The Keys to Reaching Your Nutrition Goals

Proper nutrition can prevent chronic diseases, improve mental health, boost energy levels and enhance quality of life. Nutrition goals provide direction and guidance for getting the nutrients you need for healthy living. They also help track and measure your progress and success.

Here are five ways to set reasonable nutrition goals for your daily routine and budget.

1. Analyze your eating habits.

Before setting goals, consider your eating habits, meal prep time and food budget. First, write down what you spend on groceries and what you eat for a week. Then, create goals based on that so you’ll know where changes can be made to match your needs.

2. Start small.

Start with one or two goals you feel confident in achieving, and as they become habits, gradually add more. For example, start with a goal to include one serving of vegetables at lunch and dinner. Once you’ve mastered that, increase your amount of protein for each meal. This lets you build on your progress over time without feeling overwhelmed. Small, manageable changes can add up, leading to improvements in your overall nutrition.

3. Prep meals in advance.

Between ministering, family commitments and social activities, meal preparation can get pushed to the back burner. Meal prep helps you plan healthy meals, save time and reduce stress during busy weeks. Here are a few ways you can eat nutritious meals even on a tight schedule:¹

• Cook in bulk: Set aside time during a less busy day to cook meals in bulk. The time spent here will be worth it throughout the rest of the week. Store your food in containers so you have ready-to-eat meals for days to come.
• Make slow cooker or multicooker meals: This allows you to quickly prepare ingredients in the morning so a healthy meal is ready at the end of a busy day.
• Prepare quick, nutritious snacks: Have easy, healthy snacks on hand to avoid the urge to eat fast food or vending machine snacks. For example, wash and cut fresh vegetables and fruit and divide them into small containers. You can also portion trail mix into plastic baggies for when you are on the go.

4. Eat on a budget.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s possible to make better choices while sticking to a budget. Instead of dining out, save money by cooking at home. This allows you to choose your meal sizes and ingredients, which helps improve your health and finances. Here are some tips to help you stretch your money without losing nutritional value:²

• Check out weekly sales and seasonal produce.
• Buy meat and nonperishable foods in bulk.
• Avoid high-ticket ultra-processed foods, like premade meals.

5. Don’t hesitate to adjust.

Life comes with unexpected changes, so give yourself permission to adjust your goals. If some goals seem impossible — whether due to changes in your schedule or financial challenges — don’t hesitate to make changes. The key is to stay flexible and continue making progress. Take some time to see what’s working and what’s not.

Build Lasting, Healthy Habits

To meet your nutrition goals, stay focused on consistency and progress rather than perfection. With patience and persistence, small changes will eventually become lasting habits that support a healthier life that can improve your well-being and resilience in ministry.

At GuideStone^®, we advocate for your health with tips on setting fitness goals, managing your weight and taking advantage of preventive care. For more information about health plans designed for ministry, contact us at Insurance@GuideStone.org or 1-844-INS-GUIDE (1-844-467-4843), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

GuideStone welcomes the opportunity to share this general information. However, this article is not intended to be relied upon as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

¹Health.ClevelandClinic.org/a-beginners-guide-to-healthy-meal-prep
²NutritionSource.hsph.harvard.edu/strategies-nutrition-budget/