Change Your Drink Improve Your Health

Do you consume a Standard American Diet? Are you stuck in a place where you are making poor dietary choices on a daily basis? Have you tried and failed to change your way of eating or gave up before ever starting? If you answered yes, then this is for you.

In this post, I will share with you the best baby step in making a positive change in your diet. Let’s be real; you cannot upgrade your diet in one day, one month, or even one year. Improving your diet is a journey with ups, downs, epiphanies, bumps, and scrapes along the way.

Instead of making food our focus, the first baby step in this process is to upgrade your beverage. That’s right, forget about food for now and take a look at what you are drinking. Beverages can be loaded with artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and sugar. And let’s not forget that you are consuming multiple servings at once when you get the big beverage and drink it all. So, multiply the sugar and other nasties by three or more. That equals a lot of yuck!

I’ve come to realize that not everyone likes water, guess what? That’s alright! I personally like water, but I am well aware that it can be bland and tasteless. I have a workaround for that, but let’s talk about a few other things first.

 When you order out, instead of getting the largest drink, get the regular size. Less of a bad thing is not ideal, but it’s a huge step forward. Avoid zero-calorie and sugar-free beverages; they tend to contain artificial sweeteners, which can be harmful to your health.

If you are ordering fast food, get your drink from a supermarket or convenience store or carry one from home. Restaurants tend to have limited options. By going to a convenience store or supermarket, you increase your chances of finding a beverage that does not contain all the nasties found in a fountain drink.

Drink water. Yeah, that clear, tasteless stuff I mentioned earlier! (I do not encourage tap water drinking if you have municipal water.) You can add lemon to your water or infuse it with cucumber, strawberries, kiwi, watermelon, herbs, etc. This adds a little flavor and makes water drinking a pleasantly refreshing experience.

Sparkling water is a lifesaver! It’s thirst-quenching and fizzy. You can get flavored or unflavored. It’s great for special occasions or simply celebrating your personal victories!

Iced tea is another option and can be made right at home if you choose! Place tea bags in a heatproof picture. Boil water and pour the hot water over the tea bags. Cover, and let it infuse for 30-60 min. Add sweetener if you choose. Once the container is cool enough to handle, place it in the refrigerator until cold and then enjoy. This is a special treat because you made it!

Be cautious with fruit juices. It’s easy to get caught in the allure, especially when bright images of decadent fruit adorn the label. Fruit juices tend to contain as much sugar as sodas and often have just as many or more artificial ingredients. We’ll talk more about fruit juices in a later post.

No matter what beverage you decide to upgrade to, read the label. Check the ingredients and be sure of what you are consuming. Sometimes, the image on the front does not convey what is truly in the bottle. Getting into the habit of label reading is a useful practice that will prove extremely valuable as you continue upgrading your diet.

Awareness of what you are consuming and what you are putting in your body is essential. Awareness is truly the very first baby step… I didn’t mention it at the beginning, because if you are reading this, then you have likely taken that step already! We will continue to cultivate this awareness as we make positive changes.

You are now well equipped to make the first baby step toward better health. Get out there and make a difference one drink at a time! Are you ready?