If you're currently on one of OPTAVIA’s plans, you are doing your best to eat foods and Fuelings to lead you to lifelong healthy eating. Think of your meals and Fuelings as the foundation to making healthier food choices.

When grocery shopping, include options from these four food groups: lean protein, green vegetables and salad, healthy snacks and condiments, and healthy fats and oils. Ensure you refer to your OPTAVIA Guide for a list of acceptable foods, condiments and serving sizes before heading to the store.

Here are some additional healthy eating hacks:

• Lean protein. To keep fat content low, it’s best to grill, bake, broil or poach your lean protein selections. Due to saturated fat, it’s important to moderate your consumption of red meat and eat more fish and white-meat poultry like chicken. If you’d like to eliminate or reduce the amount of meat you eat, try egg whites, liquid egg substitute or tofu.
  • Food for thought:Choosing fish as your protein one to three times per week can have a profound impact on your long-term wellbeing.
• Healthy fats and oils. Replace unhealthy fats with healthy omegas as part of your Lean & Green meals. Some healthy examples include walnut or olive oil, low-carbohydrate salad dressing, black or green olives and avocado.
  • Food for thought:Make marinades for meats, salad or snacks at home so you are aware of every ingredient that is added.
• Green vegetables and salad. During fat-burn, it’s important to avoid fruit altogether, as it tends to be high in carbohydrates. Instead, focus on choosing nutrient-dense and low-glycemic green vegetables, like iceberg lettuce, cucumber and celery.
  • Food for thought: Prepare raw veggies in advance and store them in sealable bags for a green for your Lean & Green meal!
• Healthy snacks and condiments. Use condiments to add some flavor to your meals, but keep in mind that they contribute to your carb intake. You can enjoy up to three condiments per Lean & Green meal. Each condiment serving should contain no more than one gram of carbohydrate.
  • Food for thought:You may have up to one optional snack per day on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan®. Examples of optional snacks include OPTAVIA snacks, 3 celery stalks, 2 dill pickle spears or up to 3 pieces of sugar-free gum.

Connect with me for other tips for lifelong healthy eating on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, Making a Healthy Lifestyle Second Nature.

On the path to making healthy a lifestyle second nature, two crucial pillars stand tall: growth and gratitude. They intertwine to shape our journey toward a brighter, healthier future.

Growth is the continuous journey of progress, embracing challenges and stepping beyond our comfort zones. It manifests in physical progress, as we witness changes in our bodies through healthier habits. It's also evident in the expansion of nutritional knowledge, empowering us to make informed choices. Furthermore, growth extends to emotional resilience, helping us navigate the highs and lows of our journey with grace.

Gratitude is key to feeling fulfilled, shifting our focus from scarcity to abundance. It prompts us to appreciate our progress, cherish our community and integrate mindfulness into our daily lives.

As we progress through your OPTAVIA journey together, let’s celebrate each small victory and big achievement. Continue to lean on your supportive community and practice mindfulness and gratitude to fuel your commitment to lifelong transformation.

Crawling Through Thorns to Dance in the Meadowse

Amy felt like a prisoner in her own mind and did not have the tools to break free from a crippling unhealthy lifestyle. For much of her life, her thoughts and actions led her to believe she was a victim. Amy recalls, “The only 'WHY' I could identify with, was 'Why me?'”.

Amy’s life was changed forever, when she tragically lost her best friend and roommate to a drunk driving accident. In her darkest moment, food and sleep were sources of comfort and security. What seemed like overnight, Amy woke up heavier and discovered she was pregnant. After delivering a healthy baby, Amy’s “WHY” was redefined as she found herself in the new role of single mom.

“I couldn’t shake the idea that one day my story may inspire and impact lives.”

Amy was introduced to OPTAVIA and decided to give it a try. She was impressed by her results.. She was also sleeping better, waking up early and ditching her “mean girl” attitude – and even became an independent OPTAVIA Coach herself.

“With the support of my OPTAVIA Coach, I was committed to not giving up. I knew I HAD something people needed.”

Amy found strength in being vulnerable, authentic and transparent. She learned the importance of fostering relationships. “The more I shared my story, the better I became at relating to and coaching my Clients; together, we would find freedom by embracing discipline.”

Amy crawled through the hardships of life so she could dance in the meadow of healthy living with the help of OPTAVIA.

“Had I not experienced the hurts and unhealthiness of my past, I wouldn't appreciate, nor could I achieve, the attainable reality of Lifelong Transformation, making healthy habits second nature.”