Tip: Empower yourself by taking baby steps towards nourishing eating for your whole family.
By the Chef Marshall O’Brien Group
In our society, advertisements and social media continuously present us with picture-perfect versions of how our lives, our bodies and our families ‘should’ be. When reality falls short of our visions of healthy, home-cooked family meals, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged from even attempting positive change. Baby steps make change manageable, keep you motivated and help you feel confident that you can succeed! You don’t need to have your whole path figured out – simply start by putting one foot in front of the other and you will be on your way toward feeling your best.
Wherever You Are Is the Perfect Place to Start
As individuals and families, we are all at different stages on the road to eating well. Don’t get hung up on how far you have to go or how many changes you need to make. No matter how close or far you are from your goal of good nutrition, you are at the perfect starting place. Take the first step today!
Baby Steps Towards Big Change
Attempts at lifestyle change often fail because we set goals that are too far from where we are right now. For most of us, switching from fast food to kale salads is a leap destined for failure. The key to success is setting small, manageable goals you know you can succeed at. Small steps might include:
- Substitute an ounce of dark chocolate for a treat you would otherwise have eaten.
- Try flavored sparkling water, or sparkling water mixed with a small amount of juice instead of a can of soda.
- Eat one nourishing meal as a family this week instead of dining on the go. Our recipe for Grilled Ahi Tuna with Arugula and Strawberries is a perfect, fresh summer meal that everyone in the family can help prepare.
Try setting one personal baby-step goal today. Once you have accomplished your first goal, set another small, manageable goal. You will be on your way towards sustainable change!
Each Success Motivates You
Every time you achieve one of your goals, take a moment to appreciate the work you did and feel proud of your accomplishment. Each improvement in your eating that you make will help you feel better physically and emotionally, and motivate you to make the next small change. As you continue making small incremental changes, you will feel increasingly confident that you can achieve the changes you strive for.
Expect Setbacks and Move On
At some point you are bound to stumble on the road to change. Holidays, travel and stressful events are triggers for reverting back to old habits and behaviors. Do not feel like a failure – setbacks are a normal part of making changes. Just wake up tomorrow and start again. Remind yourself how good it feels when you achieve your goals, and return to your baby steps. Your life is a work in progress – every day presents a new opportunity to try again and make better choices.
Envision Your Destination
Stay motivated to set new goals by envisioning how you will feel when you are living your ideals. Making smart food choices gives you the power to be your best and feel your best, and allows your children to develop to their fullest potential. Taking baby steps instead of attempting drastic shifts helps you succeed at making positive lifestyle changes. Once you are confident you can improve your family’s nutrition, you will be empowered to make positive change in other areas of your life as well.
You will love the way you feel!
The Chef Marshall O’Brien Group is a dedicated assembly of professionals based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, committed to the goal of using nutrition to get kids and families to lead happier, healthier lives.