3 tips to help you eat better without counting calories

Terms like diet and calories are triggers for many that are often associated with calorie restriction and obsessive eating habits. But a healthy lifestyle can be fun and tasty, especially if you work hard to create a separation between your weight and the health of your body.

Counting calories is never helpful, but it is a tool that many use to lose weight. While it may work for some, the vast majority of people find it a stressful measure and unnecessary when they use other methods of measuring how much and how healthy you are eating. Here are 3 tips to help you eat better without counting on calories:

Start with your mindset

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The sooner you start looking at healthy eating as something healthy and nourishing versus something angry and painful, the better. In order to benefit from this in the long term, it is important to eat healthily and develop a healthy relationship with food. Tricks like stocking up on healthy foods you love and trying new recipes can make this transition easier and more sustainable.

Try very hard to love vegetables

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You don’t have to be a nutritionist to know vegetables are good for you. They provide nutrients, fiber, and vitamins that keep your body functioning properly while also helping you feel full. So when in doubt and faced with breakfast, lunch or dinner, have a side dish with vegetables … or make plants the basis of all your meals if you feel really inspired!

Use smaller plates

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It sounds a little silly, but a small plate makes your brain think you are eating more and prevents you from eating larger portions, which can sometimes be difficult to figure out if you aren’t actively measuring your portions. When you put food on a large plate, your brain thinks it is less food than it actually is; the reverse is also true, something that you can use to your advantage.

This trick won’t do all the work for you, but it can help you eat smaller servings in ways that are less aggressive than simply cutting down on carbohydrates and other high-calorie foods.