[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #71CCD5;”] I[/dropcap] stole something today.
The title for this blog post.
When an email from the lovely Courtney from Be More With Less popped into my inbox with the headline ‘8 “Normal” Things You Don’t Have to Do Anymore’ it really got me thinking.
What about the ‘normal’ things surrounding healthy eating?
I agree with Courtney, being ‘normal’ is totally overrated.
In all aspect of life but especially when it comes to food.
4 ‘Normal’ Things You Don’t Have to Do to Eat Healthy
1. Eat less
It drives me crazy when I hear people say you just need to eat less and move more.
I’ve tried eating less.
It leaves me hungry. Both physically and psychologically.
Which of course leads to over-eating later on.
So what to do instead?
Eat enough.
If you’re thinking ‘easier said than done Jules’ have a read of How to Stop Eating when you’ve had Enough.
2. Eat a wide variety of foods
I agree with the theory that the more variety you have in your diet, the less likely you are to miss out on essential nutrients.
However in practice I don’t strive for variety.
At least not in every meal.
Because I know the power of simplicity.
Instead of ten different vegetables for dinner, I have one or two.
This allows me to keep my meal super simple.
And it makes shopping and prepping much more simple too.
I then get my variety over the weeks and months.
3. Count calories / carbs / fat / whatever
Every time I write about my perspective on counting things, I get comments from people telling me that it’s the only way they can control their weight.
If counting works for you and you’re happy to keep doing it for the rest of your life, then keep doing what’s working.
However, if you aren’t counting but feel like you ‘should’.
Please let yourself off the hook.
You don’t have to count anything to be healthy.
4. Eat whole grains
Whole grains are another controversial area.
And again if you are a ‘normal’ whole grain eater and you’re happy with your health, there’s no reason to stop.
However if your health could do with some improvement, please don’t feel like you ‘should’ be eating whole grains.
Or any grains for that matter.
I haven’t eaten them for 8+ years and have no plans to start.
I get all the nutrients present in grains and then some from vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Want to experiment with being not-normal with me?
Then join me for the 30-Day Simple Kitchen Reboot.
It will help you get organized.
And simplify your approach to eating well.
It’s available as a free bonus for all members of my Simple Meal Plans.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Have fun in the kitchen
And don’t be normal :)
With love,
Jules x
I whole heartedly endorse your philosophy. When my son was young, I liked to bring home tee shirts from places I had visited. I once brought him home a shirt that said “Normal is boring.” He wore it for years until it fell apart. I wish I could find one for me now.
Oh Anita… I LOVE the sound of that t-shirt! I think I want to get one made for myself :)
I think that “eating enough” is a mindset, which is not easy to develop, especially if your history with eating is a mess, but it is possible. I’ve found that choosing to skip the carbs has me eating less. I’ve also discovered in the last few days that being in significant pain decreases my appetite. I think the key to learning how to “eat enough” is to become aware of things like the desire to not eat any more. Alien concept for me, but lately definitely something I’m experiencing. It has taken a very long time to get to this point, but I’m happy to be there. In that sense I’m finally becoming normal…
Yes ‘eating enough’ isn’t an easy mindset to develop Susan – I see it more as a practice – something I’m continually working on like meditation.
Tuning in to the desire not to eat any more is definitely a part of it. :)