No matter how much vegan collagen we put on our skin or in our hair, if we’re not feeding ourselves with “the good stuff,” in the end, none of it will make an iota of difference. I mean, you might look good, but even looking exceptionally good can’t compensate for feeling exceptionally bad.
But nutrition isn’t always as straightforward as adding a dab of Vegan Collagen Skin Cream to your before-bedtime skincare regime.
Or is it??
Not all aspects of nutrition need to be complicated. The following are my five favorite hacks for keeping my nutrition in check on a daily basis:
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Hydrate!!! This should come as no surprise, but hydration is key to not only feeling good, but to looking good. Your skin, hair, and nails will all look their best only when you are properly hydrating! I like to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, so I put a glass of water next to my bed when I go to sleep the night before. Another trick I use to keep myself drinking throughout the day–I sub in a couple flavored waters to change things up and keep things lively!
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Chew Your Calories. I’ve been a long-time proponent of getting your calories through chewing over drinking. All those pretty-colored “cold-pressed juices” have been stripped of fiber and other antioxidants, and thus, you’re just treating yourself to bottles of sugar-water. In lieu of reaching for a bottle, grab a piece of fruit instead. It’ll keep you fuller, longer (thanks fiber!) and, in my mind, it’s so much more satisfying to chew your food than to drink it. You’ll get so much more nutrition bang for your caloric buck and it’s friendlier to your wallet too!
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Hide The Junk. Look, I’m not gonna lie–I’ve got a bag of potato chips stashed deep inside my pantry. But that’s the thing: I noticed that when I left the bag out on the kitchen table, where I saw it every single day, I was eating chips every single day. Just by stashing it in the pantry, I’ve reduced my potato chip consumption by 90% (usually only a couple times a month).
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Some Supplementation Is A-OK. I realize froo-froo supplements have given vitamins a bit of a bad rap, but complete nutrition is usually only achievable with supplementation. I take a Vitamin B12 and D3 supplement every single day. I find this keeps the fatigue at bay and otherwise helps me feel alert. Make sure to get your labs done regularly so you can keep track of where your body might be falling short and thus supplement accordingly.
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Indulge. My biggest and most effective hack is letting myself indulge at least once a day. Whether it’s a little dark chocolate before bedtime or banana bread for breakfast, letting myself have something I really enjoy once a day prevents the development of hard-to-control cravings. Better to have a slice of banana bread with my morning coffee than to gorge on an entire loaf, plus potato chips plus ice cream plus chocolate all in one afternoon! This was a trick that was very hard for me to learn, but one that’s really paid off.
Nutrition isn’t always easy, especially as we age. What worked in our 20s may no longer work as well in our 40s. But everyone needs water, no matter how old you are! And everyone should feel the freedom to enjoy a little something sweet, every once in a while. After all, wellness and self-care requires a 360° approach and cannot focus exclusively on macros at the exclusion of joy.
What are some of your favorite go-to nutrition hacks? Comment and share them with us below!
