So, what do you eat ?

What am I supposed to eat ?

well, what do you usually eat ?
burgers ? hotdogs ?
bagels ? cupcakes ? donuts ?
the best cheesecake in the world ?
gourmet meal of foie gras lathered in expensive butter ?
traditional home cooked food ?

Start with eating more vegetables.
If you absolutely hate vegetables.
Cut them up in small pieces and Mix them with your ordinary food and you won't even feel the vegs.
Add more vegs as you go along.
In time you'll enjoy eating vegetables and even just vegetables.



Try the simple Italian style salad of mixed raw vegetables and olive oil + salt
add croutons / little cubes of baked bread for extra crunch.
or onion rings even.
I know I said refined flour is not good and fried food is bad.
But I find adding little bits of those stuff makes me really really enjoy my salad and makes me so happy and satisfied :)
so I allow it from time to time.

I can't eat raw carrots, I just don't like it, but when I grate them into thin strips, I enjoy eating them raw.
I used to hate the taste of parsley, but mixed with fresh tomatoes, like a tabouli, I totally enjoy it and now I can eat parsley with anything.
As you go along, you'll find new "tricks"
It all takes time and getting used to.

What about fruits ?
A fruit juice is a whole lot better than drinking soft drinks.
A fruit smoothie is a whole lot better than drinking milkshakes.
Fruit slices are a whole lot better than eating cupcakes.

then there are nuts and seeds and sprouts
Sprouts in particular are really good for you because they are "Live" food
they are filled with beneficial enzymes and nutrients.
(well, so are fresh raw fruits and vegs)

Try to avoid these,
but if you can't, Be in Control and eat little portion only of :
- sugar
- fried food
- refined carbs (white rice, white flour, potato)
choose brown rice, whole wheat flour, sweet potato instead
I find that I'm doing fine by not eating most carbs, but you should listen to your body and decide for yourself what's best.

I know it may be a lot harder when you're always busy and you have little time to eat properly.
It's easier when you're at home and you have time to prepare a healthy meal.
But Do at least try to choose Healthier Food.
Make an effort... :)
Mix in more of the healthy stuff with your daily food
and trust me, after a while, you'll want more of those healthier food.

If it sounds un-do-able
Just try baby steps....
and know that you're taking care of yourselves
and before you know it.
You'll look better, you'll have a better skin, better health, a happier Life.
Just try....one step at a time :)

Is there a specific rule to The Healthy Life Diet ?

The Healthy Life Diet has no rule of what to eat and what not to eat.
It's about Listening to your body and being Responsible.
You know eating that big slice of cheesecake is bad for you, yet you ate it anyway, that's not being Responsible.
You need to take care of yourselves.
The Healthy Life Diet is also about having a Happy Healthy Balanced Lifestyle.
It's always going to be evolving because we're always learning and discovering new knowledge and we're always open to new ideas.

We all know what Healthy Foods are
We all know what Healthy Lifestyle is
Some people might be somewhat misguided by what they think they know about Healthy Food / Healthy Lifestyle
But it's okay, We're all here to learn, not to judge

Briefly,
Healthy Food is not overly processed junk food
Healthy Food doesn't contain a lot of sugar, artificial color, artificial flavor, preservatives, MSG, etc
Too much sugar is really bad for you.
Too much of anything is bad.

We know that Healthy Foods can be found in Vegetables and Fruits, Let's start there.

But
Vegetables that's overcooked and too soft/mushy is not healthy food.
Vegetables / Fruits that come out of a can is not considered healthy food.
then there are other issues with pesticides, pollution, soil condition, etc etc

Don't worry too much, just start with what you can
You'll build up your knowledge over time.
We'll continue to learn and in time, we'll want more of the Healthy stuff.

What about Meat and animal products ?
Is meat bad ?
Not necessarily.
Some avoid meat for health reasons
Some avoid meat for ethical reasons
Some meat (cows, pork, chicken, fish) may not be healthy because of hormones, antibiotics, diseases, etc, what they eat also matters.
Some fish contains high level of heavy metals, mercury.
Organic meat may just means they're fed with organic soy instead of organic grass.
A lot of info out there.

So what do you eat if you still eat meat & animal products ?
Try lean meat or milk from grass-fed cows for example.
Try organic free range chicken
Try wild deep-sea fish

But they cost more though ....
Then start with what you can.
Get a good quality lean meat, leave out the fatty bits, and don't deep-fry it.
Let's cut back on the fat, they may clog your arteries.
Don't eat too much of it !!

Same goes with milkshakes, ice creams, cheesecake, sugary desserts, fried food, commercial salad dressings, etc
Don't eat too much of it or better yet, Don't eat them at all.
Start by eating less if you crave them so much.
I used to love ice cream so much, even though I usually get a slight diarrhea after 2-3 scoops of ice cream.
(I think I'm lactose intolerant ;p )
But I kept on eating ice cream despite of the .... you know.
I can withstand the.... you know, as long as I can enjoy the ice cream.
How silly am I ?
The funny thing is, A lot of us are like that, we don't mind the daily bloated uncomfortably full feeling after each meal, just as long as we can satisfy our cravings.
Amazing isn't it ?

I went Vegan 8 months ago and I don't even crave ice cream anymore soon after, up till now.
I'm not saying that you should all avoid ice cream, I'm just saying I listen to my body and not eat ice cream because I don't feel good afterwards.
I love sugary desserts, yes, but I don't feel good after a piece of cheesecake, so why eat it in the firstplace ?
Be in control, have 2 bites if you really want it, but stop there, don't finish a quarter of a pan by yourself.
Be in control and Be responsible.
That's all.

There are a lot of informations out there.
As you start being more responsible and start searching for more information.
You'll definitely learn so much more.
Don't believe 100% of everything you read.
What work for others might not work for you and vice versa.
Listen to your Body, Eat Healthily and Happily. Enjoy your Food. Be Responsible.
and Stop saying "I'll start tomorrow" because you know you'll never start.
So what if it's 4 pm now ? Start now !!

And Remember the Happy Healthy Balanced Lifestyle part.
It's not just about Food, it's about everything in Life
Be Happy, Be Thankful, Enjoy Life.

So, Is "The Healthy Life Diet" a Diet ?

Well, Guess what ?
No, It's not.

It's actually more than that

The Healthy Life Diet focuses on the "Healthy Life" in which the "Diet" is inside the Healthy Life.
and since most of us are eternally looking for a "Diet" that works despite of everything else.
Why not call it a Diet instead ?
Afterall, Food will be a part ot "The Healthy Life Diet"
and it'll definitely make you have your best weight and of course, your best Life :) thus a "Diet"
but The Healthy Life Diet is so much more than just about Food, it's also about everything else in Life.
In short, It's about a Happy Healthy Balanced Life.

We are in Transition

I find that most of us are always in some sort of a Transition Diet.
Why ?
We choose a diet that best suits us, whatever diet it may be, a Vegan Diet, a Vegetarian Diet, a Raw Food Diet, an Omnivore Diet, the Atkins Diet, the Food Combining Diet, the Flexitarian Diet, the Blood Type Diet, etc etc

But then we modify the diet to suit our needs, to suit our naughty little cravings, and we sometimes move on to a different diet that we consider a better one.
so are we a Vegan ? are we a Raw Foodist ? are we a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian ? are we an omnivore ?
The Healthy Life Diet is all that Diet, it's whatever Diet you're doing to be a Healthier Happier you.
The name doesn't matter, the important point is that you are on a journey to find your best Diet and Lifestyle.
If you're a Vegan and you eat meat today, does that make you a Vegan still ? Does it make you feel guilty ?
So the name doesn't matter..... and Feeling Guilty is bad for you.
So we're all in Transition, in a way, we're always searching for what Diet suits us best, we're making an effort to consume a good quality healthier food and fitting it into our hectic busy lifestyle, which may be hard to attain at times due to our time limitation, financial state, etc.
But we're trying, we're on a journey.

We're modifying and combining different types of the popular diets out there and making it our own.
Everyone thinks their diet is the best, so we need to choose what's best for us and get snippets of what we consider best from others and modify it to fit our unique needs.

We can get lots of information from others, we need each other, we fill each other's gaps, different insight, different positive energy.
That's why we always need to keep an open eyes and ears and taste to everything new :)

We're evolving, we learn new things everyday.
and I think we'll always be in transition, always seeking to achieve a healthier happy Life, not just through food and ideal weight, but also through a Life well lived filled with Happiness, a purpose, Dreams, Laughter, Love, Healthy Environment, Healthy Lifestyle.

The Healthy Life Diet :)

Which Diet is best for me ?

So is it the Vegan Diet ?
the Lacto Vegetarian Diet ?
the Super Duper Fast Weight Loss Diet ?
the Flexitarian Diet ?
the Blood Type Diet ?

Everyone seems to claim their Diet is the best.
So Which one is best for me ?

It's not about which Diet is best
It's about YOU
It's about what you need
You may do a combination of several diets, take the best from each.
You may do whatever-name diet.
It doesn't matter.
Remember that Everyone is different.
What matter is the "Diet" (or "Diets") suits YOU best.

Nobody knows better than you do.... only You know which one is best for you
You need to Listen to your Body
You need to be open to new things
You need to play safe :)
Remember baby steps ?
If you're feeling lost, then get "help"
consult a physician, consult friends, ask around, do research
stay humble, stay open
Listen to your body
Don't force yourself
Some people might think that they're alright, but they could be on an unhealthy Diet and they're unaware of it, endangering their health. so Stay safe.
Find your best Diet, the best way to find out is to try it for yourself and not hear results from someone else.

We learn new things everyday
that's why some omnivores (most of us) go vegetarian after a while
that's why some vegetarians go vegan after a while
that's why some vegans go raw after a while
it's not compulsory that all of us go vegan forever
there's no rule telling you that
there's no judgement
If you're a non Vegan, don't judge Vegans
If you're a Vegan, don't judge the non Vegans

Just eat what you feel is right, Responsibly
Listen to your body
and always choose a good quality food whenever possible
and simply enjoy it and be Happy :)

Eating salad may be a whole lot healthier than eating a burger
but eating a salad and sulking and totally hating every bite of it, can be way worse than happily eating a burger.
start changing your diet little by little
don't drastically change your diet and limit yourself
but hey, if you have a strong motivation and will power, then by all means do so,
I changed my diet over a week and I was fine.
but for some people, changing their diet drastically requires tremendous efforts
and that's why people never stay on a "diet" for long
people just become overwhelmed and the body is not used to new things, though healthy,
some even experience the detox period of nauseas and even vomiting
and they tend to go back to their old eating habit and not learn anything from it
start small, just incorporate healthier things into your meal everyday and you'll definitely feel the difference.

a diet is what you eat
and a diet is for life
a diet is not to lose weight, it's to get your best weight and it goes along with a happy healthy life
it is always combined with a healthy lifestyle (happiness, exercise, purpose, breathing, love, enough rest, etc)

you always evolve and so will your diet
when you learn new things, when you discover new taste
when you feel better on a fresher healthier produce
you'll want more of it
and you'll slowly leave your old "diet" behind and enter this new world of learning and discovering new taste, new health benefits,
It may seem new, but it's been there forever, good quality organic vegetables and fruits are good for you.
Hey... good quality meat, fish, milk may also be good for you.

For me,
I've always been an omnivore all my life, where my weight has always been 1-2 kg overweight and when I go abroad, I always gain weight due to the dairy and sugar consumption.
I have such a sweet tooth.
But
I've been a healthy Vegan for 8 months now and I feel good, I've managed to stay on my best weight without even trying.
(I don't eat a lot of grains, fried food, refined sugar, refine flour, etc although sometimes I still do)
And recently I've started allowing myself to meat meat, fish, etc
I still am picky about what I eat, I try to choose the best quality ones whenever I can.
Am I still a Vegan ?
Does eating fish once after 8 mths of being Vegan make me a non Vegan ?
Does that make me an omnivore again ?
Does it even matter ?
Does it make me feel guilty ?
No....it did make me feel a little bit guilty before but not anymore.
I'm still mostly Vegan but I allow some meat, fish if I feel like I need it and not on a daily basis.
I try to eat as healthily as possible, whenever I can
I try to enjoy my food and be happy while eating it.
There's no point of sulking and dreading every bite of your so-called-healthy-food.
So I allow more variety of food, but I'm staying on the healthy Vegan side.
That's just me.
You need to find your best diet, and the best way to start is by starting to find healthier alternatives to your daily meal.
and slowly you'll learn more and your body will tell you which food makes you feel good, you'll want more of the Healthier Food.
Listen to your body, don't overeat and be Responsible, make the right choice.

And......
When we focus on the perfect Diet, we focus on food, healthy food even.
but we tend to forget that it's all connected, it's about everything.
It's about being purely sincerely Happy
No pressures
Let go of the small worries, there are bigger things in your Life
Have a meaningful Life
Love your Life
Exercise and Have Fun
Chew your food, yes Chew your food :)
Breathe well
Laugh often
It's about everything

It's a journey to find a healthier happier Life
so mistakes and slips are tolerable, Don't feel guilty, just realize your mistake and start over, Take it easy :)
Life's supposed to be fun :D

So... try to be open to new things, learn more everyday
and you'll be amazed that you become healthier without even trying
you'll have your best weight without even counting calories and limiting your food intake
you'll learn to listen to your body and choose what's best to eat.
you'll enjoy every meal, sharing food with families and friends
you'll live a happy healthy balanced life
It's the essence of The Healthy Life Diet
or whatever other name you want to call it
It's your Life, start living it and enjoy it with a smile, always :)

Who is suitable for The Healthy Life Diet ?

This Healthy Life Diet is for you
- who's tired of trying from 1 diet to the next and fail, so you're looking for a Diet that works and stick on this Healthy Life Diet for life and make it your daily Lifestyle
- who just "woke up" and want to be in control of your Life.
(you just realize that it's not all about food, but it's also about being happy, being thankful to God, taking care of yourself and the planet, caring for others, exercising, etc)
- who is ready to take on responsibility on your own health
- who is starting on a quest for a better health, but can't change drastically
(if you have a strong will and you can change your lifestyle in 1 day for the rest of your life, then by all means go for it, responsibly and healthily)
- who wants to live a healthier Life but still can enjoy sharing "normal" food with family and friends.
- who wants to go Vegan or to go Raw but are somewhat scared of the drastic change and are still looking for more information.

The Healthy Life Diet is for generally healthy individuals, if you have a condition that requires a specific strict diet, then by all means, follow the diet that's recommended by your physician.
But remember to have a positive attitude in Life, Be grateful, Be Happy, Love your Life no matter what.

On being a Guilt Free Diet

The Healthy Life Diet is an Aware-Guilt-Free-Diet.
which means you are aware of what you eat, what your thoughts and moods are, what your goals are, etc that is to be a Healthy you.
and If you must eat something that you consider less healthy or unethical, because you just have no other option (ie. u're gonna pass out if u dun eat, etc), then you simply just enjoy that food, guilt free, because there's no point of eating something and hating every minute of it.
It's very important to be Happy and Enjoy your food, Happiness is truly our best medicine and we need to stay happy no matter what :)

Why ?
Because..........

There are just moments where you can't eat properly & healthily
Example
- when you're working, busy busy and on the run, no time to eat and can only eat something practical, white bread perhaps.
- when you're flying and you can't bring your own food so you must eat airplane meal and you forgot to request a specific meal for you.
- when you're traveling abroad and could not find a decent healthy food
Yes of course you can make an effort to get a decent healthy meal, but in some cases it's just not possible.
- And in those other situations where you must eat whatever's available anyway..... Eat it wholeheartedly, eat it with no burden because you know that you didn't have any other choice and you're not going to add negative energy by sulking and complaining, you know that you can always try to have a healthy meal afterwards.

There are moments where we don't have the money to spend on healthy food.
The best quality food cost money, that's true, but just get the best that you can afford :)
If you can't afford organic vegetables, then get a normal vegetables, prepare / cook them with Love and enjoy eating them, all the positive energy does make a difference.
If you happen to be at a restaurant, some of the salad prices (& other healthier food) are ridiculously too expensive and makes you think thrice, yes thrice before ordering it and sometimes you end up not ordering it and settle for something else. Hey... don't sulk, it's fine, enjoy your meal, be thankful for it and try to eat a healthier food on your next meal.
Example
Lunch - and you've only got $3
pizza cost $2.50
salad cost $4.50
What do you do ?
You eat pizza happily and make up for it by eating lots of healthy food at dinner.
no burden, no guilt.
and You learn to bring your own healthy food next time ;p
But what if you don't like pizza ?
Then find a guy selling roasted almonds, chestnuts, bagel, apples, whatever you can afford.

What about not eating meat due to ethical reasons ?
What about Vegans who are againts animal cruely ?
What if you are a Vegan but you really crave meat ?
Then you need to decide for yourself what to do.
If you don't eat meat because you love animals, then don't eat it. You could get enough nutrients from Vegan Food.
If you don't eat meat because you are againts animal cruelty but you crave it really bad, then decide for yourself what to do.
If you decide not to eat meat, then be happy with your decision and choose to eat a good healthy Vegan food.
If you decide to eat meat, then eat meat and realize the consequences and be responsible for your actions, Don't feel guilty about it because it just burdens you with negative feelings and regrets.
Think about what you're going to do and
Take responsibility for your own decisions.

Example :
If you happen to be a Vegan - Raw Vegan - etc
and your grandma who you don't see often, baked you your favorite childhood pie for your birthday , which also happens to be the best pie in the world
What do you do ?
Do you refuse to eat it ?
Unless you're super allergic & you risk death, then avoid it at all cost.
But if you're just being healthy and ethical about your food choices, then I think it's totally fine to eat "junk" but super-yummy-made-with-lotsa-love from dear grandma.
Otherwise you'll end up hurting her feelings and you waste her whole day effort to bake you that pie only to be turned down by you.
So you eat the pie a little bit, enjoy it, let it bring back all those wonderful childhood memories, be happy, be grateful, your grandma is happy for you, the whole room is happy. Everyone's happy. Good times.
Don't let 1 single "slip" of eating that pie burdens you with guilt !!
Enjoy it, and you know you're back on your healthier eating choices afterwards anyway !!! :)

That illustration describe what I'll do now,
although a few weeks ago I'll definitely refuse to eat it :)
but I'm changing, I'm evolving, who knows what I'll do next time.

So be Responsible for your decisions, whatever that decision may be, Don't feel guilty about it because all that negative energy will just burden you.
It's important to Live your Life Responsibly and Guilt Free :)