Eating healthy is one of the most important parts of self-care. It’s been important to me for as long as I can remember. My family has a pretty serious history of health challenges, so I’ve been very focused on trying to stay fit and active since I was very young (although I haven’t always been successful). As I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten even more serious about finding ways to improve my eating habits and cut down on some of the things that I used to consume that were potentially harmful. Like everyone else I’ve had bad habits, but I find that despite missing those things that we all crave, I feel a lot better, have a lot more energy, and can focus through long hours of toiling work. Most recently, I’ve been trying to practice self-care and self-love by trying new healthy foods from the grocery store, trying new restaurants, and exploring healthy alternatives without sacrificing good taste.

In Atlanta, there are tons of great restaurants to choose from. I’ve tried halal, Mexican, and many other kinds of food, but the vegan restaurants are serving up some tasty options that have left me quite pleased. One of the restaurants that I’ve taken a liking to is Maepole. They serve traditional type meals with quinoa, sprouts, sweet potatoes, green beans, and protein. Eating at this spot really inspired me to put a new spin on some of my recipes and to add a few crunchies (tasty, crunchy toppings) on the top.

One of the things that I continue to work on is my sugar cravings. I use sugar substitutes instead of regular sugar on a daily basis, but I am often hit with major cravings that leave me searching for ice cream, cake, and cookies. I decided, recently, to search for healthy options and I found a few that I might suggest.

Trail Mix with M&M – Publix

Lemon Luna Bar – Kroger

White Chocolate Cliff Bar – Whole Foods

Friendly’s Ice Cream Cup – Walmart

Chocolate Covered Pretzels – Publix

In the past, I could not escape the desire to fill my bowl with some ice cream and cake or cookies (which I still do occasionally), but these healthy options have helped me to satisfy my cravings without getting me too far off of my diet.

It’s great to look back and see how far I’ve come with following and maintaining healthy habits. I’m excited about discovering all of the new foods and ingredients that I’ve never even thought about before. Maybe one day I’ll even learn how to make some authentic, healthy dishes at home that my future dinner guests will praise.

#cheers

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