FOODS YOU LOVE VS. FOODS YOU ENJOY

There is a big difference between eating foods you enjoy and eating foods you love. Food you enjoy should be whole based, home made, consumed on a daily basis and keep you feeling your best. Whereas foods you LOVE are the treats we usually crave on the weekends or after really busy days. Things like pizza, ice cream, buttery croissants and gooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies would fall under the “ I LOVE THESE FOODS” category.

So how do we balance foods we love vs. food we enjoy while still progressing through our health and fitness journey?. Quite simply, we plan for it.

Take a Day Off.

The number one reason why trainers and nutritionists tell their clients to take a night off from planning their meals ( if they are in a dietary phase) is so they get a break from the cycle they’re in - but more than anything, it’s a mental break from prepping food or working on a restricted diet.

Not only that, but allowing yourself to eat the foods you love can actually help you reach your goal. When working with a calorie restricted meal plan, the “treat” comes as a happy escape and helps refill any nutrients or dietary elements that have been depleted over the week. It will also spike your glycogen levels and boots your metabolism which can actually help you over a weight loss plateau (if you’re in one).

The When And How.

The “when” is up to you. Could be a Friday night, a Saturday morning or even a Sunday night - whatever floats your boat! The “how” on the other hand can be the tricky part….because you’re probably wondering “ ‘How do I do this?”

a) without blowing up like a bloated balloon and feeling uncomfortable?

b) so it actually helps me move towards my goals?

c) without derailing me from my current meal plan?

Well, let us tell you….

1.Plan it out.

Choose one day of the week (most people choose the weekend) , buffer the day and then enjoy the sh*t out of that meal! Don’t worry about how many calories are in it, don’t worry about tomorrow, just enjoy yourself and the meal in front of you.

2.Choose Wisely.

We’ve learned from years of treat meals just what our bodies enjoy and what foods simply do nothing other than “taste good for a fast minute”. This was very much a trial and error process and took some time. So try a few different meals to find out what satisfies your cravings and doesn’t leave you feeling uncomfortable, sick and or lethargic. For example - deep fried foods (may taste good for a hot minute but personally left us feeling awful the next day) so we tend to gravitate towards authentic, thin crust Italian pizza or sushi nights!

3.Don’t go overboard

One day full of the foods you love will not derail your journey, but 2 or 3 can, if done consistently. So remind yourself that this isn’t the “only time you’re every going to eat this” and pace yourself.