It’s easy to get confused when it comes to healthy eating, because we can read everything and the opposite about nutrition. Here I make it simple, with the concept of crowding in.
Crowding In, errh What?
The concept of crowding in the easiest way to eating better foods, looking after yourself, without it feeling like much of an effort. We always hear people saying that you don’t have to give up on the foods you love, even when you want to be healthy.
And it’s not a lie ! It is possible to still love the food you eat while being healthy. But it also means that there are some adjustments to make. And trust me, you’re not losing in this equation.
The concept of crowding in is basically the idea that you add foods that are good for you to your plate. The more you add foods that are good for you in your diet, the less you will have space for the rest.
By good for you, I mean vegetables and fruit for minerals and vitamins (and so much more), fibre for digestion, plant-based protein to not rely exclusively on animal protein, and when choosing animal protein, go for pasture-raised, grass-fed, organic when possible.
So rather than thinking of everything you need to get rid of (impossible for our brains who will then only think about it), focus on what you can add. It’s a much healthier and realistic way of thinking about what to make for your meals.
Healthy Eating Made Easy
When I want to prepare something, first I prioritise what I NEED to eat: vegetables, fibre, good quality protein. Then I leave some space for imagination, like a dessert, or some bread if I fancy it, maybe cheese (you can’t take the French out of me). But the most important thing is what my body needs, not what my emotions need – when it comes to food of course !
And you can do the same. You can think your meals in terms of what you need, and then if you still have some space or are hungry, add something you fancied.
The best thing of healthy eating is that it’s easy, and it can absolutely be delicious. There are so many options to choose from, and the possibilities are infinite.
The best way to make your vegetables or plant-based protein tasty is to have a nice dressing to avoid having them dry or bland. Here are my favourite dressings to help you get started.
The second best thing about healthy eating, is that the most you eat real, unprocessed foods, the less you crave junk or ready-meals. Nature resets your taste buds when you’ve been eating too salty or too sweet, or “too something” from processed foods. Your body naturally craves real foods the more you have them. Exactly like you crave more fake foods once you taste them. Funny, right?
What about Crowding OUT
The concept of crowding in means that you stock up on good foods. You fill your plate with ingredients that love you back. And believe it or not, but once you start doing this, after a while you will naturally remove some of the foods that don’t serve you anymore. I’m thinking junk foods, processed meals, sodas and fast food.
If you remember to first nourish your body with real delicious foods, there won’t be much space for anything else.
Just try it, and you’ll understand.
