Five Easy Ways to Live Healthier Now

Living a healthy lifestyle can often seem so complicated and demanding of your time and your treasure that it is easy to get overwhelmed and just give up.

Here are 5 ways to bump up your healthy living that are simple, easy and cheap from, of all places, Kroger/King Soopers markets.

1. Drink Some Water First

Thirst and hunger cues can often feel the same to us. Give your body some time to process which you are feeling by drinking a glass of water when a "hunger" pang strikes. Eight to 12 ounces ought to do it. Keep some water in the fridge if you prefer it cold, and toss in some lemon, lime or orange slices if you like a little flavor. If the cravings are still there 15 - 20 minutes later, go ahead and have a small snack.

2. Start Breakfast the Night Before

Prepping your breakfast the night before can take some of the stress, guilt and time pressure out of your morning meals. There are plenty of healthy foods that can be made up the night before and then slapped together in a minute or two in the morning. Try making oatmeal with dried fruit in your slow cooker. Or cut up all the ingredients for your smoothie and store them in the fridge in a plastic bag. Sometimes even just knowing what you plan to have for breakfast can make the whole thing easier.

3. Use Your Freezer

Freezing is a natural and healthy way to preserve food, and can keep food fresher and more nutritious than most other storage methods. You can serve complete meals from the freezer, or use pre-cleaned and cut items as quick ingredients. Freezing allows you to create healthy meals and save them for another time, and will go along way toward reducing the 40% of food that gets wasted every year in the United States.

 4. Keep It Fresh When You Can

Consuming fresh produce can be a challenge here in Colorado. It sometimes seems to me that my produce rots between the time I buy it and the time I get it home. But its worth a try to incorporate as much fresh fruits and veggies into your day as you can. They are very low in calories, high in fiber and contain a cornucopia of vitamins and minerals. With a little forethought they can be convenient too. Have celery, carrots, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumbers already cut up in your fridge. Dip them in some hummus or low fat ranch dressing, and they are tasty snacks too.

5. Keep Healthy Foods Visible and Hide the Indulgences

We tend to grab and eat what is visible and in arms reach. So its best to keep your healthy choices in plain view or prepped and ready to grab on the shelf closest to eye level in your fridge. Keep the potato chips and cheese out of sight and you will eat less of them.


Finally, lets all keep in mind that living a healthy lifestyle is not a binary, on or off thing. Anything you can do, large or small, that makes you healthier is, well, healthier. So go ahead. Take a few small steps. You don't have to be perfect, just better.