Evolve Health

Add Some Spice to Your Food
It's easy to get into a diet rut, even if you are loading up on flavorful fruits and vegetables. Having plenty of spices, fresh herbs, and citrus can help.
Some spices you may consider using include:
Bay leaf
Cayenne pepper
Chili powder
Cinnamon
Garlic powder
Oregano
Paprika
Thyme
Tumeric

Some Days You’re Doing Your Best, Even If It Doesn’t Look Like It

Not every healthy day looks the same. Some days you eat well, move your body, feel motivated. Other days you just get through work, come home tired, and sit quietly doing nothing — and that’s still okay.

Health isn’t about being perfect every day. It’s about showing up in whatever way you can. Drinking water when you remember. Taking a short walk when your head feels heavy. Choosing rest when your body asks for it.

Progress doesn’t always look active. Sometimes it looks like patience. And sometimes, just surviving the day is enough.

Run Prepared
Whenever you go for a run—on a track or trail or during a race—make sure you have packed these key staples:
Cell phone, if you do not mind holding onto it
Music player
RoadID (a bracelet that includes all your vital info)
Sunglasses if it's sunny outside to reduce glare and decrease squinting
Watch or GPS tracker to log your total time

Plan Your Runs Ahead of Time
It's important to plan out what you are going to eat the morning of when you have a 5K or 10K (or just a regular run) on your calendar. Choose something that will keep you fueled and go down easy.
Everyone is different, but "we [tend to] have good luck with a high-carbohydrate breakfast, such as a small bowl of oatmeal with fruit or a couple of pieces of toast with peanut butter or cream cheese," Andrew Kastor, an ASICS running coach, told Health. Kastor also advised that you eat around 200-250 calories about 90 minutes before you warm up for your run.
Do not worry about nixing caffeine on race day. Caffeine makes you sharper and may even give you extended energy.

Curb Your Sweet Tooth
Cutting down on added sugar can assist you with weight loss. People who consume less sugar have been shown to have less excess weight.
Natural sugar is found in fruits, which also provide essential nutrients. You can enjoy a sliced apple with a tablespoon of nut butter (like peanut or almond) or fresh fig halves spread with ricotta.