The phrases “eating right” and “healthy diet” are said so often that it can be hard to know what they even mean. For example, do you eat enough veggies, and if you do, are they the “right” vegetables? Are we still friends with carbs in 2022? What about the low-fat craze of the ’80s and ‘90s? Where are we with that today?
There’s no denying that the fuel you put in your body is not all created equal. Certain foods will fill you up for longer and provide more sustained energy, but the healthy options aren’t always the most convenient. For example, you could be on the road and have to eat fast food in a pinch. Maybe you’re studying for finals, and you need fast calories to fuel your brain. Or perhaps it’s been a rough week and boxed macaroni and cheese is all you have the bandwidth for. We’re not here to judge, and we’ve been in all the situations above.
The fact is, part of having a balanced lifestyle is finding ways to incorporate your favorite (albeit less healthy) food loves. So instead, what we want to give you are some quick and easy tools to incorporate healthy eating, so you always have that equilibrium you crave.
I know it sounds silly, but one of the best ways to start healthy eating is making soups.
There is no single soup. Instead, it encompasses thousands of different recipes and flavor profiles, is made in large quantities to either feed several people or to be batched and frozen, and is one of the best ways to include several servings of vegetables.
When it comes to soup, the sky is the limit. You are only stymied by your own creativity or Google search algorithm. There are stuffed baked potato soups, lasagna soups, and every kind of chicken noodle soup you could imagine. Are you trying to cut down on your fatty proteins? No problem, there are so many flavors in even the most run-of-the-mill soup that you can easily substitute ground beef for ground chicken or turkey—what a great way still to get that filling protein without all the extra grease. Maybe you’re like us, and sometimes you just have those extra carrots or celery stalks lingering in your crisper drawer on their last legs – not a problem! Chop them up and throw them into literally any soup for some bulk and flavor. There are simply no rules and the recipes are always forgiving!
We haven’t even gotten to the best part! Soups typically make larger recipes so you can feed a family on soup. But, maybe reading that line is discouraging because you’re a single person, and you know you’re not going to eat the same soup every day for a week. No problem there! Just portion out your soup and freeze it for a day when you have no energy left to think of and make dinner. It’s the perfect way to ensure you always have healthy and delicious meals for your balanced life.
Finally, the big flavors of soup make them a great way to add your favorite CBD tincture from Spirit Peak Organics to enhance that homeostasis you crave.
It seems as though there is a new smoothie craze every couple of years. Whether it be green smoothies, chock-full of spinach and kale, or açai smoothies that have been rumored to cure or prevent just about everything, smoothies cycle into and out of our collective consciousness as the wind blows. All of this isn’t to discredit them, however. Just the opposite, smoothies are a great way to get servings of fruits, vegetables, and protein into that first meal of the day. You know the one we struggle with the most. You can prep your frozen vegetables the night or week before. Fruit from the freezer aisle of your local grocery store is a great option here. It’s very affordable, readily available, and of great quality. Just select your favorite fruit and vegetable and pair it with your preferred protein and liquid base for a breakfast that will keep you going all morning.
Also, just like soup, smoothies are a great way to get in your daily dose of your preferred Spirit Peak Organics CBD oil or tincture. What a great way to start your day with that balance and equilibrium to follow you throughout the afternoon.
This is going to sound counterintuitive. If you want to have the healthiest eating for the most balanced life, of course, you’ll have to avoid food. But are you really? Isn’t balance about finding a way to keep everything leveled out? You are doing great! It doesn’t always feel that way, but the truth is no one has it figured out, and you are truly doing great. We could all stand to eat more of some things and less of others. This doesn’t mean only eating leafy greens and never having a cheeseburger. It doesn’t mean having nightly desserts of berries and never having cake. Your balanced lifestyle is about what will work for you in the long run. Cutting down on something doesn’t mean cutting it out.
Study after study shows us that our biggest enemy is ourselves when we seek to have healthier lifestyles. A fairly common psychological phenomenon in the human brain is known as the extinction burst. The extinction burst happens when we try to adjust our habits and behaviors. The misconception here is that when we are trying to avoid engaging in a specific set of patterns, the best thing we can do is cut it out, and eventually, the habit will disappear from our lives. The truth, however, is that whenever we cut something out cold turkey, our brains work against us in a last-ditch effort to establish the pattern that was so comforting.
So if you love those puffed cheese flavored puff celebrated by everyone’s favorite cheetah, or if you really need your sugar fix, give yourself a break and have it in moderation.
Remember that while all nutrition isn’t necessarily equal, a fed you is the best you. Small changes can make a huge impact on your overall health. Start with soups and stir-frys to get in those extra servings of vegetables and lean proteins. Smoothies or whole fruit in the morning to get in those good calories in the morning to help you sail into the afternoon. The best version of you is always going to be fed! Your healthy lifestyle needs to be balanced and at it’s core it needs to work with your lifestyle.
Spirit Peak Organics is here to help support that healthy diet with a compendium of your favorite CBD oils and tinctures that can be incorporated into your meal planning. If you have any questions as to which product would work best with your lifestyle we are here to help guide you on your healthy and balanced journey. Reach out to us today!
