Five Food Hacks To Make your Favorite Meals Healthier

Article written by guest blogger, Jamie Bodner, personal trainer and owner of Pinnacle Fitness

Eating healthy can be near impossible when we live in a city that’s as great for eating as Atlanta, but there are some food hacks and tricks you can apply to your life to make it a little easier. Here are some favorite hacks that I love to follow so that I can still enjoy the food that I love in a more mindful way.

Goldberg's Fine Foods - Bagel — Goldberg’s Fine Foods – Bagel

1. Scoop Out Your Bagel

One of my favorite breakfasts of all time is a classic bagel with cream cheese and lox. Over the last 25 years, I’ve tried to stay clear of the cream cheese, but I do still get my occasional bagel in. Now, when I eat a bagel, I have it scooped out–meaning I’ll take a spoon and scoop out the inside of the bagel. A regular bagel has roughly 50 grams of carbohydrates. By scooping out the middle, I reduce that 50 grams down to about 30 grams. You still get the best part with fewer carbs!

2. Don’t Finish Your Plate

One of my favorite tricks to not overeat is to leave part of my dish uneaten. That’s very easy to say, but difficult to execute. A trick here you can try is asking your waiter to pack up half the entree to go. Or, sometimes I will saturate the leftover 25% of my plate with salt and or pepper to make it undesirable to eat. Some people say this is wasting food, but I disagree. The way I see it is if the food is going down my throat or in the trash–it’s still going away and not helping anybody so so it’s not a waste of food.

The veggie burger from Olde Pink House in Savannah, GA. — Olde Pink House – Veggie Burger

3. Go Easy on the Bread

When I eat any type of sandwich, hamburger, or turkey wrap, I do my best to rip off some of the bread, bun, or wrap while taking a bite. This allows me to reduce my carbs intake while still enjoying a juicy hamburger or sandwich. Don’t forget, it’s the little steps that get to the top of the building.

aguas frescas at Saladworks — Saladworks – Aguas Frescas

4. Hydrate Before A Meal

Oldie, but goodie tip here. Drink a glass of water, soda water, iced tea, or something else right before you eat a meal. It does a great job in keeping you hydrated and tricks your brain into telling your belly it is full. This trick can easily shave 200-500 calories off of one meal.

5. Stop the Snowball, and Don’t Beat Yourself Up for Making Mistakes

Most people, including myself, have the tendency to have one bad meal and let that have a snowball effect. This can roll into days and months of bad habits. In a way, eating healthy can be harder than having an alcohol or drug addiction. You can abstain from alcohol and drugs and live your life, never touching either one again. No one can be absolute with food. Every day you’re faced with having to eat and therefore, having to make better choices every day. People get down on themselves and have terrible self-talk about the lack of willpower. That talk is not going to get you anywhere. It’s AOK to overindulge or eat something you know you shouldn’t, as long as you give yourself the ability to get back on track. I believe it’s important to love yourself versus beating yourself up. If you have something bad, it’s okay. You know the next seven days, you’re going to keep it clean. Love yourself and don’t beat yourself up!

Healthy Eating Tips with Jamie Bodner of Pinnacle Fitness

Do you need some help getting in shape and learning how to eat more mindfully? Come visit me and my team at Pinnacle Fitness and enroll in our Wellness Program, where you will have a licensed professional counselor, a licensed professional dietician, and a certified fitness trainer all on your side helping you make the lifestyle changes you need in mind, body, and life to be truly healthy, happy, and fit. Visit our website today or email us at [email protected]!

1. Scoop Out Your Bagel

2. *Don’t* Finish Your Plate

3. Go Easy on the Bread

4. Hydrate Before A Meal

5. Stop the Snowball, and Don’t Beat Yourself Up for Making Mistakes

2. Don’t Finish Your Plate