Empowerment is all about taking control. It’s about asserting ourselves and gaining mastery over the forces that we think are beyond our control and learning how easily we can bend them to our will. Our health and our financial wellbeing are two good examples of this. All too often we look at our bank balance or the weight we see on the scales and ask ourselves “how did this happen”? That’s because we underestimate the control we have over our own lives and the ways in which even the little choices we make throughout each day make a big difference when month end rolls around… and when we step on the scales.
Here are some ways in which you can take control of your health and your wealth my taking control of your food choices. Here are some tips to help you empower yourself as you feed yourself.
Create a food budget
One of the single most empowering things you can do for your financial wellbeing is to draw up a budget… and stick to it, of course. All the little things like the caramel latte you pick up to make Monday morning more bearable to the candy bar you buy from the vending machine at work adds up. And when you can account for all these little expenses, you’re much less likely to encounter unpleasant surprises when you check your bank balance.
When you download a budget template and stick to it, you’re asserting yourself over something that can feel as out of your control as the wind or the rain… and that can make you feel really good about yourself. Especially as the pennies add up and the pounds fall away.
Establish a handful of quick and easy go-to recipes
After a long, hard day, the last thing you feel like doing is spending an hour in the kitchen. But resorting to expensive take out won’t do your health or bank balance any favors. Instead, take some time to develop a repertoire of quick, easy and nutritious go-to recipes like this simple chilli recipe. Make sure you always have the ingredients to throw these together or cook in bulk and freeze for quick, easy and satisfying meals which will help keep costs under control.
Never shop while hungry
Supermarket chains know what they’re doing. The in-store experience is designed to tempt the senses and lead you to make impulsive purchases. And when your blood sugar’s low, they’re a perfectly designed trap designed to get us to spend a fortune on starchy carbs, and faty, sugary and salty treats. That’s why you should always have a light meal or a healthy snack before food shopping.
Snack… but snack better
Finally, temptation strikes hardest in those little gaps between meals, so make sure you’re armed with the right foods to help you resist temptation. Make sure your desk drawer is packed with nuts, dried fruits, and nutritious homemade goodies. That’ll help keep your blood sugar stabilized and keep temptation at bay.
