Gratitude for Everyday Health Wins

Friends. It’s the time of year for reflection and balance. Since food is such a large part of our lives and has such a great impact on our health outcomes, eating for gratitude should naturally take center stage. Gratitude for our family and friends, for our health and wellbeing, and for the food that nourishes our bodies.

Here are some ways to embrace the season, practice gratitude, and set autumn intentions to round out the year with grace and compassion for you and your fellow Carbonauts:

Celebrate Small Changes

Changes don’t have to be astronomical. In fact, small consistent changes are often more impactful and sustainable¹. Mindful choices, such as swapping traditional bread for low carb options can result in comet-sized effects!

These small decisions add up to huge health benefits over time, and there’s no better way to start with health than with the food we choose to consume.

Mindful Eating and Self-Care

Mindfulness has been defined as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally,”² and cultivating mindful eating habits is a great way to practice self-care.

“The practice of mindfulness has helped thousands of people to live more intentionally and develop the skills necessary to manage chronic pain, disease, depression, sleeping problems, and anxiety. It also has become the focus of an approach to eating that fulfills the criteria necessary in changing one’s overall approach to eating³.

Practice small rituals such as mindfully enjoying every bite, consciously thinking about savoring your food while chewing, and being consistently grateful for nourishing meals that align with your personal health goals.

All these practices add up to developing a positive and grateful relationship between you and your food!

Give Thanks for Your Support System

Appreciation for the solar (support) systems around you is another big way to practice fall gratitude. Family, friends, and communities or networks that inspire healthier choices contribute greatly to making the journey feel more connected and rewarding. If your partner or close friends aren’t aligned on the same healthy launchpad you are, try joining a Facebook group or making friends at the gym or local health food store.

The people we surround ourselves with are so important to our health success, and you are to theirs. In fact, “there is significant evidence that social support and feeling connected can help people maintain a healthy body mass index, control blood sugars, improve cancer survival, decrease cardiovascular mortality, decrease depressive symptoms, mitigate posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and improve overall mental health.”⁴

We’re all in this together!

Appreciate Progress, Not Perfection

Health journeys are ongoing and full of peaks and valleys. Try practicing gratitude for progress, whether it’s feeling more energized, hitting personal milestones, or simply enjoying a delicious, low carb meal. It’s important not to get hung up on a food slip or a missed workout—remember, it’s consistency that counts.⁵

You are what you consistently do! (And no one is perfect.)

Finding Joy in Healthy Living

Lastly, focus on finding joy and thankfulness in healthier alternatives that don’t feel like sacrifices but rather delicious, satisfying options. For example, our Carbonaut line of low carb products provide ALL the taste with low net carbs. Craving a bagel? Try our Lemon Blueberry Bagel. Want pizza? Try one of our low carb crusts! Need some granola for that yogurt?

No problem—we got you.

Health is not about sacrifice. It’s about finding joy in education, listening to your body, and satisfying your beautiful brain. It’s about making choices that you know will nourish your body and having the grace to let it go when you decide to eat cake. (Sidenote: Carbonaut has delicious low carb baking mixes, too!)

With healthier living comes a stronger body and mind, which is worth celebrating! By practicing gratitude for everyday health wins, YOU win.

Period.

We wish you a happy fall full of love and gratitude. What are YOU thankful for?

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1. Gardner, Benjamin et al. “Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice.” The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners vol. 62,605 (2012): 664-6. doi:10.3399/bjgp12X659466 ↩︎
2. Nelson, Joseph B. “Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat.” Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association vol. 30,3 (2017): 171-174. doi:10.2337/ds17-0015 ↩︎
3. Nelson, Joseph B. “Mindful Eating: The Art of Presence While You Eat.” Diabetes spectrum : a publication of the American Diabetes Association vol. 30,3 (2017): 171-174. doi:10.2337/ds17-0015 ↩︎
4. Martino, Jessica et al. “The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness.” American journal of lifestyle medicine vol. 11,6 466-475. 7 Oct. 2015, doi:10.1177/1559827615608788 ↩︎
5. Arlinghaus, Katherine R, and Craig A Johnston. “The Importance of Creating Habits and Routine.” American journal of lifestyle medicine vol. 13,2 142-144. 29 Dec. 2018, doi:10.1177/1559827618818044 ↩︎