Hi Unless, of course, you like dry, boring salad! Good morning, hope all is well. Today, we are talking about loving how you eat. #LoveHowYouEat
You don’t like salad? Don’t eat salad. I hope that you do, because it’s a super easy way to get a butt load of veggies at once. You might want to ask yourself “Why don’t I like salad?” Do some
investigating. Is it because you tried to diet on salads with no dressing? Many women that I have worked with try to do this. “Try” is what they do because it doesn’t usually last for more than a day or two.
We have this notion that our food has to be bland, no butter, no sauces, no added anything for it to be healthy. That is simply not the case. We don’t have to suffer through eating our food. I’ve eaten dry salad, with a bit of
lemon squeezed on it. It was downright nasty!
Food is more than just fuel. Food is also meant to be enjoyed, savory, and tasty. The list could go on and on. Food connects us to one another, it’s a shared connection. Where do we spend most of our time? In the kitchen! Preparing food for either our family, ourselves, or for an event.
I often do recommend my clients get
in a salad, but I don’t push dry, un-tasty salad. The simple fact is that you won’t eat it and you definitely won’t enjoy it. How many times have you choked down foods in the name of it being healthy? It’s not healthy to eat things that you don’t like – that’s from an emotional stand point.
We know protein is hard to get in, but the next macronutrient we skimp out on is veggies. Most folks probably will get in more fruit than veggies
easily. Fruits are just easier to grab and eat, whereas veggies can take some preparation time.
So, why salads on a regular basis for my clients? It’s a simple, easy, and sustainable way to get in like 5 or 6 servings of vegetables in one sitting. Have you gotten through your day and realized the only veggie you had for the day was a slice of iceberg lettuce on your sandwich at lunch? Too many times to count I
bet.
I, myself, utilize this protocol because I have all the trimmings for salads ready to go and grab to make a salad. I know that I will get in all my servings, just in case I don’t get any other veggies in for the day. I also use it when traveling, sometimes veggies can be hard to come by or you just eat fewer meals while traveling. Therefore, I make sure that at least one meal is a big salad!
This salad was divine: Loaded with mixed greens, sprouts, a chix breast, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and onions and some blue cheese dressing on the side - dipped my fork in it.
I ate the whole salad and enjoyed every bite. Super satisfied afterwards. I cannot stress the importance of enjoying the way you eat. Enjoying the way you eat, especially if your are in weight loss mode is so importance for adherence and for sustainability. Taste is key – it’s a huge factor, when it comes to salads and compliance with food in general. If you don’t love how you eat, whether your trying to drop a few pounds or not, or for general health, you won’t stick to it. I know what you’re thinking – “When I actually make a salad I like, it will be super calorie dense.” That’s not a bad thing – plus remember this food has no moral value, drop the labels. More to that in a
minute.
Drop the picture in your head of iceberg lettuce, 3 cherry tomatoes, white onions, no protein and a few lemon squeezes for dressing. No wonder you’re hungry right after eating it. Nasty, nasty, eew! You want a salad that doesn’t suck, right? I feel ya and you want to enjoy it.
You've heard that whole speech about some salads being unhealthy as a burger or
something of that nature, right? I'm like whatever! If adding some cheese, some nuts, cranberries or what have you will keep from going in or going to binge city later add the freaking avocado or whatever leaves you feeling satisfied. Here's the thing consistency over perfection wins every single time.
Here’s what you do to make a delicious nutritious salad that you will actually
like:
- Tasty greens of some sort: spinach, romaine, kale (if you like it), swiss chard, mixed greens, arugula – to name just a few.
- Other veggies: carrots, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, zucchini, onions.
- If you like fruit on salads- strawberries, blueberries, etc… The other day in Asheville, I had divine salad with watermelon on it.
It was to die for!
4. A fat source if you like: nuts, almonds, avocado, bacon, cheese, etc.
5. Some crunchiness – sesame sticks or something like that.
6. Pick a protein! Chix, fish, steak – whatever you like. The protein helps with satisfaction and satiety. 7. Lastly, a dressing of your choice. Even if it’s a fatty one, like blue cheese – get it. Put it on the side, then you will have control of how much. By the way – most of the nutrients in a salad are fat soluble, so you need some fat to actually absorb the
nutrients.
With a salad built like above, you will be satisfied, you will enjoy it, and want one every day.
Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated, nor boring, or un-tasty. Don’t suffer through your food to lose weight. There is a better way. When your food is tasty, you will
be satisfied and less likely to search for more. It’s a compliance tool and definitely helps with calorie control. Don’t force yourself to eat food that you don’t like. So, if you still don’t like salads, that’s fine too. Find another way to get you veggies in on the regular.
This past weekend, I spent time in Asheville, NC. Such a beautiful little city. If you ever get a chance to visit, you’ll love it. I couldn’t wait to experience
all the local fare. The food was delicious. Even my #LAS (Little Ass Salad) otherwise known as #TAS (Tiny Ass Salad).
We were laughing all weekend about my salad. It was a delicious salad, nevertheless. Just not enough.
That’s all for now, have a wonderful weekend.
Xo Yours in service, Candace
P.S. , would you do me a huge favor? Would you hit reply and tell me what's your biggest struggle during the holiday season in relation to nutrition and or fitness.
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