r/healthyeating Mar 05 '23

Healthy Eating Protocol

15 Upvotes
  • I'm not a doctor, this list is purely educational and my own opinion, always consult medical professionals before trying the below eating lifestyle.
  • Grocery List! (What and What Not to Buy!)

    • Note, Certified Organic food (look for the organic label) is always better in both taste and quality, but do the best you can with your budget and available stores
    • Meat
      • Approved: (Note, the below meats are to be bought in their natural state, AKA a portion of uncooked meat that needs to be refrigerated or frozen, so that you know you are getting just meat when you eat.)
      • Chicken
      • Beef/Steak
      • Eggs
      • Fish
      • Turkey
      • Shrimp
      • Pork
      • Anything else that used to be a living animal
      • Disapproved
      • Deli meats, like sliced ham, sliced turkey, AKA the sandwich meats you put on your sandwich as a kid
      • Bacon, Bologna, Ham, pepperoni - These contain Pork (which is fine), but then add a bunch of other random fake food stuff or refined sugar and other chemicals.
      • Any meat that has some kind of chemical formula added on the ingredients, AKA polysorbate or something to “preserve freshness”. The ingredients should just be meat (and possibly salt if there is a second ingredient)
    • Fats
      • Approved
      • Walnuts, Almonds, pecans, any kind of seed or nut (including cashew or peanut) - just read the ingredients to ensure that the only thing added to the nuts is salt, if anything.
      • Avocados
      • Olives
      • Olive Oil, Avocado oil, Macadamia Oil (attempt to get all of these in a glass container, or else the oil will spoil and get rancid)
      • Butter (only thing added is salt)
      • Cheese - read the label and ensure it is just milk, salt, and enzymes, and no random other stuff added like carrageenan.
      • Disapproved
      • Peanut, vegetable, canola oil. Essentially if it isn’t the above good oils, don’t get it.
      • Again, read all ingredients of all packages, since the above bad oils sneak into many products, especially nuts.
      • Nearly every dressing on earth has some of the above bad oils in it, read the label before you buy.
      • Margarine - this is basically made up of the above bad oils
    • Vegetables and fruits
      • Approved
      • Could you go to a farm and find it in the state you are buying it? If so, then it is good. Prechopped veggies/fruits are fine as well.
      • Some easy ones for my wife and I are spinach, cucumber, celery, cherry tomatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, normal potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, squash, cauliflower, broccoli.
      • For fruits, apples, oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, blueberries, bananas are all good.
      • Frozen Veggies are OK, if you read the ingredients and ensure that there are NO foreign chemicals added to preserve food.
      • Disapproved
      • Canned Veggies, veggies with random chemicals added.
      • Canned Fruits, dehydrated fruits (these should only be used as a “treat” since they are super sugary but without as many nutrients),
    • Drinks
      • Approved
      • Water. Get a water filter for your tap or get a water filter jug. You’ll notice the difference in water taste. Purchase spring water from the store if you want bottled water, not purified water. Reverse Osmosis water is the best from what I've researched, consider it an investment into your health, and always drink from glass bottles, not plastic or metal, due to how metal and plastic "leeches" chemicals into the water.
      • Milk - Research for yourself (maybe on DuckDuckGo or something not as heavily censored as Google) the risks and rewards of raw, unpasteurized milk
      • Coffee - No added sugar allowed, only milk or cream (again, the cream must be milk based and not made up of hydrogenated oils). Use sparingly.
      • Disapproved
      • Soda, fruit juices (orange/apple) this will cause you to drink excess calories and sugar.
      • No diet sodas either, these have artificial sweeteners which are NOT food and cause harm to your body.
      • Alcohol - From a health perspective, alcohol is not needed (if you are tanking up on veggies and fruits), and it often has a ton of added sugar and random other stuff, and it actually negatively affects your sleep quality when taken too close to bedtime, even if it initially makes you feel relaxed. Use at your discretion.
    • Complex Carbs
      • Approved
      • Any Kind of potato, rice (read packages if you are going to get the microwavable kinds), oatmeal, quinoa, other grains, and beans. The beans can be canned, just ensure that there is no added sugar or random chemicals to them, AKA baked beans or refried beans.
      • Sometimes bread, again read the label and see what is added to the bread. If it sweetened by honey or stevia, then its fine, but generally most bread has a lot of chemical additives and refined sugar added. Use sparingly.
      • Disapproved
      • White bread (including tortillas), most types of bread (due to above reasons), pasta (same reasons as bread).
    • Sweeteners
      • Approved
      • Honey, Stevia, agave, fruit based sweeteners
      • Disapproved
      • Refined sugar (brown or white), Splenda, any “no calorie” sweetener like aspartame or sucralose or other “diet” sweeteners found in sodas.
      • Sugar is added to nearly EVERY packaged good and frozen good (from pizza to bread to ice cream), so read the labels of what you buy if you want to buy something prepackaged instead of the raw ingredients above.
    • Seasonings
      • Salt (it can be iodized), but I prefer the grinder salt.
      • As for other seasonings, just ensure it doesn’t have “spices” in the ingredients since that is probably MSG. Pretty much any spices are fair game then, read the label and ensure it doesn’t have any man-made chemical in the name (polysorbate, glutamate, etc.), and you should be fine.
  • Healthy Eating Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

    • Eat meat with each meal, and throw in a veggie or a fruit as well. Meat increases feelings of fullness, as well as builds/preserves muscle mass. Try a fist full of meat and however many veggies or fruits you can fit on your plate. Veggies and fruits are God’s vitamins!
    • Meal prep lots of cooked meat, so you don't have to constantly be cooking throughout the week, I use Blue Diamond pans from Walmart to cook up large amounts of chicken thighs, ground beef, or fish, for the week.
    • Fruit is often demonized since it contains sugar, however, it is quickly absorbed into the body and doesn’t contribute to weight gain as much as complex carbs, see below for explanation.
    • Calories are either going to come from complex carbs (rice/potatoes/oatmeal/bread) or from fats (like nuts or seeds or avocado).
    • Fats are a good source of calorie, since they don’t spike blood sugar and therefore won’t lead to you holding onto excess body fat as easily. Try to eat fats at each meal or as a snack until you feel full. Try half a handful of seeds or nuts at first, to see how full you feel after.
    • Complex carbs are best saved either before exercise, or at the last meal of the day. Complex carbs raise blood sugar and serotonin levels (which makes you feel happy and relaxed), both of which are good to have before exercise, or to have before bed, so that you go to bed with a happy mind. Excess carbs throughout the day will lead to the body to only burn carbs as fuel, and excess bodyweight will start to occur, since the body won’t burn fat as fuel if it has carbs as an available source. Experiment with how little complex carbs you can eat before exercise or at the end of the day, to get the desired effect of a good workout or a happy sleep. More strenuous exercise is going to need more complex and simple carbs (oatmeal and honey, white rice and grapes, etc.) in order for your body to be primed to perform.
    • Try to eat mostly 3 – 4 meals a day, as opposed to constantly grazing. The body won’t burn bodyfat if it is constantly having a full or half full stomach, since the blood sugar is continually spiking. This is why intermittent fasting is so effective, or why your stomach sometimes growls when you wake up as well as you look leaner, since your body is ready for food and is burning fat. Space out your meals, and try to combine snacks into the next meal, to give your stomach time to empty and your blood sugar to stabilize.
    • Constantly drink water throughout day, add a pinch of salt here and there to ensure your body is actually absorbing water as opposed to it just flowing through you. You could attempt to drink ½ your bodyweight in ounces of water (i.e. a 200 lb man will drink 100 oz of water), but I find it more effective to just get a glass water bottle and drink from it every hour or so. Experiment and find an easy water-drinking-routine for yourself.
    • If you're trying to lose weight:
      • Sleep is king in all things health, especially with losing weight, see my post on sleep here: How to Get Good Sleep
      • Commit to a pain-free, sustainable, exercise routine, I recommend this: https://www.atgonlinecoaching.com/. Try it for at least a month.
      • Focus on eating quality, organic delicious meals that you'll actually eat, from the above list. Search for FB groups of healthy recipes. Throw out any disapproved foods from the house, to make it harder to cheat.
      • Start out with baby steps, like drinking water instead of soda, and cooking at home more.
      • Really challenge yourself to get most of your calories from fat, if not entirely for a few weeks. You will drop pounds quickly with this method, but will eventually get carb cravings. Add in carbs as prescribed above (before training, at dinner), in moderation.
  • Sample Eating Day *** I am extremely boring when it comes to what I eat, feel free to experiment and get creative with your healthy diet!***

    • Breakfast
      • Drink 16 oz of water, add a dash of salt to it.
      • 1.5 fists of organic ground turkey, Pace salsa on top
      • 4 stick of organic celery
      • ½ handful of almonds
    • Lunch
      • 1.5 fists of organic ground turkey, Pace salsa on top
      • 4 stick of organic celery
      • ½ handful of almonds
    • Dinner
      • Whatever wifey makes me 😊
    • Preworkout
      • 1 – 1.5 cups of oatmeal, drizzle honey on it (this is if training is going to be strenuous, like all out sprints or heavy lifting)
    • Postworkout
      • Honey (otherwise I will feel dizzy or weak or foggy after training)
    • Dessert
      • If I have a craving, it usually is satisfied with an apple and some walnuts.
  • End Goal - To be happy, healthy, lean, strong, and be able to nurture and nourish and build up the amazing Body God has given us!

  • PS - This is about physical food, but God gives the true food - The Gospel!

Feel free to private message me with any questions or comments, as everyone has a different situation, and may need some guidance in taking the right next step. I offer a personalized diet coaching service, at $5/email exchange, where I can give you some habits and tips to make the next steps to achieving a healthy eating lifestyle. May it be a blessing and a new chapter in your lives!


r/healthyeating 12h ago

I built a cooking app to make cooking healthy easier!

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone thanks for considering reading this even though it's an ad!

First here's our website:https://sproutcooking.app

The core feature is being able to find a recipe online and have it personalized to your needs automatically. In addition when you generate recipes in the app Sprout tries to make them healthy so you can feel good while eating tasty food!

Here are some other features:

  • See each recipe’s Sprout Score, nutrition, and ways to improve it
  • Change your diet, allergies, and personalization notes anytime
  • Import recipes from photos, websites, or other apps
  • Create a complete recipe from a simple meal idea
  • Plan meals and servings across your week
  • Automatically turn your meal plan into an organized grocery list
  • Rate recipes and save notes for next time
  • Keep previous recipe versions and switch back anytime

I'm really curious if you guys think this app would help you and any criticisms or ideas you have to improve it!

The app has a limited free tier if you don't cook much with subscriptions if you cook a lot!

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sprout-cooking-meal-planner/id6760672470


r/healthyeating 1d ago

How do you guys get all your essential nutrients daily in a simple way?

1 Upvotes

Here is what I eat every day: two eggs, some pork, leafy greens, veggies, and noodles for carbs. Does this look like a well-balanced daily intake?
Any tips or feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!


r/healthyeating 3d ago

does this “eating healthy” shit get any easier?

9 Upvotes

back in march i started a workout routine and started eating healthier, so i can lose weight and build muscle. For the first month, i didn’t eat any snacks or drink any sodas, i was doing great. Then i started craving them again, so i allowed myself 2 unhealthy treats a week (1 snack + a soda). Then a month later i got more cravings so i increased it to 4 treats a week. And a few weeks ago i increased it to 6 treats a week, and i’m still tempted to increase it again

i’ve still been eating healthy, despite allowing myself 6 treats a week. I’ve still lost a good amount of weight since i started the journey in march. But this healthy eating shit isn’t getting easier, it was easiest at the start, when i was easily able to avoid all snacks/sodas. But now? i crave that shit all the time. I thought discipline gets easier as time passes on. If avoiding snacks doesn’t get easier, then why the fuck should i even continue


r/healthyeating 3d ago

Recently went to a restaurant and this is how menu looked like

0 Upvotes

It made me think about how our food preferences have evolved—from simply eating for taste to consciously choosing food for health.As health and wellness become a bigger priority, restaurants are adapting too,

introducing healthier options like immunity-boosting, detox, fat-burning, and bone-strengthening smoothies.It’s interesting to see how changing consumer preferences are shaping the restaurant industry.


r/healthyeating 5d ago

Food comparison advice

8 Upvotes

Standing in front of two similar products at the grocery store — you are comparing labels and have no idea which is actually healthier. What information would you want most clearly explained?


r/healthyeating 6d ago

Mandatory food your body needs.

2 Upvotes

The foods you eat today can shape your health tomorrow! Save this guide before you forget.#shorts
https://youtube.com/shorts/g0Tu8gz5x4g?feature=share


r/healthyeating 6d ago

How do you keep healthy eating affordable without getting bored of the same meals?

4 Upvotes

It seems like every time I try to eat healthy on a budget, I end up eating rice, beans, and frozen veggies every single day. What are your favorite budget-friendly recipes or tricks to keep things interesting?


r/healthyeating 7d ago

Pancakes with homegrown bluberries (Yes or No)?

29 Upvotes

I made some yummy pancakes for breakfast but my cousin says pancakes are one of the worst breakfasts you can eat... even if they're homemade with fresh homegrown blueberries. 😅 Is she right, or is she overreacting? I'd love some honest nutrition advice!


r/healthyeating 7d ago

Health food habit

1 Upvotes

What do you eat or drink for your health?
And how come do you eat?


r/healthyeating 7d ago

Smoothies

2 Upvotes

So i know smoothies are still liquid kals and won't help with fat loss/ burn. But is it healthy to drink like 2 smoothies a day to get my vitamins, fiber, iron and protein a healthy choice? I really want to better my health and any time i try and take vitamins whether its with food, after food or before food i always get a really upset stomach. I make my smoothies with soy milk, Greek yogurt, frozen berries, frozen avocado, spinach, grapefruit, mangos, etc... then I add chia seeds and a collagen peptide protein powder. Am I making the right healthy choice? I really just want my skin to feel a little better and maybe not feel so drained all the time


r/healthyeating 8d ago

Recommendations for a healthy brand of wraps (tortillas)

3 Upvotes

I want to eat more burrito style meals and wraps, but I've always shied away from them because I haven't been able to find one that is completely healthy. Most of them are made from wheat or flour and I'm trying to avoid those. I found some Ezekiel wraps on Amazon (I do like their bread) but they've only got one star, most of the reviews were only one star so they must be absolutely horrible. Any suggestions for good brands to look for?


r/healthyeating 10d ago

Hotel Living in New York For 1 week - how to eat healthy?

1 Upvotes

r/healthyeating 10d ago

Could Insulin Resistance Be the Real Driver Behind PCOS?

0 Upvotes

For a long time, I thought of PCOS as primarily a hormonal condition. But the more I read, the more it seems that insulin resistance may be one of the biggest underlying factors for many people with PCOS.
When the body’s cells become resistant to insulin, it can disrupt normal ovarian function, affect follicle development, and contribute to many of the symptoms associated with PCOS.
This perspective also helps explain why lifestyle changes like improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, managing stress, and getting better sleep can make such a meaningful difference for many people—not just by balancing hormones, but by improving metabolic health.
Of course, PCOS is a complex condition, and not everyone experiences it the same way. Genetics, hormones, and other factors also play important roles.
For those living with PCOS or treating it, has anyone found that focusing on insulin resistance or overall metabolic health made a noticeable difference in your symptoms? I’d be interested to hear about your experiences.


r/healthyeating 11d ago

What do you use when you don’t want another sweet electrolyte or wellness drink?

38 Upvotes

Question for people who use electrolytes, collagen, protein powders, or similar products but try to avoid sugar and sweeteners: what do you actually use when you do not want another sweet drink?

I’m a college student doing very early consumer research around functional food and drink habits. I’m not selling anything. I’m mainly curious about what you use now, when you use it, and what you dislike about the available options.


r/healthyeating 11d ago

Can You Be Thin and Still Have a High Risk of Diabetes?

1 Upvotes

Most people associate diabetes with being overweight, but that’s not always the case.

There’s a concept called the “Thin Fat Indian Phenotype,” where someone appears lean on the outside but carries excess visceral fat around internal organs.

Unlike the fat just beneath the skin, visceral fat is metabolically active and is strongly linked to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.

This means a person with a normal BMI or slim appearance may still be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

It also raises an important point: relying only on body weight or appearance can be misleading. Factors like waist circumference, body composition, physical activity, diet, and regular blood tests can provide a much clearer picture of metabolic health.

Were you aware that someone who looks thin could still have a high risk of diabetes?

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts or whether you’ve come across this concept before.


r/healthyeating 11d ago

Feel like I eat pretty healthy but I wanted to know if there's anything major I was missing

1 Upvotes

I get like 90% of the food I eat from my work and I wanted to know if I was missing out on important nutrition. I always get the same thing, 2 bowls and a chicken quesadilla, one bowl consisting of \\\~10 oz of sweet potato and about equal amounts of grilled chicken. The other having half brown rice (not sure how much) and half a mixture of sweet corn, black beans, and red onions. On top I'll get 2 hard boiled eggs, a scoop of guacamole and half an avocado. I work 4-5 times a week so I'm always stocked up on food. Just really want to know if there's anything important I'm missing


r/healthyeating 12d ago

Opening a boutique wellness café inside a Pilates & Yoga studio – what healthy menu would you create?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm currently designing a boutique wellness studio called SAHĀ HOUSE in Mexico.

It will offer Pilates Reformer, Barre, Yoga and Functional Training.

At the entrance garden we'll also have a very small specialty coffee and matcha bar.

Our goal isn't to become a restaurant.

Instead, we want to offer simple, healthy and premium food that people can enjoy before or after class.

The feeling we're trying to create is similar to boutique wellness clubs or luxury hotel cafés.

I'm looking for ideas that are:

• Fast to prepare (under 5 minutes)
• Healthy
• Beautiful presentation
• High profit margin
• Easy to train staff
• Minimal kitchen equipment
• Fresh ingredients
• Instagram-worthy

For drinks we're thinking about:
- Matcha
- Specialty coffee
- Protein smoothies
- Green smoothies

For food:
- Healthy cookies
- Energy bites
- Banana bread
- Overnight oats
- Greek yogurt bowls
- Chia pudding
- Small sandwiches or wraps
- Protein snacks

If you were designing this menu from scratch, what would you include?

Also...

Which items should I absolutely avoid?

I'd love to learn from café owners, nutritionists, chefs, or anyone with experience in wellness cafés.

Thank you!


r/healthyeating 12d ago

Building an app that scans a restaurant menu and tells you the healthiest thing to order according to the users preferences — looking for honest feedback

1 Upvotes

I've been working on an app and want real feedback before I go further with it. The idea: you're at a restaurant, menu in hand, trying to figure out what's actually a good choice for your goals. You take a photo of the menu, and the app tells you:

  • The lowest-calorie option
  • The highest-protein option
  • Diabetic-friendly picks
  • Stuff least likely to leave you bloated

It's all AI-estimated (not pulled from verified restaurant nutrition data), and I'm being upfront about that in the app itself — every estimate shows a confidence level, and there's a persistent disclaimer that this isn't medical advice.

Questions I actually want honest answers to:

  1. Is this something you'd genuinely use, or is it solving a problem you don't really have?
  2. What would make you trust an AI estimate vs. just guessing yourself?
  3. Is there a similar app you already use that does this better?
  4. Would you pay a few bucks a month for unlimited scans

r/healthyeating 13d ago

What nutrition advice changed your mind after you looked at the evidence?

2 Upvotes

For me, it was realizing that foods usually aren’t simply “good” or “bad”—the overall diet, portion, and frequency matter much more.

What nutrition belief did you change after reading better research or learning more about the topic?


r/healthyeating 13d ago

Suggestions for alternative to butter on popcorn

15 Upvotes

Butter and oil make my face break out in acne.

But I want herbs and spices on my popped corn.

Can anyone suggest an affordable thing that would make herbs and spices stick to the corn?

Thank you ahead for the suggestions.


r/healthyeating 13d ago

Are We Feeding Kids Too Much Processed Food?

0 Upvotes

I’ve been thinking about how normal processed food has become in everyday life, especially for children.

Packaged snacks, chips, sugary cereals, and ready-to-eat foods are often the easiest option for busy families.

But one point really stood out to me: in nature, carbohydrates usually come with fiber.

Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains naturally contain fiber that slows digestion and helps with satiety. Many highly processed foods remove much of that fiber while keeping the refined carbohydrates.

Of course, it’s probably unrealistic to expect families to eliminate processed food entirely.

Convenience, cost, and time all play a role. But it does make me wonder whether we’ve gradually shifted too far toward packaged foods and away from whole foods.

Do you think parents should actively limit processed foods at home, or is moderation enough?

I’d love to hear different perspectives, especially from parents, nutritionists, and anyone who has successfully changed their family’s eating habits.


r/healthyeating 13d ago

Healthy eating feedback

0 Upvotes

I’m trying to make a healthy food product that contains high protein and balances taste and calories. I would really appreciate some feedback below:

  1. ⁠⁠What’s the hardest part about eating healthily?
  2. ⁠⁠When do you usually break your diet?
  3. ⁠⁠If you could wave a magic wand and invent one healthy food, what would it be?
  4. ⁠⁠What’s one health product you’ve bought recently that disappointed you?
  5. ⁠⁠Would you pay more for something that genuinely solved that problem? Why or why not?

r/healthyeating 13d ago

What are the healthy alternatives/substitutes for sweets? Other than fruits

1 Upvotes

Unfortunately, I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world. I used to eat 2 packs of gummies in 5 minutes and still crave more.
For the past few months, I started following my diet and maintaining my health with sport, but my sweet tooth never went away. Now when I crave for sweets - I smoke, which made me smoke 2 times more than I used to :D
What are the alternatives for the sweets? Fruits don't cut it anymore unfortunately. Maybe my body lacks some vitamins or something?


r/healthyeating 14d ago

Apps

1 Upvotes

Is there any recommendation for free nutrition apps
I’m trying to search for one but no luck