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We live in a world brimming with food, but many of us are still not eating what our bodies truly crave. Like most people, you’re probably consuming a decent amount of calories daily, but are they the right kind? Are you feeding your body what it needs to perform at its peak?
Nutrients are the building blocks of our bodies, and making sure we’re consuming the right ones is important. It will help you look better, feel better, and perform better, so it’s an easy thing to prioritize that can have huge upsides for your daily life.
1. Take Your Vitamins
Taking a daily multivitamin can help ensure you’re ticking all the boxes for a healthy and well-rounded diet. But there are other nutrients worth looking into that can improve your health and make sure that you’re at your best. Our favorites are fatty acids.
Fatty acids are the building blocks of the fats in our bodies and our food. Not all fats are created equal. Some are, in fact, essential for our health. One such fatty acid has a code name — C15. Also known as pentadecanoic acid, it’s been called the first new essential fatty acid discovered in the last 90 years.
Why is it essential, you ask? Well, we need adequate levels of C15:0 in our bodies to stay healthy, but our bodies don’t make enough of it on their own. This means we have to get C15:0 from our diet or supplements.
2. Plan Ahead
Let’s dive into some practical ways to make sure you’re getting this and other essential nutrients from your diet. The first step is planning and preparation. Heading into your week without a meal plan is the easiest way to fall off the wagon when it comes to prioritizing your nutrition.
Planning your meals doesn’t have to be a chore, though. It can be as simple as making a list of your favorite nutrient-rich foods, organizing them into meals, and preparing a shopping list.
Once you have your meal plan, take a few hours each week to prep some of your meals in advance. This could be cooking up a big batch of quinoa, chopping vegetables for easy snacking, or preparing protein-rich foods like chicken or tofu.
Preparation is the secret weapon in your nutritional arsenal — it’s the key to ensuring you’re fueling your body with all the nutrients it needs and that these nutritional needs are ready at your fingertips, even in your weaker moments.
3. Be Smart About Grocery Shopping
With your trusty meal plan in hand, you’re ready for the next step on your nutritional treasure hunt — grocery shopping! The store is your jungle, teeming with a bounty of nutrient-rich foods. The trick? Knowing where to look.
When you’re strolling down those grocery aisles, it’s easy to get lured in by colorful packaging and catchy marketing slogans. But remember, true nutritional gold lies in the ingredients, not on the package. So, get in the habit of checking the nutrition labels.
Look for foods that are rich in essential nutrients, and don’t forget the golden rule of grocery shopping for healthy food: stick to the perimeter of the store. That’s where you’ll find fresh produce, lean proteins, and dairy products, all great sources of essential nutrients.
4. Don’t Go It Alone
Involving your family in your nutritional adventures can make the ride even more exciting. Plus, it’s a great way to instill healthy eating habits in your kids from a young age. Try planning meals together, making grocery shopping a family activity, or even cooking together. You might just find that your little ones are budding chefs! And the more involved they are in the process, the more likely they are to enjoy healthy, nutrient-rich foods.
5. Use Apps and Online Tools
Welcome to the digital age of nutrition! There’s an app (or ten) for just about everything these days, and nutrition is no exception. With the right tools, tracking your nutritional intake can be as easy as scrolling through your social media feed.
From meal planning apps that help you organize your weekly menu to tracking apps that monitor your daily nutrient intake, these digital aids can make your nutritional treasure hunt much more manageable.
Get Ready To Meet the New You
Embarking on a journey to prioritize nutrition in your daily life might seem daunting, but with a bit of planning, smart grocery shopping, and the right tools, it’s a journey that can be both fun and rewarding. It might be hard to find a routine that works for you and doesn’t feel like too much work, but once you master these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to revolutionize your diet and health with ease.
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