Help!

katiecinquina
May 22
4 min read

“I want to be consistent with healthy food choices especially when I’m short on time!”

Okay okay, so you live a busy life, and you realllyyy want to implement healthy practices but you just can't seem to find the time or motivation. I get it, the modern lifestyle is jam packed with busy days, and when you're short on time, it's easy to grab the most convenient foods in the moment. We have essentially traded health and nourishment for convenience. It's not always easy to slow down, especially with children, jobs, meetings, classes. etc in the mix.

So how do I implement healthy habits especially when I'm low on time?

As your ceritfied health coach, here's what I would suggest!

Make 2 Simple Lists

Make a list full of foods you absolutely love! The ones that are healthy and get you excited. The foods that, in an ideal all-the-time-in-the world life, you would eat everyday. This will look different for each individual.

Make a list of foods you want to avoid (AKA the 'no-no' list) This is the avoid at all costs list. Being intentional about this list will help you to avoid the foods later on when you are craving them. Everyone has different food preferences and what is right or wrong for them and this list can change depending on what stage of life you are in.

Set Boundaries

Set a rule for how long you will avoid the no-no foods for. It doesn’t have to be forever! Try 1-2 weeks, or even 1-2 days. Pick a reasonable and practical goal. Avoiding a food for a full year is NOT practical. Start small!

It may help to remove the no-no foods from your access altogether. That way when you are tempted, you take out the convenience aspect!

Post both of these lists in a convenient place!

Schedule Time for the Healthy Stuff

Now get excited about this part!!! With the list of foods you love that ARE healthy, choose to prep a couple of them in advance or have them on hand. A great tip is scheduling 1 hour to make your list, 1 hour to grocery shop, and 1 hour to do the prep. If 1 hour is too much, try 30 mins! Make sure there is an abundance of the healthy things so that it basically just 'crowds out' the 'bad things'. Finding easy recipes and healthy snacks also helps so much. You don't have to be perfect right away as this will be an ongoing process. But there are small changes you can make that make lasting impact. For instance, if you crave doritos, cookies, or soda, instead of taking them out of your diet altogether, consider finding a healthier alternative. Target, Costco, or any health food store now have TONS of healthier options for those cravings but they won't harm your body as much as the mainstream brands.

Address the Cravings

Now it's time to really get to the root of the problem and make some lifelong change. Chances are, this is a heart issue. Most of our struggles stem from our sinful nature and our inability to be perfect in this life. It's time to really slow down and ask yourself the deep questions. WHY???

Why can't I stop craving these foods I know aren't the best for me? The one's that are doing more harm than good.

a. What's the feeling behind it? Am I actually hungry or am I just bored, stressed, or tired?

b. In those moments of temptation, don't be blind to your choices. Instead, be mindful and intentional about each decision you make. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and this is a perfect opportunity to live that out.

c. If the temptation is too hard to bear, walk away. Set a 5 min timer and pray. No distractions. Going on a walk helps to rewire those cravings as well. So walking and praying is a good way to fight the temptation. If you are using food as an emotional fix, as God for forgiveness and not going to him first. He should be the one ruling our lives, not our food.

What does the Bible say about it?

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, [a]so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

With every temptation, there is freedom. When you belong to the Kingdom of God, you are given this power through Jesus- who overcame the world! Woo! God does not make anyone sin, instead he provides a way out, a way of escape.

But it does say to FLEE FROM IDOLATRY...

So that leads me to ask you...

Has food become your idol?

If so, it is sin. The amazing thing is that God promises to blot out our transgressions!

1 John 1:9 says