Our daily habits serve as the foundation for our overall well-being, success, and personal growth. As the great Jim Rohn once said, "Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day." One area where this philosophy truly shines is in our food choices. By identifying and replacing bad habits with positive ones, we can dramatically improve our health, energy, and quality of life. In this article, we'll explore the essential steps to cultivating excellence in our food choices.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Habits
- Keep a food journal: To gain a better understanding of your eating habits, maintain a food journal for at least a week. Record everything you consume, along with any relevant details such as your emotions, location, and time of day. This self-reflection exercise will help you identify patterns and triggers that contribute to unhealthy choices.
- Examine your environment: Our environment shapes our habits and actions. Carefully analyze your home and work surroundings to identify any factors that may lead you toward unhealthy food choices. This could include the easy access to unhealthy snacks or the lack of nutritious options within reach.
Step 2: Establish Clear, Attainable Goals
- Set specific, measurable objectives: Success starts with a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Establish specific, measurable goals related to your food choices, such as "consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily" or "limit processed foods to one meal per week."
- Focus on progress, not perfection: Change doesn't happen overnight, so it's essential to approach your goals with patience and perseverance. Embrace the idea that progress, even if small, is still a step in the right direction.
Step 3: Create New, Empowering Habits
- Start with small, manageable changes: Instead of attempting a complete dietary overhaul, begin by making one or two small adjustments at a time. For instance, replace sugary beverages with water, or incorporate a few whole food plant-based meals each week.
- Develop routines and rituals: Consistent routines can help reinforce new habits, making them easier to sustain over time. Create rituals around your food choices, such as preparing a simple breakfast of oatmeal and blueberries each morning or enjoying a colorful salad with your lunch when you have to eat out.
- Leverage the power of substitution: One effective strategy for replacing bad habits is to find healthier alternatives. Opt for a ready-to-eat, whole food plant-based meal, and swap processed snacks for nutrient-dense options like fruits and nuts.
- Seek support and accountability: Surround yourself with individuals who share your goals and can offer encouragement, motivation, and accountability.?Consider consulting with a registered dietitian that promotes eating more plants.
- Celebrate your successes: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. By recognizing your progress, you'll reinforce your new habits and maintain the motivation to continue striving for excellence in your food choices.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to transforming your habits and cultivating excellence in your food choices. Remember the wise words of Jim Rohn: "Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." So embrace the journey of personal growth and take control of your health and well-being—one meal at a time.
-Mark Gossman is CEO and Co-Founder of Whole Harvest, a company that specializes in creating whole food, plant-based meals delivered fresh to your front door.