When you're feeling celebratory and good about yourself, what foods do you gravitate toward? For me, it's salad with lots of crunchy nuts, sweet cranberries, avocado (oh my I can't get enough of it) with a ginger type dressing. But when I'm having a difficult time in life, the first food I reach for (if it's in my freezer) is ice cream or I want cookies. The foods which me make me more physically ill and I know it!
How we relate to food can get very complicated especially when we look to it to help us feel better about ourselves. We search for happiness, contentment but not nourishment.
Many people tend to look to feeling good through food so they gravitate toward the comfort foods (which sometimes is not so good for you). Nourishment is not in the vocabulary at these times. But there are ways to keep from eating too much or starving yourself. Discover how you can nurture yourself to create a happier, healthier relationship to food - and your body.
EAT MINDFULLY - Think about where your food came from and how it was prepared. Enjoy the colors or the aroma. Pay attention to the food you eat.
EAT LOW-DENSITY FOODS - Here's a trick to figure out what packaged foods you buy are low energy density foods. Check the label (you should be doing that anyway). If a food has a low energy density, the number of calories will be lower than its weight in grams. For example, a 1/2 cup of Trader Joes Organic Kidney Beans is 130 grams and is 110 calories so it's considered to be a low-density food.
EAT COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES - http://www.glycemicindex.com to help you choose foods low on the glycemic index (55 or less).
STAY ACTIVE - Move your body! Find something you enjoy and incorporate it into your life. If you really enjoy it don't look at as a chore (that's how I felt when I joined a gym - quit after several months because I was bored there), you’ll do it more often.
BE SURE YOU GET ENOUGH SLEEP - About an hour before going to bed, turn off the TV and computer, keep your bedroom as dark as possible, if you're a light sleeper (like I am), block out noise with earplugs and do some deep breathing to help calm your nerves so you can sleep better.
IF YOU OVEREAT, BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF - Take a walk or go to the movie. Even call a friend. Just be sure you care for yourself in all ways.
How we relate to food can get very complicated especially when we look to it to help us feel better about ourselves. We search for happiness, contentment but not nourishment.
Many people tend to look to feeling good through food so they gravitate toward the comfort foods (which sometimes is not so good for you). Nourishment is not in the vocabulary at these times. But there are ways to keep from eating too much or starving yourself. Discover how you can nurture yourself to create a happier, healthier relationship to food - and your body.
EAT MINDFULLY - Think about where your food came from and how it was prepared. Enjoy the colors or the aroma. Pay attention to the food you eat.
EAT LOW-DENSITY FOODS - Here's a trick to figure out what packaged foods you buy are low energy density foods. Check the label (you should be doing that anyway). If a food has a low energy density, the number of calories will be lower than its weight in grams. For example, a 1/2 cup of Trader Joes Organic Kidney Beans is 130 grams and is 110 calories so it's considered to be a low-density food.
EAT COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES - http://www.glycemicindex.com to help you choose foods low on the glycemic index (55 or less).
STAY ACTIVE - Move your body! Find something you enjoy and incorporate it into your life. If you really enjoy it don't look at as a chore (that's how I felt when I joined a gym - quit after several months because I was bored there), you’ll do it more often.
BE SURE YOU GET ENOUGH SLEEP - About an hour before going to bed, turn off the TV and computer, keep your bedroom as dark as possible, if you're a light sleeper (like I am), block out noise with earplugs and do some deep breathing to help calm your nerves so you can sleep better.
IF YOU OVEREAT, BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF - Take a walk or go to the movie. Even call a friend. Just be sure you care for yourself in all ways.
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