Eating healthy is something we all know we should be doing – but let’s face it, it’s a lot of effort. Right? Wrong. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, there are plenty of small changes you can make to your current lifestyle that can make a big difference on your overall habits and health.
The following tips from GoodnessMe will help you get your healthy eating in check, so you can enjoy delicious food that’s also good for you!
Understand Your Food
The first step to eating better is understanding why it’s necessary. By eating wholesome foods, you nourish your body with nutrient-dense foods that, in turn, will help you to grow, stay strong and achieve your health goals. A balanced diet ensures you are getting enough vitamins and nutrients, which are essential to keep your immune system, body and mind operating efficiently. It can help to reduce the chance of heart disease and can improve your brain function and mood. Not to mention, a balanced diet will help you perform better physically and mentally.
Know What You Need To Eat
Every day, you should try to include the five basic food groups into your diet. This includes at least five serves of fruit and veggies each day, six serves of grains, 3 serves of protein (meat and seeds), and 3 serves of dairy. To do this, you could start the day with a milk and fruit smoothie, add some banana, melon, strawberries. Follow it up with smashed avo and eggs on toast. A chicken and salad wrap for lunch. Nuts and yoghurt as a snack. And steak with vegetables and potatoes for dinner.
Choose Wisely
Swap highly processed foods for whole-food alternatives. Rather than frozen pizza, do it yourself! Make your own dough or use a wholegrain wrap as the base instead. Add plenty of fresh vegetables for toppings, including nuts and leafy greens, and get your protein kick with some poached chicken or shredded lamb. Delicious! If you need to buy packaged food, opt for foods that contain REAL food ingredients aka, ingredients that you can actually recognise on the nutritional panel.
Have snacks handy
Keep snacks nearby at all times – and make sure they’re healthy. Nuts and dried berries can be kept in a jar beside your desk, natural muesli bars on the shelf and fruit in a basket on the kitchen counter. You’re less likely to snack on things that aren’t great, if you have the right food in front of you. And don’t be afraid to try new things! A great way to test out the latest healthy snacks is to sign up for a GoodnessMe Box, delivering a range of delicious, nutritious and all-natural treats that are curated to your dietary requirements and delivered to your doorstep. Discover what’s new in the supermarkets and to test a variety of products to see what you like before you pay full price.
Ditch the sugar drinks!
According to a study of over 450,000 people, those who drank two or more glasses of soft drink each day were more likely to die from digestive disorders and cardiovascular disease than those who drank one glass per month. And it’s not just soft drinks doing damage, typical energy drink has around 40g of sugar, compared to soft drinks at around 30-35g per can, and water at 0g.
Increase your water
Although the amount of water varies between individuals and is dependent on climate and activity levels, you need to be drinking at least two litres of water per day! By drinking water, you’ll also snack less – as dehydration can actually be the reason you’re feeling hungry. And if you struggle to drink that much water, consider adding some berries or citrus fruit for an extra antioxidant hit or sparkling mineral water as an alternative. Much better for you! Did we mention that herbal teas also count towards your water intake?
The most important thing to remember is that eating healthy isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle. Start with small, achievable changes that will be long- lasting. You’ll feel better for it!
