Making Healthy Foods Accessible

Tell me I'm not the only one that struggles with decision making... Sometimes the simplest decisions seem so overwhelming! I'm confident that my inability to make decisions has made me the planner that I am. I do much better if I've analyzed the situation or the decision and made my choice in advance rather than trying to decide in the moment.

Maybe you can relate to this in terms of food choices.

Friends, we are either setting ourselves up for success or failure.

Weight Loss Tip #6 - Have Access to Healthy Food Choices

If you decide you want to eat healthier or lose weight, but you're greeted by a kitchen counter top full of desserts, a fridge full of sodas and a pantry full processed snacks, it’s going to be quite hard to avoid these foods.

Access to healthier foods is a large contributing factor in successful diet changes.

For example, if there is an apple hidden in the back of your refrigerator and a sleeve of cookies sitting on the counter. Which one do you think you’ll grab for?

If you didn’t bring your lunch to work, but the vending machine that takes a credit card is right outside your office, how much success do you think you’ll have making a healthier decision at lunch?

I know what you're thinking... What about my kids? My family shouldn't have to suffer!

It's unrealistic to throw out all the food in your home that our families enjoy, but we can do our best to set ourselves up for success in these ways:

• Put all high sugar or more processed foods into the pantry or fridge (maybe pick one shelf or drawer) ​

• Make sure to keep produce and healthy snacks readily available ​

• Cut up vegetables and fruit before storing - you’ll be more likely to grab for it if it’s conveniently prepared already! ​

• Keep healthy snacks in your work drawer, purse, car or wherever you have the potential to get stuck without healthy options. ​

• Don't let yourself get too hungry - it's easier to make better food choices when you're thinking with your head and not your stomach

My challenge for you this week is to ensure you have access to healthy food choices! Keep them readily available, fresh and ready to eat. You'll be surprised how often you reach for a fresh fruit or vegetable in place of a more processed snack. ​

I’m here for you and I believe in you! See you next week for another weight loss tip.

- Miranda Castillo, RD, LD, CDE

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