Guest Post

Today is the last day of the conference and my second to last day in Vegas. While I’m wrapping things up I fun guest post for you from Kayla over at Sprouty Buns!

Hi, sprouts! I’m Kayla from Sprouty Buns and am so excited to have the opportunity to guest post for Brittany. EatingBirdFood was one of the very first healthy living blogs I started reading; I love how real, down to earth and honest Brittany is in all her posts.

I am often asked by my friends, family and coworkers, “How do you eat SO healthy, ALL the time??” I’m not going to put myself on a pedestal and say I eat perfect, all the time. I, too, have my moments of weakness; going back one-too-many times for a slice of cake, ordering late night pizza — you know, the usual.

Despite spending many years living off junk (aka college), the first (and most important) step in my ability to begin and maintain healthy eating was educating myself. I learned to understand the difference between whole and processed foods and how they affect the way I feel, inside and out.

Now, I can honestly say that I crave fruit (not candy), protein (not empty calories) and healthy fats (not prepackaged, processed snacks). It didn’t happen overnight but over time I’ve grown to thrive off these whole, nutritious foods!

By fueling my body with the nutrition it needs and deserves, I feel better than ever. Without further ado, here are a few of my Living Sprouty tips:

1. Eat Breakfast! Breakfast is just that: breaking the fast. Your body has gone without food for more than eight hours and whether you feel it or not, it needs to refuel. I always start my day with a combination of protein, fat and carbs. A typical morning meal? Greek yogurt with flax seed, sprouted grain toast topped with coconut oil, plus an apple. Jumpstarting your day with a nutritious powerhouse boosts your energy and metabolism, setting you on the right path for the rest of the day.

2. Eat Smaller Meals Every Couple Of Hours! There is no way I could sustain off three large meals a day. I have found that refueling every two to three hours works best for my body, my mood tells me I’m hungry before my stomach does (just ask my boyfriend). Eating every couple of hours keeps your blood sugar, energy and moodiness in check.

3. Listen! Some days I feel like a bottomless pit and others I have a minimal appetite. I trust my body to let me know what it needs, when it needs it. If I’m hungry 30 minutes after eating breakfast — this happens more often than you’d think — I’ll go ahead and have a snack. Your body requires different things depending on your exercise level, stress, hydration and time of the month (very key). Trust me: If you listen, your body will reward you.

4. Relax! A lot of people get caught up in the garbage that is constantly pushed at us by “health” magazines. “…exercise for 2 hours a day, eat 1,200 calories, etc.” Are they insane?! Whether you’re trying to lose weight or not, crash diets aren’t healthy, nor do they last. It’s about adapting your entire lifestyle and sticking with it for the long haul. So you had two pieces of cake or ate every last crumb out of the chip bag — who cares?! Tomorrow is a new day; your body will forgive you, so forgive yourself. If you chose whole, nutritious foods a majority of the time, those slip ups won’t matter in the least to your overall health.

I hope to share many more tips, stories and recipes with you over on my blog Sprouty Buns — come join the party and let’s get Sprouty!

Please remember that I blog based on my own experiences and am not a medical professional. For any questions/concerns you are having, please see your physician or dietician.

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