clear — either eat out or be hangry as funk. Make grocery shopping a non-negotiable in your week to ensure you have what you need to whip up healthful meals and snacks. I find weekday evenings to be a much less busy time for supermarkets so I can grab what I need without fighting off someone for the last bunch of brussels. 🙂
Also, try keeping a running grocery list that you continually add to. Use my Printable Grocery List for Healthy Eating to help you master this process. As you can see, my LARABARs always make the cut. 🙂 They make for a perfectly portable snack for my life on the go!
#2) MAKE TIME FOR MEALS — So you got all this great stuff to choose from for meals and snacks, but you don’t make fueling up throughout the day a priority. 🙁 Food. Fail. Just like an essential appointment with your doctor, masseuse, happy-hour companion (insert that important person here haha), it’s necessary to make an appointment with yourself morning, midday, in the evening, AND even in between meals to get your body the nourishment it needs to be at its best!
(I take my satisfying snack appointments seriously, y’all!)
#3) BOOK EXERCISE APPOINTMENTS — Let’s be honest: Not only do our taste buds change this time of year (bring on the Pumpkin Pie LARABARs!), but so do our internal clocks and even our exercise routines. If you’re someone who can’t stand the cold, take your efforts indoors, whether it’s at home or at a fitness facility. Luckily, many of my favorite physical activities — yoga and dance — are all indoors! And, just like your daily personal healthy eating appointments, your exercise appointments are essential. How often are you meeting your 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week?
#4) ALLOW YOURSELF TO ENJOY — With so much of life whizzing past us and constantly reacting to this, that, and the other happening all around, it’s pretty rare when we take time to truly enjoy what we’re engaging in, whether it be conversation with a co-worker or eating a homemade meal with the family. Try beginning each meal by setting an intention for the food you’re about to enjoy. Perhaps you want to take this time to refuel your body before your hot yoga session, or you want to really savor the flavors of new recipe you just tried. I know this practice will take some time to get used to, but it will surely help you become a healthier, happier eater. 🙂
XOxo,
lj
At LARABAR®, we believe that the foundation of a sound mind, body and spirit is derived from what you eat – and what you eat is most delicious and satisfying when it’s in a whole, natural state.
