Recently a friend of mine admitted that she wanted to get healthier but she didn’t know where to start. It was all so overwhelming. It’s exactly what Little Choices Matter was formed on. It’s important that you take small steps and choose little things rather than dive into a huge program or plan.

Move slowly and do what is doable for YOU. I get “flack” a lot for being so healthy, but the reality is I am not much different than you. I grew up, and sadly raised my children, on Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, Ding Dongs and Wonderbread. I always baked with white enriched flour and bought sugar by the pound. Koolaid and Pepsi were staples in my home while raising my family, but about 3 years ago, I decided to make a change. And so can YOU!

Some can just dive in and make huge changes. They can clean out their entire pantry in an hour and dump all the unhealthy food. But if getting healthy is overwhelming to you, or you are not ready to entirely give up your unhealthy way of life, then it’s important to do it slowly. Don’t think you need to do it all in one day. Make it a natural evolution to healthy choices. Remember the saying, slow and steady wins the race. Most people who rush into it are not successful as they are overwhelmed and give up a week or two into their new healthy lifestyle, while those who do it slow and steady reach their healthy goals.

Taking care of yourself and taking responsibility for your own health and well being and of your family is key to a healthy and long life. Once you personally become healthier and model healthy behavior and influence healthy behavior in your family and friends. All those little choices that you do will make a difference!

Here are some little things you can do to be healthier! Try and do one little thing at a time and before you know it you will change your entire eating lifestyle and feel so much better!

  • The next time you go to the grocery store, look at the ingredients and pass on anything that contains high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils.
  • Go through your pantry and eliminate all the products with partially hydrogenated oils, sugar, and work up to removing all hidden sugars. Watch the labels closely.
  • Remove artificial sweeteners such as Splenda, Sweet ‘n Low. They are very harmful to our bodies.
  • Park at the end of the parking lot at least once a week. Better yet, do it when you get groceries so you have to push the full cart back to the car.
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Switch your oils – replace unhealthy oils such as vegetable or canola oils with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, MCT oil or Virgin Coconut Oil.
  • Use gluten free quinoa pasta instead of regular pasta.
  • Start walking – start 5 minutes a day for a week, then work up to 10 minutes, 15, etc.
  • Have fish 2 times a week. If you don’t eat fish, try and introduce something like salmon once a week.
  • Eat an extra serving of fruits and vegetables every day and work up to having a nice fruit smoothie every morning to jump start your energy for the day.
  • Instead of adding dressing to your salad, place it on the side and dip as needed.
  • Use my almond trick before dining out – or eating in 🙂
  • Try a few of these tricks when dining out.
  • Make your own chocolate bars for a healthy treat
Obviously the ideas are endless! Have you changed a little thing in your lifestyle that makes a difference? If so, why not share it … you could win our new HealthPro Meal Replacement!

Your body, Your life and Your choice.