Everyone loves a great tip—especially if it helps make a hard job a little easier. Today’s blog is a list of 50 tips anyone can use for practicing a healthier lifestyle. These tips reinforce a foundational truth: a healthy lifestyle is not one big thing. Like almost any other worthy pursuit, it is multiple layers of small commitments, routines and habits that work together to create meaning and a worthwhile existence. It doesn’t matter where you begin, only that you take the first step. Pick a tip today and try it on for size. We’ll share 50 more tips for you to explore in a later blog! 50 Tips for Healthy Living
- Get 64 ounces of water intake every day.
- Ditch sodas, diet or sweetened. They are NOT good for you.
- A moderate amount of caffeine from coffee or green tea IS good for you.
- Eat five cups of fruits and/or vegetables every day.
- Eat more than five cups for better health.
- Lean heavily on non-starchy veggies.
- Love your berries. They are full of powerful antioxidants.
- Eat more beans. Black, white, brown, pinto, kidney—they are nutrient powerhouses.
- Easy-to-grabs are those fruits and veggies that require little or no preparation.
- Put easy-to-grabs out where you can see them—work desk, countertops, eye level in the fridge.
- Switch to whole grains like whole wheat breads and pasta, plain oats, popcorn, etc.
- Eat at least three servings of them every day.
- Get your fiber, especially if you are diabetic.
- Choose lean proteins.
- Get at least two servings of fish each week.
- Limit red meats and processed meats to 2 times per week.
- Don’t smoke. If you do, quit.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes every day.
- Walking is an excellent physical activity.
- Walking briskly is an even better exercise.
- Limit sitting. Stand and move when you can.
- Park further away.
- Take the stairs.
- Ditch the drive-thru.
- Eat at home more.
- Eat out less.
- Know before you go—go online and check nutritional information at restaurants.
- Cook from scratch. It’s not that hard.
- Avoid processed foods.
- Shop the perimeters of the grocery store.
- Eating healthy does not have to be more expensive. Shop the specials each week.
- A failure to plan is a plan to fail.
- Prepare foods in volume. It saves time and money.
- Create your own convenience with healthy foods.
- Love low-fat dairy.
- Try Greek yogurt.
- Read the label. All of it.
- Watch for added sugars.
- Check the sodium content.
- Check portion sizes. What looks healthy and sounds healthy may be a very small portion.
- Put it back if it contains trans-fats.
- Vegetable oils are heart-healthy.
- They are still very high in calories—about 100-120 calories per tablespoon.
- Lean on willpower as little as possible.
- Find friends who are health-minded.
- Don’t be afraid of accountability.
- If you need to make big changes, join a program, hire a trainer, but make a commitment.
- Own the challenge. It is YOUR health.
- Remember, you will benefit the most or you will suffer the most.
- Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Sometimes it is hard to do the right thing.