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Congratulations! You have made the decision to live a healthier lifestyle and eat cleaner! You are motivated to become a better version of yourself, and are excited to begin… But you don’t really know where to start… 

Everyone goes through this initial confusion when they first shift to a healthier diet. We get confused on what we can and cannot eat, which results in us getting frustrated because it feels like eating healthy means you can’t eat ANYTHING that you like anymore.

Let me assure you that living a healthier diet and lifestyle is easy, and you don’t have to give up everything you love.

Living a healthy diet and lifestyle can really be boiled down to a few principals! Here are 5 of the EASIEST diet hacks and tips to eat healthier today. 

EASY STEPS TO EATING HEALTHIER AND LIVING BETTER

1. MAKE AND DRINK A SMOOTHIE EVERY DAY 

I. love. smoothies. I love every variation of smoothies, i.e. smoothie bowls, sorbets, green smoothies, superfood mixes, etc. 

When I was first going through my health journey, I would notice how hard it was for me to get enough fresh fruits and veggies in my diet. That was when I discovered the BEAUTY that came with making a daily smoothie!

Pro tip: Make a large smoothie, and drink it as a meal replacement (or additional snack) at least once a day. This will help you get plenty of nutrient-giving fruits and veggies in your diet, and will be a great way to stay full and feel satisfied.

My day-to-day smoothie recipes looks something like this:

• Bananas 
• Frozen fruit (usually berries)
• Plant-Based protein
• Whatever supplement or superfood I am taking at the time (I have been really into Maca lately for the energizing effects)

2. TRY EATING MEATLESS MEALS A FEW TIMES A WEEK

When people hear this one, they usually freak out a little bit. I am not saying that to be healthy you cannot eat your favorite foods, the goal is just to eat these unhealthy foods in moderation.

What I recommend is to start small by just committing to a “Meatless Monday” once a week. Make this fun by making meals with your friends and family! It doesn’t have to be a whole day devoted to it either, you can even just make a meatless lunch or dinner and still be on the path to healthier diet and lifestyle!

Pro tip: Try experimenting with meat replacements in your meals throughout the week to help you feel satisfied and healthy. Depending on what you are looking for, there are options for everything! Plant based meats, tofu, tempeh, lentils, mushrooms, black beans, etc. are all delicious whole food options that will make you feel good.

3. ALWAYS HAVE BEANS AND LEGUMES STOCKED UP IN YOUR PANTRY AND ADD THEM TO YOUR WEEKLY MEALS

Beans and legumes are one of my favorite health plant-based protein sources. They are easy to prepare, they are full of plant protein, and are inexpensive! A goal to set for yourself is to always try to have cans of beans in the house at all times and throw them into different meals throughout the week.

Some of my favorites beans and legumes are chickpeas, pinto beans, and lentils (lentils usually come dry but are SO easy and cheap to cook with.) By incorporating beans and legumes as a staple in your diet, you will see your health increase drastically.

Pro tip: Try some of the different ways to cook and prepare beans and legumes, and find recipes that work best for you! They are truly so versatile and can literally be used in ANY situation.

Making a salad? Throw in some chickpeas! Making soup? Black beans are a must! Looking for a cheap meat replacement? Lentils are awesome for replacing meat in recipes!

There are so many ways to enjoy beans and legumes, try them out and I promise you won’t regret it!

4. FIND AND USE A LARGE REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE TO STAY HYDRATED

If you don’t already have a reusable water bottle, try out the trend and get one! My person favorite water bottle that I’ve used over the years is my Hydroflask, but any reusable bottle will do!

Pro tip: Make sure that whatever bottle you get is BPA free, you don’t want to be drinking plastic!

Find one? Great! Now shoot to drink at least 2 liters of water (that’s about 8 cups) today. Try and drink often throughout the day. You’ll feel more energy, have better breath, clearer skin, and even better digestion!

5. TREAT UNDERLYING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AND TAKE WEEKLY SUPPLEMENTS

People tend to have strong feelings when it comes to taking supplements. Many tout the phrase “I do not need to take any vitamins because I eat PERFECT and get all my nutrients in my food.” In a perfect world, this is true. But for the rest of us, it is important that we are making sure to consume our RDA of important nutrients.

• An important nutrient that many people are deficient in, both vegetarians and meat eaters is B12. I personally use a B12 supplement that I take every few days to make sure that on a vegan diet I am staying healthy.

• Another vitamin that I make sure to have on hand is plant based iron supplements. Personally, since I struggle with Ulcerative Colitis I like to take iron supplements to avoid becoming anemic. It is important to stay on top of this one, as anemia impacts a lot of people.

• My favorite vitamin to take when I am feeling a lot of inflammation and my health starts slipping is Turmeric! There are so many variations of Tumeric supplements, but my personal favorite lately has been Turmeric Gummies made with real fruit. They are delicious and really help with my intestinal inflammation.

These are just a few of my personal supplements I take and have had success with, as always please consult a doctor for any medical advice as well as get tests ran to see what nutrients you are actually deficient in.

I personally live by the mantra, “it’s better to be proactive than reactive,” which is why I like to stay on top of my supplements and take them on a daily and weekly basis.

Well, that is it! I truly hope this post was useful and that you will begin living a healthier life today! I encourage you to everyday remind yourself of your goals, and remember that temporary setbacks or failures are just temporary, these are a part of your journey and help you to grow in the long run! Just stay motivated! 😀