Intentional Eating - Part One

It all begins at the grocery store...

Rule number one for grocery shopping is that you never go when you’re hungry!  If you’ve never noticed this before, pay attention to it.  If you are hungry, you will end up filling your cart with ready-to eat junk food because you’re hungry right now and you want to satisfy those cravings instantly.  However, if you eat a satiating meal and then go grocery shopping with your grocery list of what you need for the week, you will buy what you actually need and you’ll find you have much more self-control over what goes in your cart.  The same thing follows with if you’ve been busy at home and you’re starving, you will find whatever is going to satisfy those cravings instantly.  If your pantry has been stocked with junk food, then you’re going to eat that junk food.  If you don’t have any there, you’re going to make some food really fast with what you’ve got available, so if its all healthy food, then that’s what you’re going to eat!  I like to always have some readymade food in the fridge that I’ve prepped on Sunday nights so that mealtimes are not stressful.  Have some healthy snacks available like roasted nuts (without sugar), cheese sticks, fruit, or veggies & hummus for if you have a strong craving and you need to just tide yourself over until your next meal - as long as you’re good on your water intake and not mistaking being hungry for being thirsty.  So in conclusion, eat a good satisfying meal before going on a planned grocery shop with your list of food that you need for that week to set yourself up for success!