Being Organised is Everything

People often ask me what the secret to eating well is.

They expect me to talk about protein, calories, carbs or the latest nutrition trend. Whilst those things all have their place, the biggest predictor of whether you’ll eat well this week is actually much simpler.

Organisation.

The women who eat well consistently are rarely the women with the most willpower. They’re the women who are one step ahead.

Because here’s the reality of midlife. Most of us are busy. We’re working, looking after children, supporting ageing parents, running households, juggling appointments and trying to squeeze exercise in around everything else. By the time we get hungry, we’re often tired too.

And tired, hungry people don’t usually make great decisions.

That’s why healthy eating starts long before you sit down for a meal.

One of the best habits you can develop is planning your meals for the week. Decide what you’re having for breakfast, lunch and dinner and make sure you have the ingredients ready to go. Better still, do an online grocery shop and have everything delivered to your door.

It removes so much decision-making.

When you know what’s for dinner, you’re far less likely to order takeaway because you can’t think what to cook.

When lunch is already in the fridge, you’re less likely to grab whatever is easiest.

When breakfast is planned, you’re less likely to skip it and spend the morning picking at biscuits.

I also encourage women to think beyond the main meals. Plan your snacks too.

A good day doesn’t just happen by accident. Think breakfast, lunch, dinner and a couple of snacks in between. Keep things simple and focus on foods that contain protein and fibre to help keep you satisfied.

Go with the plan, not the mood.

If we only ate well when we felt motivated, very few of us would manage it consistently.

Some days you’ll feel energised and organised. Other days you’ll be tired, stressed and craving toast and chocolate. That’s completely normal. The trick is not to make every food decision based on how you feel in that moment.

Trust the plan you made when you were thinking clearly.

Future you will be grateful.

A few other simple tips can make a huge difference:

• Never go food shopping when you’re hungry.
• Carry a water bottle with you and sip throughout the day.
• Keep healthy foods visible and easy to grab.
• Wash and prepare fruit when you get home from the shops.
• Store less nutritious treats out of sight rather than leaving them on the kitchen bench.
• If there are foods you know you struggle to resist, don’t feel guilty about not buying them every week.

You don’t get extra points for relying on willpower. Make your environment work for you.

The easier healthy choices are, the more likely you are to make them.

Healthy eating isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making good choices often enough that they become your default.

And more often than not, that starts with being organised.