Healthy Habits: Easy Ideas To Make Self-Care A Part Of Every Meal

Most people think of self-care as taking a long bath or taking a day off to focus on yourself, and while those are types of self-care, they are not the only types. How we take care of ourselves is a complicated network of different actions and mindsets that make up our overall well-being. You cannot ignore certain aspects of your health and well-being in favor of focusing on other aspects. Taking a day off to regroup feels more relaxing and fun than committing to a regular exercise routine, even though both actions are part of self-care. What one person considers self-care might be just another day or nothing special to someone else, but there are universal ways to practice self-care. There are fewer better ways to take care of your body and mind than paying attention to what you eat and drink. Your diet is more than just fuel to get you through the day, as what you ingest will affect your health and how you feel. It may not sound possible to add self-care to your regular meals, but you can, and it is easier than you might think. There is no one way to add self-care to your life, but below are a few tips and tricks to help you incorporate self-care into every meal so you can live your best life.
Why Your Diet Connects To Self-Care And Overall Health



What you eat directly affects your health, body, and well-being. Professionals suggest a healthy diet not because they taste better but because those foods are better for you and will produce better results over time. You can eat junk food every day and technically generate enough energy to keep your body running, but you will not be running anywhere near your peak performance. While you may not feel or notice yourself acting down and sluggish while being more tired than usual, your body certainly notices those changes. If you do not give your body good quality fuel, your body will start to run less effectively and fail at tasks it could otherwise accomplish as part of a typical day. A poor diet will affect the other systems in your body, which might mean your body doesn't fight off a yeast infection as it could otherwise, and you end up with a yeast overgrowth issue. Not getting enough nutrients will affect your sleep, mood, energy levels, weight, and more. A healthy diet isn't just something you do to feel better about yourself because a healthy diet will directly affect your health and is an act of self-care. However, eating healthy and practicing self-care with each meal doesn't just mean only eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, healthy fats, and proteins as there are other ways to stay healthy and add self-care to your diet.
How Much Do You Eat



It is always better to eat healthy foods, but how much you eat is also essential. You can load your plate with all the healthy foods, but you can still receive adverse effects if you eat too much or too little. Everyone's body has a different level of fullness that will provide all the essential fuel for the day, but the general rule is you should stop eating when you feel full, not stuffed. Also, keep an eye on your snacking habits as it can be easy to overeat while mindless grazing during a movie. If grazing and snacking is a problem, try to limit yourself to only eating at designated times or make a rule to keep all food only in the kitchen. Over or under-eating will negatively impact your body and mental health, which makes practicing portion control and healthy eating part of a more extensive self-care system.
Add Healthy Flavors For More Dietary Variety

When most people start eating healthier, their first complaint is the lack of flavor diversity and repetitive meals day after day. Eating healthy and mindfully does not mean you must eat bland or repetitive foods, as there are plenty of ways to spice up your meals without sacrificing your self-care goals. Herbs and spices are perfect ways to add new flavors to any dish, which will keep you from getting bored of the same tastes. Some spices like cinnamon even have their own health benefits that you should take advantage of. Try fresh foods from different countries and combine spices to make new flavors that keep your meal times healthy but also interesting.


Self-care is a critical aspect of daily life that is often left by the wayside. Expand your view of what counts as self-care and take advantage of all the possibilities. Realize that your diet affects your entire health and well-being, so make a choice to eat healthier. Keep track of how much you eat in a day to ensure you are not unconsciously grazing all day and overeating by mistake. Use spices and herbs to make your meals more exciting and flex your creativity to make the process of self-care fun rather than a chore.