YES PLEASE!
As your web designer and marketing lover, I'll create your stunning & strategic website in just two weeks!
Drop me a message!
Do you want a featured spot on my blog? You got it!
type something
DOWNLOAD MY SALES FUNNEL
SNATCH MY CHAT GPT PROMPTS
GRAB MY SEO CHECKLIST
Ready to boost your website? As a Showit website designer and digital marketeer, I'm here to spill all the secrets. Read the blog!
For me, breakfast meant two slices of toasted white bread with the same topping for about three months, and then I’d switch to something different for the next three months. Lunch was a struggle, typically consisting of a third sandwich washed down with a cola, and dinner moved at a snail’s pace, with my meal turning cold by the fifth bite. You get the picture: my relationship with food was quite… “meh.”
At the time, I thought I had to eat just because my parents said so. I didn’t make the connection between a strong, healthy body and eating right. It’s unfortunate because most diseases are closely tied to our eating habits. But I wasn’t educated about that as a child. Instead, I believed that when you were sick, you went to the doctor, got a prescription, and you’d be fine. What I didn’t know was that medications often come with a host of side effects that impact the rest of your body. It’s quite a shocker, isn’t it?
Due to the medications I took as a child, my teeth became pretty fragile. In other words, I had frequent cavities that needed filling. Okay, my daily dose of cola didn’t help either, but nobody stopped me. At most, someone would say, “Cola isn’t good for your teeth.” Fine, Cola isn’t good for my teeth. But why isn’t Cola good for my teeth? If someone had explained that, I might have listened sooner. But what I learned mainly from my visits to the dentist was that I should get a good dental insurance plan.
So, when I hit my early twenties, I was convinced that eating was just something you did. If you were sick, you took a pill. If you had a persistent issue, you bought great insurance. Crazy, right? What I also didn’t know, which would bring a significant shift in my life, was the impact of the type of food I consumed. Eating bread and pasta made me feel different than when I ate soups and vegetables. Perhaps it sounds logical to you, but think about it for a moment. Do you think before you put something in your mouth whether it will make your body happy? Too often, I didn’t. I should ask myself more often, “Do I need this, or do I simply want it?” In other words, does my body need this food, or does my brain just crave it?
Knowing that I’m only human and can’t be conscious of my eating every second of the day (perhaps that day will come), I came up with a little trick a few years ago. I am excellent at imitating what others tell me to do. If someone instructs me, I follow suit. It’s not the bravest trait, but it’s a bit reckless because some things require more research than just my eagerness.
Anyway, I decided to start with “The Green Happiness” cookbook. Two Dutch dietitians wrote this book, and they faced considerable criticism for their views on nutrition. I found it incredibly helpful because it was the first cookbook I had encountered that offered a complete weekly shopping list. Ideal!
I believe it contains 50 days of vegan recipes, long enough to challenge myself to go vegan. Surprisingly, after just two weeks, several positive changes happened. I never felt hungry, despite eating fruits and vegetables all day instead of bread and meat. In fact, I often couldn’t finish my meals. I had more time for other activities because I no longer had to think about what to eat; I had already prepared meals for the entire week. On Sundays, I would do all my shopping, and two hours later, everything was prepped. It was a game-changer, people. I also noticed that I was shedding fat. The before-and-after photos showed a significant difference. But, best of all, I felt physically strong, healthy, and full of energy. Normally, I’d hit an after-dinner slump three times a day, lasting so long that I had to hoist myself out of the chair like a sack of potatoes.
After a while, you might grow tired of those dishes. Fortunately, nowadays, there are plenty of cookbooks on the market that come with complete shopping lists. What I absolutely love about this approach is how it slowly rewires your food mindset. I find myself naturally gravitating towards healthier options because they’re just incredibly delicious. Sure, I’ll still indulge in a plate of fries occasionally, but that’s not the point. The real deal here is that I’ve reprogrammed my brain, and now, armed with all this knowledge, I’m making different choices than I did a decade ago. Choices that contribute to my happiness and well-being. And most importantly, they ensure that I won’t be falling apart by the time I hit sixty. Oh, the thought of knowing you could’ve done it differently but instead, out of ignorance or unwillingness, you’ve been slowly wearing yourself down. Gives me the chills!
Alright, so my conclusion is this: expand your knowledge, do your research, and pick a cookbook with shopping lists that resonates with you. Do all your shopping on Sundays, prep your meals for the entire week through ‘meal prepping.’ Commit to this for at least two months, giving yourself the opportunity to broaden your mindset, knowledge, and skills.
Do you have any recommendations for great cookbooks with shopping lists? Head over to Instagram @caroliene_alexandra and tag me in a post with your favourite cookbooks!
My Private Facebook Group is the go-to spot for no-fluff tips & tricks, a boost of motivation, and finding new pals. Let's cheer on your victories, tackle those burning questions, and hang out with kindred spirits. Ready to join?
Ready to boost your website? As a Showit website designer and marketeer, I'm here to spill the secrets. Read the blog!
Nederlandse versie
DOWNLOAD NOW!
DO YOU WANT A PROFITABLE WEBSITE? GRAB MY FREE SALES FUNNEL!
NL