Of course, we always recommend trying to eat as intuitively as possible in the first place. Tune in to your body’s needs, and eat as mindfully as possible (read: scarfing down anything while watching TV or scrolling Instagram isn’t doing you any favors). For more on mindful eating, check out this post. We also recognize, though, that no one can be perfect all the time, and for those less-than-ideal moments, it’s best to be armed with a plan of action. Nielsen recommends making sure your plate is filled with at least half colorful veggies, with 20 grams of protein (she loves high-fiber plant proteins like raw pumpkin seeds or lentils). For good fat, Nielsen loves avocado. “You could also make a beautiful chickpea scramble or a smoothie with plenty of greens, a good plant-based protein powder, and hemp hearts,” she says. “To help ameliorate the damage, make sure you pile your plate with anti-inflammatory all-stars at your next couple of meals,” recommends Nielsen. “Feast on cruciferous veg like kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower; add plenty of turmeric and ginger to your meals or drinks; include a couple of servings of omega-3-rich seeds such as ground flax or hemp.” Even better? You can stave off sweets cravings by loading up on nature’s own super anti-inflammatory candy. “Berries are packed with anti-inflammatory flavonoids and perfect for satisfying any residual sugar desires,” says Nielsen.
