Last updated on January 22nd, 2019 at 02:08 pm
Enjoying feel good with our fitness goals and enjoy feel good foods can be tough at times. Our food favorites are passed over with a guilt glance.
There may be sacrifices with a major fitness goal, be we might forget something.
We can keep our fitness goals without avoiding feel good foods.
I won’t tell you that we can go carte blanche on all our favorites.
Here’s something to think about: How does that feel good food make you feel after you indulge? Don’t get me wrong, I have quite the list of goodies I use to torture myself.
It’s the later part that sucks. The bloating, swelling, carb crash that comes later
Some of those favorites tend to pull attention away from the good-for-you food. We are only human, and I know I’m not the only who craves things that have sugar.
Where are the foods that make you feel better?
Make you “feel better” is a relative term. What I’m hoping is that your find food you like, that have a better effect on your body than potential junk food feed good options.
Healthy lifestyles don’t mean ignoring our feel good food favorites forever, just making those indulgences less frequent.
What are the feel good foods you are craving doing to you?
It’s a lot to ask, but I want you to dig deep and really pay attention to how your food is making you feel.
Find the culprits and find new options for them. Not a direct replacement – gluten free bread for example is just not worth it.
Instead try things that are new, broaden your horizons.
A few of my new feel good food option replacements I’ve found:
Steamed spinach
This might sound disgusting to some, but whatever your favorite pasta sauce, it will be amazing on steamed spinach. I pick up the ready to eat baby spinach leaves and lightly steam them. A little sauce and you don’t miss the pasta. Don’t knock it until you try it!
Coffee sweetened by agave
I finally realized that I can’t stand the taste of stevia sweeteners in my coffee. I admit I am a coffee snob, and actually like the taste of coffee. Just a touch of sweetener is all I ask and agave lets the result of freshly ground beans come through. You can heckle me in the comments.
Berries as dessert
I love fruit. Only if someone has cut, cubed, peeled and presented it for me. Berries avoid all the prep. Unfortunately they can be pricey so look for sales, or if you only like them blended, head for the frozen section. I love a smattering of blueberries on my greek yogurt.
Your food can help you feel good.
I am no angel when it comes to absolutely needing chocolate some days. But there are days when I need to admit that my latest breakout, not feeling so great, energy vacuum has to be coming from somewhere.
It might be coming from what we eat.
You’ve got to share in my indulgence and comment with your favorite comfort food? I’ll share mine if you share yours…
Heather Montgomery
Go get your fit on
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Heather Montgomery is a fitness writer, triathlete, and serial entrepreneur who is devoted to sharing what she has learned about becoming a triathlete after age 40. She uses her Metabolic Training Certification to help other women struggling to get fit in mid-life. She lives and trains in Santa Rosa, California, the new home of the Ironman triathlon. You can find her biking the Sonoma County wine trails.
Note: Articles by Heather may contain affiliate links and will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.
