In our last post, we discussed step one on how to eat healthy – identify your relationship with food. We are back with step two – identify your food environment. When it comes to life choices, we are absolutely in the driver seat of the car of our lives. However, we don’t get to control the weather, the condition of the road, or even the availability of qualified mechanics who can keep our cars running. This is to say, we make choices, but outside factors can impact our choices or even limit our options. The following points will help identify some ways to maneuver around roadblocks that could be in the way on your healthy eating journey. So, let’s get to it!
Proximity to stores and restaurants
You can only make healthy choices if there are stores and restaurants near you that provide a variety of healthy options. So, if you live in a food desert (areas where there aren’t many healthy options ) this can be very challenging. Here are some tips that can help:
- Buy canned, frozen or packaged options: It’s a myth that these items are unhealthy. Yes, some of these items can have too much of nutrients that we only need in small amounts. However, there are many products on the market that are perfectly fine. Canning, freezing and packaging can maintain the nutritional value of foods, and allows for them to be stored for longer periods of time. Learn how to read nutrition labels to avoid foods that are high in salt, sugar and fat. Check out our Nutrition page for a free downloadable tip sheet on reading nutrition labels.
- Buy fresh when you can: Stock up when fresh items are on sale. You can use canning and freezing techniques to keep anything that you are unable to immediately eat.
- Take a multivitamin – Talk to your doctor about the right multivitamin for you. Taking a multivitamin can help you get the vitamins and minerals that your body needs when you don’t have access to a variety of food options.
- Change up how you order when eating out – Ask for the nutrition facts information, order smaller sizes or get water instead of soda. For more tips, check out this handout by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Food Prices
Expensive prices can leave you feeling a bit defeated. No one should have to choose between paying their rent and buying healthy foods. Here are some tips that may help obtaining healthy foods less of a burden:
- Buy food items that are on sale and/or use coupons
- Food share – This is when friends put their money together so that they can buy larger amounts of healthy foods
- Ask your doctor if they participate in food prescription programs
- Shop for produce that are in season
- Attend free community events – You can find these events advertised on your local public health department’s website or even on Eventbrite. These events usually serve free, healthy foods and give awesome resources and swag bags as well
- Sign up for food and nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Program Or, Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Social Support
Social support can be protective for health. Family or friends may be supportive by: offering kind words that encourage you to make healthy choices, sharing helpful and reliable information, and even practicing the healthy habits right along with you. Having this type of support can increase your confidence, lower your stress and empower you to keep going. On the other hand, if you don’t have support, you may feel stressed and alone. Here are some ways to get support if you aren’t getting it from friends and family:
- Look into social media groups – It’s helpful to look for closed groups so that you can limit your exposure to internet trolls
- Learn about MeetUp groups
- Look into therapists covered by your insurance – therapists can teach you healthy coping tips to get through negative environments
Many things impact our ability to be healthy. This includes where we live, laws, transportation, access to quality food, genetics, and the individual choices that we make. Impacting all of these things may be difficult. So, it is important to start with things that we can immediately impact. One way to do this is by knowing about the environments we live in, and sharing tips that helps us improve our lives.
