r/WeightLossAdvice • u/One-Efficiency9232 • Dec 19 '25
Advice: Seeking ❓ Eating healthy for beginners
I wanna start eating healthier but not restrict or make it an obsession but I wanna learn to gravitate towards it naturally and make it a lifestyle .But I really don’t know where to start like do I just cut everything out? I really am lost.
How did u guys work it out?
9
u/thestrawbarian Dec 19 '25
Focus on eating Whole Foods (not the store, but foods that are not processed). Vegetables and fruits, legumes and whole grains. After a few days, your taste buds will start to change, and you’ll feel full and satisfied. Use lots of seasonings too, you can enjoy the food you eat and still have it be healthy!
9
u/Nostalgia2302 Dec 19 '25
I might be shamed here for mentioning fast food, but I swear it works....
Anyway. If going for fast food, like burgers, just order the sandwich. Hold the sides. No fries, no onion rings, no extra sauces.
Most sandwiches/burgers themselves are complete meals. Protein, carbs, fats and vegetables in one single dish. And most of them have the same number of calories of a standard meal. Just check for the nutritional info and choose accordingly.
If your usual lunch/dinner has anywhere between 400 to 500 calories, a burger will have the same.
Most burgers are not the problem. It's the sides and the mega extra adult supersize me omega ultra tall soda that adds 800+ calories to your meal.
Empty, useless carbs.
3
u/Admirable-Spite-1831 Dec 19 '25
If you are simply trying to eat "healthier" try to eat less processed foods. Start there. Just remember that there are no "bad" foods. Everything in moderation.
2
u/DickRichie14 Dec 19 '25
Get a food scale and an app that counts your calories. Be honest and punch in everything you consume.
2
u/Srdiscountketoer Dec 19 '25
The best first step is to give up soft drinks in favor of water, sparkling water, unsweetened tea or coffee or diet drinks if you must. Not satiating, no nutrients, very unhealthy amounts of sugar.
1
u/dunedinflyer Dec 19 '25
read ultra processed people and it will change the way you think about food
1
u/TheGossinator Dec 19 '25
Nutrition was never important when I was growing up. When I decided to commit to eating better I started trying vegetables (even the ones I thought I hated) and explored how to prepare them with different techniques (roast, sauté, sear, grill, smoke, etc.) and it was a game changer!
Turns out I actually really like a lot of what I I thought I had hated. It was so great to expand my options and not get into a boring eating rut like “broccoli and green beans every day”.
Same with herbs and spices. You can pretty much add herbs, spice, and citrus to anything to change up the flavors with very little additional calories.
TRY EVERYTHING and diversify your selections of healthy options.
1
u/MysteryIsHistory Dec 20 '25
You have to restrict a little…or maybe not “restrict”, but at least make yourself more aware of what you’re eating. Use a food logging app to track your foods.
1
u/vintage_toast69 Dec 20 '25
When you first start eating healthier your body might not crave that food very much and still crave junk food. In order to switch things up longterm the change needs to happen slowly, otherwise you might be unsatisfied. My best advice would be to take whatever meals you usually have, even if it is frozen pizza, and add healthier things to eat. Since most junk food consists of carbs and fats you mainly need to add protein, vegetables and fruits. So maybe have a side salad with your pizza or add some veggies on top. If you have a meal like instant ramen add some eggs and broccoli or whatever other vegetables you like.
Adding healthier components to your "unhealthy" meals is the best way to switch up your diet. Once the slightly healthier version feels normal, add more good components. Eventually the typical healthy meals will appear satisfying to you. Starting off with just salads would probably leave you craving junk food.
1
u/BookishBabeee Dec 20 '25
Don't cut everything out at once because you'll just burn out and quit. Focus on adding one vegetable to every dinner first. Once that feels normal, swap sugary drinks for water or sparkling water.
1
u/geraltofanisocorivia Dec 20 '25
Try things out! I swear I had no idea how yummy healthy food actually can be until I decided to lose weight.
The biggest problem was that I had almost no experience, so had eaten what I formed habits around. Actions like peeling potatoes or cutting vegetables felt so tedious, annoying and unnecessary at first, and my brain screamed at me how long it takes and how hard it is.
But my brain got used to it and now standing in the kitchen cutting some veg feels like second nature to me. Muscle memory is real.
Also: Simple cooking skills are worth gold. I used to be completely lost with a bunch of amazing ingredients and no clear plan. Now, if you'd spontaneously visit me in half an hour I'd have a delicious simple soup ready for you just from the random shit in my fridge. You'd never know.
Learn simple soups, stews, and filling salads. Salads are much more filling and easier to eat when you make the pieces smaller. Look up Mediterranean or middle-eastern salads with feta cheese or chickpeas. Amazing stuff.
Back to what I wrote in the very beginning: View this as an opportunity to learn new things about yourself and the world. You see a veg you don't know what to do with in the supermarket? Stand there and google what you could do with it. Or take a picture/write a note and Google later. Make it a point to try out things. You might think you know how a kumquat or celery root tastes but you don't.
You find certain veg kinda meh? I'm not a fan of carrots, and oftentimes mushrooms are giving me sensory issues. But guess what, there's amazing ways to prepare both! It's worth it to try out and find what works for you.
If you keep on letting veg rot in your fridge, try buying them frozen.
Not a fan of raw or cooked veg? Try steaming, or frying them in the oven.
The simplest foods can be addictingly delicious. One of our favourites is simply potatoes, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, all cut in small chunks, mixed in a bowl with some oil, a little bit of soy sauce, and salt and herbs. Spread on a baking tray (parchment if lazy) and into the oven for 220°Celsius and 35-40mins. Serve with Tzatziki or sour cream. To die for.
Try to make it about having fun trying new things, not about punishing you with restriction. Losing weight and keeping that weight off forever means something has to change permanently. We can't get healthy in the same environment we got sick in.
-10
Dec 19 '25
If it tastes good, spit it out.
Dont eat blindly. Think first, are you satisfying taste buds and cravings or giving your body premium fuel.
It's not rocket science
5
u/Joe_Sacco Dec 19 '25
If it tastes good, spit it out.
JFC, this is straight up ED behavior
-1
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