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It's easy to find an excuse to stop us from doing things we know we really should.
Sometimes these excuses can be true barriers that need to be broken. So below are some of the most common barriers and ways to break through so you can begin to eat well.
“I’m too busy to eat well”
In today’s fast paced society time is precious. However with a little planning and knowledge being too busy is an excuse easily busted. Too busy for breakfast? Grab a cereal bar, breakfast drink or try having breakfast at work. Most offices today have toasters, microwaves and a fridge so it can be easy to keep a bowl of cereal in your draw and munch on a bowl while you trawl through your daily emails.
In the weekend a little preparation will go a long way. Stock up at the supermarket and take to work with you healthy snacks such as fruit, small packs of nuts and dried fruit, and muesli bars. This means if you don’t get a chance to take a proper break you’ll have something healthy to snack on and won’t need to resort to a trip to the vending machine for a packet of chippies.
“I eat out a lot and there are no healthy options”
It is harder to eat healthy if you eat out often, however it isn’t impossible. The key is good menu reading skills. Avoid anything fried, creamy, crispy, battered, crumbed – this translates to high fat, so should only be indulged in for a special treat.
Soups and salads can be healthy options; check the soup isn’t cream based and ask for salad dressings on the side. If you eat takeaways a lot, many have healthy options, such as the McDonalds lighter choices or Subways 6 under 6. These are a good option and taste great too.
It’s too expensive
OK, so coke is cheaper than milk, and white bread is cheaper than wholegrain, BUT it is possible to eat well without blowing the budget. Be savvy and learn to look for weekly specials that can save you a lot, especially for meat, which can be reduced by more than $10 per kilo.
Learn to scan the supermarket shelf. Often cheaper brands are located below eye level on the lower shelves. Also chose no name brands – these products are often similar if not the same to more expensive branded ones. A classic example is milk – no brand milk such as Home Brand or Budget is up to 80c cheaper for a 2L and is exactly the same. See previous nzgirl articles for more on eating well on a budget.
I can’t beat my sweet cravings!
When those sugar cravings hit it can be hard to say no. Swap your normal sugary foods for a healthier alternative. Have a pot of low fat fruit yoghurt or low fat custard. Fruit is a great tasting source of natural sweetness with the added benefit of fibre, vitamins and minerals. If you’re a lolly fan, swap the lollies for a small bunch ofgrapes to munch on and you’ll be swapping a high calorie sugar rush for a little sweetness full of Vitamin C and fibre.
It's easy to find an excuse to stop us from doing things we know we really should. 
“I’m too busy to eat well”
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