The 5 Things I Would Do If I Was Trying To Improve My Nutrition

Over time, I’ve developed many habits (that are now second nature) that have helped me dial in my nutrition and stay on track with my goals. But at the beginning of my own health and fitness journey, I had no idea what I should be doing in the kitchen. Was snacking okay? How much protein should I be eating? How often should I eat during the day? Do I have to eat ONLY whole foods if I want to reach my goals?

There’s so much information out there and it can be very overwhelming! While you don’t have to make a complete 180° change to start seeing results,  there are a few key nutrition habits and lifestyle changes that can make a massive difference in your training performance and physique. 

So if I had to go back to the beginning, here are the first five things I would prioritize:

1. Set a protein goal. 

Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight, or a combination of both, protein is one of the most important macronutrients for building and maintaining lean tissue - as well as keeping you satiated throughout the day. While I don’t recommend tracking all macronutrients right off the bat if you’re not familiar with weighing and tracking everything, I would set a protein goal and start to track my protein intake as much as possible. 

2. Familiarize myself with nutrition labels.

If you’ve never tracked your nutrition before, you may not be familiar with how many carbs, fats, proteins, and sugars are in your everyday foods… and you may be really surprised to see just how low in vital nutrients most prepackaged foods are. Start to take a peek at the nutrition facts while grocery shopping and get familiar with what’s a reasonable amount of each macronutrient, vitamin, or mineral to ensure you’re not accidentally overconsuming the not-so-great stuff and neglecting macro and micronutrients. 

3. Bulk cook whole protein and carb sources. 

One of the biggest reasons people neglect their nutrition and resort to prepackaged or fast foods is because they aren’t prepared with nutritious, whole food sources. If I could go back in time, I would immediately start bulk cooking my chicken, beef, rice, potatoes, and any other protein and carb sources that will make up my meals throughout the day. Bulk cooking makes it so much easier to reach into the fridge and portion out what I need throughout the day.

4. Pre-plan my full day of eating.

Related to point #3, a lack of preparation can completely throw off a full day of nutrition. If you know you have a busy day out of the house or will be joining friends for brunch later in the afternoon, make a point to plan out what you’ll be eating a day in advance to ensure you’re eating a balanced and wholesome array of foods.

5. Get comfortable with packing meals.

Finally, I would immediately get into the habit of packing food for my day. Whether I’m out of the house all day and need multiple meals, or want to have some nutritious and satiating snacks on hand for a long road trip, I’d make sure I’m planning ahead and bringing what I need to be properly fueled for my day.

Like any new journey, dialing in your nutrition can be stressful. But with a little planning and prioritization, healthy eating can be a breeze! 

Need some guidance to kickstart your health and wellness journey? Reach out for a free 10-minute consult call to explore how 1:1 personal training or online coaching can get you on the right track with your goals.