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5 Helpful Tips for Sticking with a Meal Plan

meal plan

Anyone who has tried to a diet can tell you it’s difficult. Choosing to eat healthily isn’t a one-and-done decision, but something you choose to do every time you eat. A meal plan can help make this a little easier by giving you the foods that will help achieve your goals. Still, it can be tempting to grab a few cookies or a scoop of ice cream from time to time. Here are five tips for sticking with a weight loss meal plan.

1. Don’t force yourself to eat food you hate.

This may seem obvious, but eating a healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to only eat vegetables you despise. If you try gagging down carrots or eggplant or whatever food you don’t like every day, you aren’t going to stay on the meal plan for a very long time. If you aren’t used to eating fruits, vegetables, or other healthy foods, by all means, try them, but if there’s one certain food you really can’t stand, don’t eat it. Eating healthy works best when you find foods that taste good and are good for you.

2. Plan ahead for a change in plans.

We all have days where we don’t eat normally – traveling, meetings, parties. The key is to plan ahead for these days within your meal plan. Is it worth taking a cheat day for a big event like a wedding? Can you pack your meal plan food and bring it with you? Either way, looking ahead and knowing these days are coming can prevent you from being caught off guard.

3. Have others keep you accountable on your meal plan.

It can be hard to stick to a weight loss meal plan if you are the only one that knows about it. Choosing to eat healthy with another person can help you both stick with it. Even just letting someone know you are on a meal plan can encourage you to stay on it. It is harder to let other people down than cheat on yourself. Posting on social media can be used for accountability. Once you tell others that you are eating healthy, the chance they’ll ask you about it is a great motivation to actually do it.

4. Don’t go too extreme.

Deciding to do a weight loss meal plan is one thing. Drastically cutting down on the calories you eat and constantly feeling like you are starving is another thing entirely. Extreme diets are dangerous and often don’t work in the long run. Losing a lot of weight quickly usually leads to gaining it all back rather quickly. Feeling hungry when starting a diet is common, but if you constantly feel like you aren’t getting enough food, alter your meal plan. A healthy diet should give you energy, not drain you.

5. Don’t quit when you cheat.

Sticking with a meal plan doesn’t always mean being perfect. If you are only accepting 100 percent success, you are setting yourself up for failure. Start with the idea that you will continue with your weight loss meal plan even after days where you cheat. One day can mess you up, but quitting entirely is much worse. Every day is another chance to make the best decision for your health and weight loss goals.

Looking for a good meal plan you’ll want to stick to?

Meal plans don’t have to be unappetizing or a hassle. With the zero effort nutrition plans at Z.E.N. Foods, you can meet your weight loss goals and enjoy yourself along the way. Their meal plans are personalized, so you can eat a healthy diet of foods you love. Best of all, the food comes right to your door. Call (310) 205-9368 to order or for more information.

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