The New Year seems like the perfect time to turn over a new Fit and Inspired leaf, but why wait for the New Year to take one of the most important steps to eating well? When friends tell me that they are about to start a new eating plan, one of the first things I ask is if they are ready. Often they assume I am asking whether they are mentally prepared to make a significant change to their eating habits (which can be a very difficult thing to take on), but what I am really asking is if they have really given themselves the best possible chance of succeeding. A big part of this is planning ahead and having good food choices readily available, and bad food choices out of sight.
When working with someone on a new plan, I always suggest a pantry makeover. This typically takes an hour to an hour and a half to accomplish but here are a few highlights of what you should and should not have handy in your pantry:
Should have:
- Whole wheat flour
- Course ground corn meal
- Natural cane sugar
- Agave nectar
- Long grain brown rice
- Canned black, garbanzo and red kidney beans
- Steel cut or slow-cooking oatmeal
- Whole grain cereal (I prefer Kashi cereal)
- 100% Maple syrup
- Olive or Canola oil
Should not have:
- Sweet cereal (like Fruit Loops, Fruity Pebbles etc.)
- Chips
- Vegetable oil
- Candy
- Cookies
- Canned vegetables
Yipes! With the coming holiday season we must be strong enough to resists the temptations of unhealthy eating.