There have been several hiccups in my healthy eating so far this year, but the following is a list of rules I’m trying to stick to. I’m not tempted to buy bad things, I’m only tempted to eat them if they’re in front of me…which is why the work meal out last week wasn’t conducive to my healthy eating!! But here are my guidelines…
1. No cereal other than muesli. Even supposedly healthy things like Special K and All Bran are packed full of sugar which will be converted into fat. Instead I have porridge (microwavable and filling), or fresh fruit with yoghurt. Yep, they have sugar, but not so much of the added kind.
2. Drinking lots of water. My body has become very in tune with feeling thirsty, which is something I’m not used to. Now I’ll get a dry throat and clearly think ‘I need some water’ rather than just ignoring it or thinking I’m hungry. I’m also drinking fruit juice, a mixture of my own blended fruits or shop-bought stuff not from concentrate. I’ll only have about one glass of juice a day though.
3. When I want chocolate or something warming, I have a hot chocolate or tomato soup. The soup is quite sweet, and I can barely ever finish a small mug of hot chocolate anyway so it’s not too bad.
4. Going by the sugar and salt content of food as well as fat, saturated fat and calories. Most of the packaged food I eat tends to be low-calorie anyway, but I’ve been watching out for the sugar and salt content of things more and it’s actually quite shocking.
5. Crisps (chips) are limited to about once a week instead of every day.
6. Lots more fresh veg, particularly salads and things like carrot sticks I can snack on at work.
7. Dividing plates up into ¼ protein, ¼ complex carbs and ½ veg/salad. I don’t tend to eat enough protein because I generally dislike it, so this helps ensure my meals are well-balanced overall.
8. Blended drinks – I love milkshakes, but instead I’m blending things like berries, banana and melon with some milk and a touch of milkshake powder. This also helps use up overripe fruit.
9. Being more veggie – this kind of links to my general dislike of protein, but I’ve been eating more veggie foods like meat-free sausages, Quorn balls etc., which are less fatty than meat and visually easier for me to cook.
10. Other food substitutes – roast potatoes instead of chips, bakes instead of cereal bars, homemade smoothies and milkshakes or fruit instead of dessert.
11. Waiting 20 minutes after eating – I’ve never really done this before but I’ve found it makes a big difference as to how much I actually eat, particularly as I eat bits and pieces when I’m feeling lazy.
12. The ‘No’s – I know a lot of people say not to cut things out completely because you’ll miss them, but these are the things I’ve avoiding: sweets, chocolate (except a kid’s sized bar every so often), red meat, fizzy drinks other than Apple Tiser, fried things, heavily processed non-veggie products, diet products with lots of bad ingredients and E numbers, foods with MSG, foods high in calories, fat, sugar and salt, white bread and pasta, coffee, tea, energy drinks.
13. Cooked veg is steamed in the microwave – quicker and healthier than boiling, roasting or frying.
14. Eating organic as much as possible – it just tastes nicer to me. And I’d prefer to give my body as little work as possible when it comes to toxins etc.
So what AM I eating? Well, here’s an example menu…
Breakfast: Fresh strawberries and melon
Mid-morning snack: Oatmeal and raisin bake
Lunch: Tuna sandwich with salad/peppers, fruit yoghurt, carrot sticks, small portion of soft cheese with crispy potato sticks
Mid-afternoon snack: Banana
Dinner: Fish with roast potatoes and at least three kinds of veg (usually a combination of the following: baby corn, peas, cabbage, green beans, sprouts, sugar snap peas, mange tout or broccoli).
I’m quite lucky in that I love almost every kind of veg. I’m not a massive fan of sweet potato, though I do like it cooked certain ways. The only vegetable I refuse to eat is ‘proper’ sweetcorn because I think it’s disgusting. My diet is still pretty heavy on the sugar, and I’m not sure what I else I can do about that really as I’ve always had a very sweet tooth. I have stopped eating desserts though and I have been generally careful whilst eating out as to what I’m choosing. I’ve also got fussier with picking what I eat rather than generally clearing my plate. For example, I ordered a chicken sandwich in a restaurant at the weekend and it came with orange plastic cheese and a burger bun, rather than the ciabatta I was expecting!! Needless to say I scraped the cheese and top part of the bun off and left them. I could see the grease on it, it was disgusting. Ick.
What are the healthy aspects of your diet? Do you find it hard to eat healthily or do you naturally like things that are good for you?
Sorry for the late reply, I’m kind of falling behind on comment-returning, already, but thanks for the comment
Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be able to accomplish that list as long as you stick to it and support yourself, plus other people supporting you! Good luck
I believe it you! 
Yes, it’s quite shocking looking at the sodium content! Seriously!!!!
Haha, there’d be no way I could stick to a plan like your’s. Haha. But good luck! You seem like you’d be able to handle it. I can never be that healthy… I’d miss some of the foods too much… Hehe.
Well, I have terrible eating habits. I love veggies and love to try new recipes out, but my family will not tolerate it. I’ve given in for the past 6 years and made what they will eat, and I’m now vowing to start the healthy transition.
My main downfall is drinking sodas and the like. I’m going to slowly get to where I drink only water and limit myself to 2 lattes a week. I may get to the point where I can have a latte as a treat, but I can’t see that happening soon. Maybe I’ll go low fat for now?
wiii.
goood luck 
I’m pretty sure you’ll do good
BTW, thanks! Will you be able to join the Contest? hehe, I need 10 people to join.
.-= reanne’s last blog entry: =-.
I really did not know that about Special K and All Bran. Very interesting. Good luck to you. I have terrible eating habits. I will go days with only eating one small meal and then other days I will snack throughout the day. It sucks.
.-= Manda’s last blog entry: =-.
woo thats a lot of rules !
apparently it takes more energy to digest the food than the calories it holds ! good luck !
i always TRY to eat healthy but fail because of my temptation for chocolate, junk food. but replace ‘snacks’ with fruits (: fruits are real important for the antioxidants. and you should eat negative calorie foods like celery, carrots, etc.
.-= Bonnie’s last blog entry: =-.
Having healthy guide lines for yoursel is cruical!! =)
I LOVE my multigrain cheerios! Before I really got into my healthy lifestyle I would have a WHOLE big bowl full of cereal in the morning but now I only eat either 1/4 or 1/2 cup of DRY cereal
I drink sooooo much water every day! I’d say close to a gallon now and I love it.
I like to buy the low calorie hot chocolate… mmm I haven’t had that in a long while in fact!
Oh yes it’s so important to look at the fat, sugar and sodium on the foods because in most boxed foods there is SO MUCH.
I haven’t had chips in forever, lol.
I say the more fruits and veggies the better!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE sweet potato.. anything! It used to be hard for me to resist all those unhealthy foods that I used to LOVE and crave but now I WANT the healthy and DO NOT want the unhealthy.
I think you’re doing great, keep it up!
Yeah, a lot of “healthy” cereals aren’t as healthy as they appear to be. I like comparing them to the regular sugary kinds I love, and there usually isn’t much difference nutritionally!
The sugar/salt content can be scary D:
I love making milkshakes, too. I actually wait for bananas to be overripe before using them.
I really like a lot of things that are healthy (especially vegetables) BUT I also love a lot of unhealthy foods. I like to pretend it balances out.
Good luck keeping it up!
.-= Kaylee’s last blog entry: =-.
I was thinking of snacking on Special K because I get really hungry between breakfast and lunch while I’m at work. I have breakfast really early during work days and lunch till late so I end up getting really hungry in between.
I didn’t think about eating salad/carrot sticks when I’m hungry. I tend to snack on biscuits and tea which isn’t good at all.
Great post! I’ll definitely keep those tips in mind.
I would die. I eat semi healthy, but basically just whatever I feel like eating. LOL. I always cook with a lot of butter as well. That isn’t healthy.
wow!^^ I would love to follow this for a diet plan. nyaha.
.-= Chiui’s last blog entry: =-.
Wow! What a long list. Hopefully you will stick to it. I’m not very into the whole diet thing but if I want a snack I sometimes go for fruit.
Yeah, I do have a lot of different classes at my school. 
Oh, and thanks for the comment
I didn’t know steamed veggies was better than boiling, guess if you overboil you get rid of the healthy stuff. I need to get better control over what I eat, but when Mcdonald’s is presented to you, it’s hard to say no.
.-= Sean’s last blog entry: =-.
My mum makes this Indonesian sweet potato dessert. It’s really nice; it just tastes like a sweet beverage. I love most vegetables – corn, carrot, spinach, beans… my mum brought me up eating a lot of healthy food and it’s had a good effect on me. :3
I actually never eat chips/crisps – my mum stopped buying them because my brother got a bad reaction to the salt content. :S
I don’t really eat cereal – though I love cornflakes – I usually eat miso soup in the morning. I love Japanese food.
.-= Georgina’s last blog entry: =-.
Gosh, I can’t believe you’ve stuck to your plan for so long … It sounds a little too much like a crazy crash diet to me! So many rules and restrictions, y’know?
Of course, I’m not one to talk, not at all … First off, I refuse to consume caffiene in any way, shape, or form, as I’m almost allergic to it … So I don’t eat chocolate, drink hot chocolate, have pop with caffiene in it, nor teas or coffee, ((As even the ‘decaffienated’ kind STILL has caffiene in it … They’re allowed to lie about it on the package, though, for some reason, and claim there’s none,)) And so on and so on. Basically I refuse to eat ANYTHING if there’s a chance it might have caffiene in it, which gets a little ridiculous.
Plus I have other rules for not eating peanut butter at all, and I’m not even allergic to it — It just gives me really horrible heartburn, haha.
And yeah, I have loads of other ‘rules’ for eating, so I really shouldn’t talk, LOL.
.-= Mallory’s last blog entry: =-.
That’s a good idea about the blended drinks. It would help satisfy sweet cravings but be healthy. When I’m alone, I tend to feel sad, and then start snacking to fill the void
But at least I recognize my bad food habit, lol. But maybe having a semi milkshake would be better? thanks for the idea
.-= Daniella’s last blog entry: =-.
Don’t deny yourself the craving! LOL! I loveeee ice cream floats and I eat them 24/7! =ppp
I think healthier eating comes a little bit more naturally to me since I’m a vegetarian, so no meat and most fried foods (often french fries and chicken are fried in the same grease!) don’t even tempt me.
I do however count my calories as well to make sure I don’t eat too much (I really like whole grains! But too much isn’t good either…)
I’m trying really really hard to eat healthily now too! And yeah, I tried eating Special K for a while and it didn’t really work. I ended up having the massive box of cereal in front of me and snacking out of the box, finishing half the box in one evening! Not ideal! But yeah, I’ve been trying really hard to drink lots of water lately too. For the past 2 months or so, I’ve been buying 2-litre bottles of mineral water and drinking one bottle a day. It really has made such a massive difference to my skin! And about the yoghurt thing; they have this fat-free strawberry flavoured organic yoghurt from Yeo Valley
It’s what I usually have for breakfast and it’s so tasty! ^^ your diet seems pretty good and well-balanced! I need to sit down and re-plan mine lol xoxo
.-= Jojo’s last blog entry: =-.
Ei yi yi yi yie! I can keep myself from buying bad things at the store, but once they are at home, it takes everything in my power to keep from eating it. Last night I ate a whole half gallon of ice cream again.
I know I’m terrible! But my Dad buys it, not me. I’ve started again on my no sugar goal. This time, I am giving myself a visual reminder.
I’m going to blog about it today.
ps – what does the check box at the bottom of submitting a comment do? It always says that there’s an error.