“Mr. Jacob, why are you eating ice cream?”
It was my 2-year-old neighbor, wondering why I was eating sweets before lunchtime. She eyed the orange creamsicle I’d been enjoying on the back patio.
“It’s-it’s-it’s a popsicle,” I stuttered sheepishly.
She looked skeptical. And confused. Why would an adult eat ice cream before lunch?
I didn’t love getting food-shamed by a toddler. So I retreated inside and ate my orange dessert in peace.
Taming a Sweet Tooth
It’s true, I have a weakness for sweets.
My diet isn’t perfect.
But I’ve learned a few tricks to eat healthier and reign in my sweet tooth. Good nutrition allows me to recover fast from injuries, bounce back from strenuous workouts, and stay lean. I even started doing cardio again.
Here are 3 ways I keep my nutrition on track:
1) Eat First, Shop Second
If I get groceries on an empty stomach, I buy piles of junk food. It’s not a pretty sight.
Once junk food is in the house, I’m going to eat it.
The solution is simple: shop after a meal. I buy less junk food on a full stomach. And buying nutritious food forces me to eat healthier.
This strategy is easy on my waistline and my wallet.
2) Track Food Intake
Tracking your food is an enlightening experience. I don’t do it all the time, but it refocuses my diet when my sweet tooth gets off the chain.
If you’ve never tracked your food before, try it for a few days. You’ll learn a lot!
I use the free MyFitnessPal app to track calories and ensure I’m eating enough protein.
3) Leave Healthy Snacks Out
If you’re like me, you’ve thrown away more unopened bags of baby spinach than you care to admit. The spinach gets pushed to the back of the fridge and ignored until it’s soggy and smelly.
It’s the same with apples in the refrigerator drawers. The Detroit Lions will win a Super Bowl before I remember to eat that fruit.
Instead, I put apples and bananas out on the kitchen counter. It reminds me they’re in the house and I end up eating more fruit.
Do the opposite for junk food. Put it out of sight and out of mind…next to the baby spinach!
Try This
Try at least one of these nutrition tips this week. You’ll have more energy and better health. And toddlers won’t roast you for eating junk food in the middle of the day!
Do you have a favorite strategy to eat healthy? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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