It isn’t hard to see why so many of us have indulged in food throughout the course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Countless people are besieged by stress, depression and other negative emotions that are conducive to poor dietary choices. Furthermore, with many of us practicing social distancing measures and spending a lot more time at home, there isn’t much to distract us from our favorite comfort foods. However, even during times as trying as these, embracing healthy eating is well within your abilities. Anyone looking to improve their pandemic eating habits would do well to consider the following tips.
Experiment with Health-Conscious Recipes
If the COVID-19 pandemic has provided you with a lot more time to spend in the kitchen, why not try your hand at some health-conscious recipes? Meals that are rich in fruits, vegetables and protein can provide you with plenty of stamina and leave your stomach feeling satisfied. If you’re new to such recipes – or cooking in general – this is liable to take a bit of adjustment. However, with enough practice, making health-conscious meals and experimenting with new recipes is likely to become second nature.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of places to find recipes for healthy entrees, sides and desserts. Not only are there an abundance of health-conscious cookbooks available, you can also find countless websites dedicated to healthy eating with just a few simple clicks.
Limit the Amount of Junk Food You Keep On-Hand
Unsurprisingly, the more difficult junk food is to access, the less likely you are to indulge in it. For example, if you find yourself fighting a massive junk food craving, you’re unlikely to satisfy that craving if the food in question isn’t easily accessible. In other words, the more junk food you keep in the house, the more apt you’ll be to make unwise eating choices.
That being the case, make an effort to limit the amount of junk food you keep on hand. When doing your grocery shopping, place strict limits on the types of junk food you purchase, as well as how much junk food you purchase. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence, purchasing large amounts of junk food is ill-advised, particularly if you have a habit of giving in to temptation or trouble sticking to diets.
Limit How Much Takeout You Order
If you dined out on a frequent basis prior to the pandemic, eating the majority of your meals at home has probably taken a bit of adjustment. Although dining out carries a number of risks, those of us who don’t enjoy cooking have taken to consistently ordering takeout. After all, if we can’t safely go to our favorite restaurants, bringing the restaurants to us is the next best thing.
While supporting local businesses during hard times is certainly commendable, it’s generally a good idea to avoid ordering takeout too often. For one thing, many restaurant meals feature notably higher fat content than home-cooked meals. Such foods can exacerbate digestion issues, thereby facilitating immense discomfort. Additionally, if you’re looking for effective ways to aid digestion and maintain gut health, talk to your doctor about probiotic supplements.
Secondly, even if you stick with reasonably-priced restaurants, consistent takeout orders can deplete your personal finances in no time. Limiting takeout orders to one per week can help foster healthier eating habits and help you save money throughout this difficult time. As an added bonus, turning takeout into a sometimes thing can make it seem like more of a treat and give you something to actively look forward to. For example, if you turn Friday nights into designated takeout nights, this will give you another reason to get excited about the end of the workweek.
To call healthy eating habits important would be an understatement. In addition to being highly conducive to feeling well, smart dietary decisions can also prove helpful with regard to meeting both short and long-term fitness goals. Still, all of us are only human, and making unwise decisions comes naturally whenever food is involved. This is doubly true during an active pandemic that has facilitated the need for people to spend far more time at home than usual. So, if you’re looking to get a handle on your eating habits during COVID-19, heed the pointers discussed above.
