Forget New Year’s; spring is the time of year when I get the urge to make major changes to my lifestyle – especially when it comes to what I eat.
There’s just something about spring that makes me want to have a clean, fresh start.
This year, I’m in the process of moving and have the perfect excuse to clean out my pantry and start new with healthier options
Honestly, moving is the ONLY reason I’m cleaning out my pantry this year. I have this thing with throwing away food – not sure why since we never really wanted for food when I was little – but I can’t seem to get over the idea of throwing away perfectly good food…even if it’s perfectly horrible for me.
If you’re really serious about cleaning out the “bad” things and eating right – regardless of what “right” looks to you – you’ve got to get past that mindset. And the mindset of eating all the food before you buy new, healthier stuff. Trust me, I’m an expert at that game, too.
Think of it this way: That money has already been spent; you’re not going to get it back. And most of the stuff is fairly cheap anyway. (Or at least, cheaply processed and therefore unhealthy.) Save yourself – and those eating from a food bank (for those of you who would rather donate it) – and just toss it already & make a solid, healthy plan.
A twist on my dad’s age-old wisdom:
Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Eating
1) Make a list of new items you’ll need/want.
Research whatever new way of eating you want to try and see what items you’ll need to replace from your pantry. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do a complete overhaul and start brand new. You can always make a few swaps at a time to cut back on the upfront cost of changing how you fuel your body.
2) Shop around for the best prices.
I love my local grocery stores, but buying coconut oil at Harris Teeter can be WAY more expensive than buying it online. (Shocking, right?) You’d be surprised what you can find online – especially at places like netrition.com, vitacost.com or even amazon.com for food items. (Bonus: Use Ebates for an even bigger discount!)
3) Arm yourself with new recipes to try.
One of the biggest challenges of eating healthy is making good choices when you’re in a rush or on the go. This is a great time to try meal planning so you won’t be as tempted to reach for your old standby of EasyMac and a Diet Coke.
Healthy eating habits are just that – habits that need to be cultivated. Like anything, you get what you put into it. So, be sure to put a little more effort into it, OK? Too many people are counting on you for you to be unhealthy.
