Written by: guest writer Sheila Olson, Aug 2023
Keep It Simple on Your Road Map to Health
Did you ever notice that you start to feel better when you make a few positive changes to your health? Do you feel overwhelmed at trying to change too much at once? Consider starting with a few minor changes to reach your health goals and raise your quality of life as the first step on your road map to good health. Check out these recommendations, courtesy of Remix Snacks.
Healthy Eating Starts Simply
Processed foods are directly linked to health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and chronic inflammation. Therefore, limiting processed foods in your diet is one of the most straightforward yet crucial changes you can make to your diet. For instance, instead of reaching for a bag of chips as a snack, you could opt for a handful of almonds or carrot sticks with hummus. High-protein, ready-to-eat snacks from Remix Snacks are also a great option to consider! And instead of frozen meals or fast food for dinner, consider cooking a simple dish from scratch, like baked chicken with steamed vegetables and brown rice. When making a sandwich, skip the store-bought white bread and choose whole-grain bread or try a lettuce wrap instead. By making these small, deliberate choices, you'll reduce your intake of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and excess sodium.
Also, if you’re serious about eating healthy, starting your own garden is one of the best changes you can make. And if you’re worried because you don’t exactly have the greenest of thumbs, it’s okay. There are plenty of resources out there loaded with gardening tips; click here to get started!
The Benefits of Walking for Health
When starting an exercise routine, the most frequent mistake people tend to make is failing to set realistic exercise goals. Walking is free; you can do it almost everywhere, and it's a great low-impact exercise. It's a wonderful way to begin your new exercise routine. It only needs to be done 15-30 minutes a day. You can break up this time allotment into smaller increments.
To squeeze in walking at work, walk to coworkers' offices to speak to them in person instead of contacting them by phone. Use the stairs instead of the elevator, and take walks during breaks or lunchtime. If you order takeout, walk to the restaurant to pick up the order. After some short walks during work hours, the whole family can unwind for the day by walking around the neighborhood together.
Managing Stress to Stay Healthy
Long-term stress can contribute to health conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and depression. The best practice for managing stress is to plan your activities, prepare for stressful situations, and prioritize tasks. Be mindful of when you start to feel stressed, and take the time to relax when necessary. Seek professional guidance if needed.
Lifting Your Spirit Elevates Your Health
Being spiritual and connecting to forces outside yourself directly correlates to your physical and mental well-being. For example, spirituality can come from your church community, nature, music, or meditation and can help build a sense of purpose and belonging. One good practice to enhance spirituality and manage stress is to use positive self-talk.
Take a special box – such as a shoebox – and write something positive on paper to add to it. For example, take a negative thought, such as "I can't believe I messed up," and change it to "mistakes happen to everyone, but I can correct it." Or change "I'm all alone and powerless" to "I'll allow myself to reach out for help and advice." Then, revisit your box once in a while to reinforce these ideas. These positive affirmations help transform your mindset.
Start Small
Resolving to live healthier and starting with small changes can expand your quality of life. Walking more at work or creating meaningful family time by taking an evening stroll together can yield big results. Take time to relax, and be proactive about your health. Small steps can be the key to a happier and healthier life.
Remix Snacks offers the best snacks around. Click here to browse our shop!
