How to Face Food and Fitness Challenges During COVID-19

If anyone had told us a year ago that we would be facing a global pandemic – one that would cause the entire world to go on lockdown – no one would have believed it. But here we are.

While some states have begun to reopen, there are still many areas where children are not going to school and adults are still working remotely. Without question, this disruption in our day-to-day lives has caused many people to make poor food and fitness choices.

How to Make Better Food Choices

Eating healthy can be challenging on its own, but couple that will seclusion at home and the added stress we’ve all been feeling for months – stress that BEGS us to eat comfort foods – and you can see how many of our food choices have taken a nosedive.

Here are some ways you can begin to make better food choices during the pandemic:

Plan Your Groceries Carefully

You may have given yourself and your family some leeway these past months when buying groceries. Did you allow more processed garbage into your home because, after all, we’re dealing with a pandemic, and Doritos and cookies help you cope?

If so, it’s time to buckle down and start shopping better. If you don’t allow junk food into the house, you won’t be as tempted to eat it. Do your best to buy fewer processed foods and more wholesome, organic foods.

Try a Healthy Meal Delivery Service

Parents have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic. Many have had to work from home while at the same time teach their children. Not so easy. This has, no doubt, caused many people to order in pizza and other potentially not-so-healthy foods. Who has time to cook?!

If you do need some help preparing your meals, it is a much better idea to sign up for a HEALTHY meal delivery service. There are plenty of options out there to choose from, a simple Google search will turn up numerous companies who cater to those who don’t have time to cook but want to eat healthily!

Deal with Your Emotions

None of us had time to prepare for this pandemic. One day life was normal and the next, chaos and fear. All of this fear and stress caused us to make unhealthy choices.

While things are still a bit rough, now is the time to take stock in our feelings and process them. Ignoring emotions will only cause them to fester and keep that sugar-craving junkie monkey on our back.

How to Make Better Fitness Choices

Obviously, self-isolation means far fewer opportunities to be physically active. Gyms have been closed. Heck, even some beaches and public parks have been closed.

So what’s a person to do? I mean, science has shown exercise is important to keep our immune systems running optimally.

Well, there are actually numerous fitness opportunities for you right at home.

Stand While Working

Sitting is bad for us anyway, so why not stand while you work? There are standing desks you can purchase to help you with this, or you can create your own standing workstation (wire shelving units work well for this).

Got Stairs?

If you live in an apartment complex, avoid using the elevator and take the stairs instead. Live in a house with stairs? Walk up and down them quickly for 1 minute, rest, and repeat. Do this a few times a day.

Do Body Weight Exercises

Some of the absolute BEST exercises you can do require no equipment. Planks, push-ups, sit-ups, and squats require only your body weight and a willingness to commit to the routine.

The pandemic hasn’t been much fun for anyone. And it’s no doubt taken a toll on many of us regarding our health. Now is the time to get back into shape and make better food and fitness choices.

SOURCES:

• https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-during-covid-19-improve-your-mood-and-lower-stress-2020040719409
• https://nutrition.org/how-to-stay-fit-and-healthy-during-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/
• https://theconversation.com/how-to-stay-fit-and-active-at-home-during-the-coronavirus-self-isolation-134044