How to Eat Healthy Without Starving Yourself

Blog written by Beth Funari Sims Cert. Personal Trainer

Let’s not sugarcoat it  – losing weight, and feeling satisfied can be a true balancing act.  Many people want to eat better, but nobody wants to be miserable. Restrictive diets can leave you starving and cranky.

But there’s good news – it is possible to eat healthfully without starving yourself. You just need to follow the key recommendations below:

Have a Plan

Meal planning and prepping is an important aspect of healthy eating. If you’re constantly “winging it” you are much more likely to make poor choices.  Think about it – say it’s a work day, and it’s been hours a long time since lunch but it’s hours before you can eat dinner, and you’re starving with no packed snack… Aren’t you much more likely to grab an office cookie? If you’re prepared with healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, or sliced veggies you’ll be in a much better position to make a healthful choice.

Fill Up on High Volume Foods

Vegetables and fruit with a high water content keep you full longer. Some smart choices include zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, watermelon, asparagus, and squash. Plus you can eat more of them for significantly less calories than unhealthful foods.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

Skipping breakfast is setting you up for failure! While you sleep your body goes into fast mode. Studies indicate when you don’t eat a meal after going several hours of fasting overnight that your metabolism can slow down. Research also shows breakfast eaters tend to be leaner. Aim for a mix of healthy carbs, protein and lean fat (like a sprouted English muffin with avocado and egg or turkey bacon) and eat up!

Hydrate

Often people mistake hunger for thirst. And guess what? Being dehydrated can make you feel like you’re starving!

My favorite hydration choice is plain old no calorie water. Tea is also a good option. When my clients have had a particularly grueling workout, and are craving something with flavor I might recommend coconut water to help replenish electrolytes.

You don’t have to starve yourself to be healthy. Like anything in life the road to health is full of trial and error, but hopefully these tips will help on that path!

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