too many diets Set unattainable high standards and blame yourself for not meeting them. Not only are these instructions bullshit, they stress you out.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, more down-to-earth guide to help you eat better, without the silly.
The lazy diet is a surprisingly easy, completely satisfying way to eat right.
Incorporate ready-to-eat meals.
Paleo, under 30, and keto are often told to avoid processed foods. But because the food is so nutritious and pre-portioned, “you automatically lose calories without even thinking about it,” says Spencer, chief physician of Renaissance periodization, Nadolski, DO. say.
Think inside the box.
Meal delivery services are still an easy way to eat without stress. We picked these based on your time.
A quick, ready-to-eat meal that doesn’t require cooking. If you want to keep things really basic, you can also order pre-cooked proteins and vegetables on their own.
The product is frozen, but it is often reheated. Flatbreads in particular benefit even more from leftover sliced grilled chicken or flaky roasted salmon.
they share the ingredients. you cook Berber chicken with turmeric potatoes. Pork lettuce cups with mojo onions. Blueberry Apricot Pork Chop . . .
do the dip.
Too many crash diets ban condiments because condiments are “empty” calories. You are eating the nutrients of celery. Dip — don’t dunk.
Let others do the work.
You meet experts in other things. Why don’t you see a registered dietitian? Helps set goals. It typically costs about $150 per hour. (It may be covered by insurance.)
Make the supermarket work.
Why roast a whole chicken when the grocery store can do it for you?
Monday: Pasta Night
Heat 1 bag of boiled pasta. Toss in ready-made pesto and a handful of rotisserie chicken. Serve with spring mix with dressing.
Tuesday: Taco night
Sauté rotisserie chicken with olive oil, chili powder and cumin. Heat up some tortillas and top them with chicken, bottled salsa and ready-made guacamole.
Wednesday: Salad Night
Mix a bag of veggies with canned fish, any fruit or vegetables you have in the fridge (diced), and a handful of nuts.
Thursday: Bryner Night
Add a handful of spinach to a pan with olive oil. Crack two eggs on top. Cover and cook. Once it’s done, simply add it to the tortilla and wrap the egg in it.
Friday: Pizza night (of course)
Shape some ready-made dough and top with a few spoonfuls of bottled sauce, a bag of shredded mozzarella, and veggies. Bake and eat.
When in doubt, PB&J.
A classic sandwich is a great example of what a balanced diet needs: fiber, fat and protein. Upgrade everything now.
Two servings provide 12 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber.
Two tablespoons provides 8 grams of protein. Creamy or chunky: your choice.
Jelly: Fruit!
Swap the sweet spread for 1/2 cup mashed strawberries, blueberries, or bananas.
Bonus: milk
One cup adds 8 grams of protein to your meal.
eat a hamburger
Enjoy your favorite food and reduce “no off limits”. Cheat days can backfire, says RDN’s Dawn Jackson Blatner. (Though, a well-made burger with good beef and lots of fresh vegetables always trumps fast food.)
Sweeten the pot.
Low-carb diets tell you not to eat fruit. that’s ridiculous. Fruit is great for you. Please eat a lot of it. Not only as a snack, . .
. . appetizers.
Studies show that eating fruit before a meal may suppress appetite and increase satiety during a meal. So if you’re cooking, eat berries. If you order breakfast, order the fruit cup first.
. . Salad ingredients.
Strawberries and blueberries complement the salad along with salty cheeses such as feta. Grapes go well with balsamic dressing. Peaches are best with arugula, shaved Parmesan cheese, and a heap of olive oil.
. . . dessert.
It’s mostly in the Western world that sweets “end” the meal. Cold pineapple cubes, orange slices, mango slices, and more. Baked apples and pears are also delicious.
Eating out for the lazy.
These 3 hacks are easy to do wherever you are.
Every restaurant, from fast food to fine dining, has a salad.
Ask for protein on top. That said, salmon, shrimp, or scallops sat in a better spot. Or chicken at the diner. Even if that chicken is fried, you’re still getting protein and produce.
Serve as much as you like at the buffet,
Each time you do, your plate is half full with what you have plus vegetables. It can be obtained.
Take matters into your own hands.
If a fast food restaurant offers you a grilled chicken sandwich and a salad, but you don’t want to combine them, can you do it yourself? Take the chicken out of the sandwich and add it to the salad.
holiday? Don’t sweat it.
From the list below, choose just two things you do every day. Forget the rest.
- Walk to the restaurant if you just want to go out to eat or have your morning coffee.
- If you’re feeling socially pressured to drink, some days you might skip alcohol and consider non-alcoholic beer.
- Instead of carrying around chips and other traditional snack items, pick up a vegetable tray or fruit platter and place it on the counter to eat.
- Aim to drink three 16-ounce bottles of water each day, especially if you’re in the sun all day.
Please sit down there.
Meals and snacks should be eaten off the plate at the table or in a chair. It’s a surefire way to be more mindful about what you’re eating instead of just standing in the pantry and snacking while you decide what to eat.
Stop “counting”.
Calories, macros, especially micros are eliminated with compulsive diet control and stress. Use these tools instead.
Use your hands instead of a kitchen scale.
Aim for a handful or two of protein, a fistful of fiber-rich grains, two handfuls of produce, and a thumb or two of good fats at each meal.
Use the color spectrum instead of calorie counters.
Requires at least two colors from whole food sources. The fiber in these foods makes you feel full during meals and naturally limits calories.
Use the 3, 2, 1 method instead of chasing fibers.
That’s 3 cups of vegetables, 2 cups of fruit, and 1 cup of beans every day.
Instead of focusing on one day, look at the entire month.
Observing your diet quality over a 30-day period can help you take the pressure off of a less-than-ideal diet for a day or two (or 12 days!).
Yes, drink flavored water.
If you don’t like the taste of water, please change it. Staying hydrated helps your brain function at peak levels (which means you can make better dietary decisions).
Try Twinings Superblends Cold Water Infusions. They are low-calorie, sugar-free herbal water enhancers made with fruit and herb blends such as raspberries and hibiscus.
A version of this article originally appeared in the January/February 2022 issue. men’s health.
Men’s Health editors are personal liaisons to the world’s top experts on everything that matters to men: health, fitness, style, sex and more.
Brian St. Pierre is Director of Performance Nutrition for Precision Nutrition. He leads his team of nearly 20 professional coaches to help individuals of all backgrounds achieve their personal and professional goals. Additionally, he has worked with many fitness professionals and professional sports teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Browns, and US Open champion Sloane Stephens.