Nutritional Tips

Here are tips that have been helpful in making lifestyle changes and following through on completing previous challenges. Some may be random, some may not fit for you. That’s OK. Extract what fits YOUR life…

1. When it comes to being successful with the food portion – PLAN AND PREP ahead of time. On Saturday morning, sit down and look at everyone’s schedule for the week and determine which food ideas will work best on which night. After determining which meals are going to work, make a grocery list and go shopping. Then, spend a few hours or more preparing what you can for the week.

2. Stick to the list and your budget. It can get really expensive, but it doesn't have to be.

3. Cut up veggies (bell peppers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) for quick snacks or munchies. The more accessible, the more likely everyone in the house will be more willing to eat healthy.

4. If your spouse is joining and they eat like a bottomless pit, make sure they have plenty fruit, veggies, potatoes, nuts and nut butters to snack on ;)

5. If your kiddos are joining you, try to make everything as appealing (not appalling) as possible. Making things like pizza skillet and breakfast skillet for breakfast, helps them to get on board.

6. Pack lunches and write a note.

7. When it comes to breakfast and lunches, leftovers are the way to go. Or things like chicken salad, fish fillets, turkey patties, and tuna. All those things can be prepared on Sunday and thrown together the day of. Add some veggies and you’re good to go.

8. DRINK WATER.

9. Utilize the oven, crock pot and grill (a George Foreman type grill works great during the cold season), as much as possible. It frees up time to do other things.

10. Have some chicken or bone broth on hand. You might feel a little weird the first several days, and broth seems to help.

11. If you have a sweet tooth, turn to berries first.

12. Remind yourself it’s a process and to be patient with yourself. However, be unwilling to make excuses allowing you “off the hook”.

13. If you want a soda, have a flavored La Croix.

14. Going out of town? Take food with you. Or, you can order steamed veggies and “dry” chicken (unbuttered), beef or any other meat.

15. If you start to tell yourself this is all too much, just take a deep breath and remind yourself one step at a time. One decision at a time. Eventually they will all add up.

16. Call a friend and ask for an intervention! Seriously, call, text, email, message, whomever in those moments when you need support. Modifying behavior is at the heart of following this commitment and any lifestyle change. It will challenge so many habits and cravings, and your body will most likely not like it. Reach out to our group for support and prayer, God is able and willing to eliminate negative side effects .

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