6 Ways to Manage your Nutrition

Nutrition is one of the most if not the most important component in losing weight. It's also one of the hardest for many people to control. Every time you walk outside, you are bombarded with fast food options that are dense in fats and sugars. The following are some ways I manage my nutrition: 

1. Track your calories 

Some people are able to eat whatever they want without gaining or losing weight. Can I have those genes?  Others like me gain weight very easily. A way I've been able to maintain and sometimes lose weight is tracking my calories. The old school way of tracking calories is writing everything down on paper. What I recommend is downloading an app that electronically records your food. I prefer myfitnesspal.  It may sound monotonous, but it's a good way to be able to get an estimate of your daily nutrition. 

2. Find healthy alternatives 

There's always an opposite to your sugary temptation. I believe that people can get addicted to sugar, but there are steps to help you lower your sugar intake.  Start being more conscious about what has high amounts of processed sugars and natural sugars.  Instead of always grabbing candy at the check out line, limit it to once a week.  Increase your fruit intake which has sugar and other nutritional benefits.  If you keep at it, you will notice your taste buds change and you'll be able to really taste the amount of sugar in foods. Do some research about alternative healthy foods. I enjoy snacking on seaweed chips, mixed nuts, smoothies, fresh fruit, nut butters, and vegetables. If you like those high fructose drinks, try switching it up with half sweetened drinks or alternative sweetener drinks. 

3. Don't cut off your favorite sweets 

Please do not stop eating your favorite sweets but also don't go binging on them. It's all about portion control. Instead of buying a whole tub of ice cream that you know you'll finish in one sitting, go for a mini serving size to satisfy that craving. Often times, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs so be wary of buying large portions. Although it may sound financially responsible to buy a large portion of a sweet you enjoy, it may be better in the long run to limit it and buy them when you crave them so it's not as easily accessed in your house. 

4. Cook at home 

Cooking at home can provide many benefits including helping control your nutrition. I always hear the excuse "I'm a horrible cook" but who started as an amazing cook?  Of course there are those special individuals that have a great hand int he kitchen but let's not compare. We all can go to the kitchen and mix ingredients to create a nutritious meal. Start with an easy recipe and experiment. There is no strict rule to cooking when you're in your own kitchen. 

5. Know what's in your food 

This one also goes along the lines of cooking. If you cook, you know exactly what is going in your body. When you go to a fast food restaurant, you'll get several Ingredients that may be detrimental to your health in the long run. Most fast food use items to help the food stay preserved and look tasty. Don't let it fool you. Next time you go to a grocery store, check out the long list of ingredients of a frozen meal. I bet you won't know half of them. 

6. It's okay to fall off your goal 

We all struggle with nutrition. Some people struggle with gaining weight and some with losing weight. Throughout the time of trying to reach your goal, I'm sure there will be a time you want to reach for those donuts. It's okay that you do. Just remember to always come back your nutrition goals.