Feeling stretched to the limit? Making even one small, positive change will improve your health and outlook over the long term.
Feeling stretched to the limit? Making even one small, positive change will improve your health and outlook over the long term.
Last year, New Hope Natural Media (Delicious Living’s parent company) undertook a survey that produced videos of various people who wanted to live healthier. Identified groups included those dubbed #Young4Evers—impulse-buying Millennials who jump on health food fads—and Chief Health Officers, superinformed, problem-solving moms who read every food label to make the most nutritious choices.
But my heart immediately connected with a third group: the Guilty and Defeated. These time-strapped shoppers, often stay-at-home moms with young kids, truly want to eat well and to feed their families nutritious foods but are too overwhelmed by day-to-day life to make it happen. Instead of achieving (or even identifying) health goals, they feel stressed, exhausted, and out of control. Said one survey participant, “My breaking point comes after football practice. I don’t want to cook and the kids are hungry, so we’ll just swing by and get a pizza. It’s unhealthy … but it’s fast, it’s easy, they’re happy, I’m happy, and everyone gets to go to sleep.”
If that sounds familiar—and it certainly reminds me of my own history—check out 7 ways to fit healthy choices into your hectic life. (It appears as "Success Can be Yours" in our October issue.) We’ve collected numerous practical tips for gaining ground on making healthy changes, ranging from supereasy, healthful snacks and sneak-it-in exercises to keeping electronics from overrunning dinnertime. Remember: Making even one positive change will improve your health and outlook over the long term.
(Reliant on Hamburger Helper? Consider switching to Cooksimple Meals or Modern Table Meals. These all-in-one meal solutions contain only real, wholesome ingredients and nothing artificial. They're now available in natural foods stores; I think they're a huge step forward for convenient, healthy dinners.)
Also, I hope you’ve had a chance to visit the new Healthy and Affordable portal on deliciousliving.com, launched last month. It’s a gold mine of usable, real-world solutions for those who are stretching every purchase dollar (who isn’t?). We’re adding content to the page often, so please share your own best money- and sanity-saving ideas and we’ll post them.
