Many of us have been there. You are sitting in your doctor’s office and he/she tells you or a loved one that it’s time for a diet change. Suddenly, you feel overwhelmed; almost paralyzed, as you take in information with no action plan, no awareness of where you go next or what “change” should look like. I have met many people both in my office and in the aisles of the supermarket that are facing this fear and truly don’t know where to start. Well, like most things it starts with a plan.
Keep a 3-5 day food log.
When you are told that you need to meet certain diet goals your first assumption is that you aren’t yet meeting any of them. However, you may be surprised to find that you are doing more good then you thought. Write down what you prepare for your loved ones for 3-5 days to get a true sense of your family’s diet and the habits that you need to break…as well as the ones you should keep!
Pick three changes.
Ease the worry by deciding on the three things you can do…now. Make these three changes clear and concise. For example: Always offer vegetables with dinner, buy only whole grain foods, and serve fish twice per week. Once you have established a routine…add three more.
Speaking of three…what are your challenges?
Is it a busy work schedule? Unsure what to buy at the store? Need new recipes? Establish the 3 biggest things that may make it hard for you to change your family’s diet and learn how to overcome them. I highly suggest visiting www.staging.guidingstars.com regularly for shopping tips and new (often easy, always delicious) recipes like dinners that can be made in thirty minutes or less. Or for more cooking tips and ideas, check out the cooking videos done by our expert chef Erin Dow.
Celebrate small victories.
As you work toward making these changes second nature in your home, remember to celebrate the moves you make along the way. If your “won’t touch a vegetable” children are now eating at least one vegetable with dinner, that is success, even if you wish they weren’t always pushing the fish off to the side.
Make it enjoyable with Guiding Stars rated foods that are fun, delicious and good for you too.
Eating well doesn’t have to be boring, especially when you have Guiding Stars on your side. We take the guess work out of finding the “good, better and best” foods for your family so you can trust that foods that earn stars also provide more whole grain, fiber, vitamins/minerals and less salt, sugar and unhealthy fat. Visit the Food Finder on our website to locate star rated versions of your family favorites.