3 Easy Tips to Inspire Healthy Eating Habits

Are you confused about what you should eat? You’re not alone. It seems like the pendulum is constantly swinging on food staples like dairy, eggs, nuts… What about red meat? Is it okay once a week, once a month, never? 

No wonder many feel like throwing their hands in the air and giving up on ever figuring it out. If you feel like that sometimes, don’t worry, we’re not going to take you on a guilt trip or throw a lot of depressing statistics your way, we believe there has to be a better way.

Our President, Jonah Alves, did a great job of summing up Toby’s Family Foods approach to food recently. He said…

“We are idealists. We believe food is our health insurance. We would like to see everyone eat more plant based foods. We believe the world would be better for it. But we are also realists. We understand the benefits of eating naturally raised dairy, eggs and meat in moderation. Our goal is to provide a pathway to a better diet by inspiring the vegan and the carnivore alike to eat better and feel better.”

So what inspires people to eat better?

Great tasting, nutritious food provides the inspiration we need! That may seem simple, but when we shift the focus from what we shouldn’t eat to what we should eat, all of sudden we feel a lot more empowered by our choices. 

We appreciated the advice in a recent article in Harvard Health by nutrition specialist, Emily Gelsomin. She said, “Unfortunately, outlining the health hazards of red and processed meat sends a negative message and misses the bigger picture: many of us simply do not eat enough protective foods, and eating less meat would allow space for the foods we are neglecting.”

What foods are many of us neglecting?

Plant-based foods don’t fill up enough space on our plates. According to the USDA, the majority of Americans don’t eat the recommended amount of vegetables per day. We also aren’t eating enough legumes, like beans and lentils.

So instead of thinking less meat, less sugar, less processed food, start thinking more whole grains, more vegetables, more plant-based proteins. Remember food is our life insurance, simple changes can help you not only live longer but enjoy life longer too!

Let’s get some practical, real-life inspiration from our founder, Toby Alves:

1. Add flavor. That’s what Toby did when trying to get her kids to eat tofu! She came up with Toby’s Seasoning Mix, nutritional yeast with a delicious infusion of Mexican and Indian spices. Her “Tofu Tia” tacos were legendary at the local Saturday Market. Get the recipe for Toby’s Perfectly Seasoned Tofu.
2. Include dip. Toby’s dressing and dips were created as part of her mission to make veggies irresistible to her kids. And trust us — this works! Whether you dip it, dunk it, or spoon it on, your tastebuds will sing from the taste and creamy consistency of Toby’s Dressings & Dips. That plate of veggies will be gone in a flash!
3. Make it easy. As a single working mom with three kids, Toby needed a protein-packed snack that was convenient and versatile. So she came up with her Original Dip & Spread that’s “Good on Anything”! The lesson? Life is busy, but good nutrition doesn’t have to be a chore. 

If you’re looking for even more inspiration, join our family! Stay up-to-date with Toby’s fun new recipes, product specials and savings, and news for food-lovers by signing up for our newsletter!