Blog
Setting Practical Nutrition Goals

If you can relate to this storyline or aspects of this story, you are not alone. Do not be too hard on yourself. At this point, you simply need to match your desire for change with your determination to change. Consider a slow and steady approach versus a major all at once approach. Below I have listed some tips you can apply to get you on the road to achieving your nutrition goals, practically:

• Create a list of changes you want to implement and tackle them strategically. For example: instead of trying to overhaul your entire diet, pledge to eat a healthy breakfast daily until it becomes routine.
• Consider limiting how many days a week you will order takeout. If you order out four times a week, reduce it to two times a week.
• Create a financial budget for your nutrition and wellness commitments. Being mindful of the financial aspect will help you visualize where there may be wasteful spending and will highlight what is helpful and what is not. I believe in living Affordably Healthy™.
• Create a meal calendar. You can purchase and download one to complete on your own or work with a nutrition professional to create one tailored to your needs and dietary preferences.
• Determine what you need and what you can handle. Ask yourself if you need a trainer to push you to go the extra mile because you will not challenge yourself. Then ask yourself if you can handle a trainer pushing you to go the extra mile. Will you become annoyed and avoid your sessions?
• Do not buy all items in large quantities, especially fresh produce unless you are going to take additional steps to preserve it. Consider purchasing dry goods, grains, oils, etc. in bulk. Organic fresh, whole foods will require more frequent trips to the market. This can be somewhat controlled by cooking and meal prepping in advance. Remember, it is possible to eat organic, fresh whole food regularly and be Affordably Healthy™.
• Meal prep when you can. If you cannot meal prep full meals, prep your meats/protein in bulk and cook the sides daily because they are usually quicker and easier to prepare.
• Structure your commitments and categorize them. Consider starting with the “lowest-hanging fruit”. Examples of categories include increase vegetable intake, monitor caloric intake, exercise more, and so on.
• Acknowledge the relevance of accountability. Decide how you would like to approach this. It can be via a trusted friend, someone on the same or similar journey, or with a nutrition or wellness professional. Whatever you choose, choose wisely because the vulnerability in revealing your limitations requires a delicate yet balanced response. In my opinion, this balance is often better managed by a professional, definitely someone objective.