How to Eat Healthier

Over the last year I have focused a lot of energy on learning about health topics particularly in the way of food. Consequently I have transitioned to a much healthier vegetarian diet. Sometimes it can be difficult to eat a diet that most people do not due to social pressures particularly if you are trying to go vegan in a family of meat eaters. But once you get through, it becomes normal and it is no longer a hassle. Transitioning can be difficult so I will share my tips and advice to those of you considering going healthy.

Focus on eating healthy not on not eating unhealthy
Why focus on the negative when you can focus on the positive? If you fill up on bananas you aren't going to want to eat any chocolate cake. Once you increase your healthy food intake, your unhealthy food intake will go down. You are simply replacing the foods you eat with healthier foods. If you were to focus on what is unhealthy you may get stuck on what to do. Which one sounds better?

"I have healthy replacements now so I don't need to eat chocolate bars anymore."
or
"I don't eat chocolate bars anymore so I have to find a replacement."

If you do not know exactly what to do, take it slowly
If you are just starting out eating healthier you probably aren't sure of exactly what you are going to eat all the time, particularly if you are going vegan or vegetarian. The best way to do this is to just start preparing meals that fit in with your new diet. For example, if you eat fried chicken for dinner, try replacing it with a meal of vegetables and beans. You do not have to do this every night just yet if you are taking a gradual approach. If you make the switch overnight you can run in to cravings for foods you aren't supposed to be eating anymore. It is easier to do it over time and take it slowly. It is not impossible to transition overnight so if you are feeling strong go for it.

Dealing with social pressure
It is very likely you will run in to social pressure when you attempt to change to a diet that does not include things that most people eat, such as meat, dairy, or even things like processed grains. If you are a vegetarian, people will start arguments with you to tell you things such as that you lack protein. Of course, most vegetarians know that these statements aren't true, but those who tell you so don't.

Try not to get annoyed about it and argue with them because that will only polarise them further and reduce from the quality of your relationship. The best way is to lead them by example. Don't tell other people that you are so healthy and they should eat this and should not eat this unless they are on that level. If they see that you always look very healthy and they see what you eat, they are more likely to understand your reasoning than if you argue with them. This will also keep a nicer relationship.

You can also make friends with people who have similar interests and with people who are open minded. Expanding your relationships with more people who share your beliefs about health will open up more opportunities for you and will create more positive relationships.

What If I am trying to go vegan/vegetarian/healthy in general but my family/the people I live with are meat eaters/cheese lovers/hate me?
Remember to not impose your will upon others. This will cause arguments and reduce from your relationship. Respect what they think and don't try to convince them otherwise by arguing with them. Instead, lead them by example and let them choose for themselves what to eat. Similarly, do not let them choose what you eat and do not let them impose their will on you.

You will also have to take a gradual approach if you are in a position where the people you live with are involved and they are not open minded and accepting, or willing to experiment with their diet with you. You can get people you live with to trial new foods with you but it is unlikely they will change their diet. It is common for a vegetarian to be living in a family of meat eaters.

It can be difficult to change in that situation but after you make gradual changes it sinks in. Organise the best way for you to eat what you want while they are still eating what they want. Maybe you can cook vegetables for lunch and just eat raw fruit at night so they can use the kitchen without having to worry about you needing to cook at the same time.

Research
Research foods you want to try to eat. There is a lot of information on the Internet such as lists of healthy food which can help you make informed decisions and increase your knowledge on the subject. I intend on sharing more specifics about what food to eat in the future as this article was more detailing how to actually apply being healthy.

Remember
Remember that it can get difficult I've said that a few times now but also remember why you are doing it. Once you become healthy you will have a wealth of knowledge that you can share with other people and you will also have the benefits of the food you eat, such as reduced need for sleep, more energy, longer life, clearer skin and so on.