Consistently eating in a healthy and nourishing way is key to maintaining a healthy weight, sustaining stable moods and reducing the risk of illness. It can be challenging with so many tasty but empty foods available to us, but it can be done!
Here are some simple ways you can stick to a healthy diet:
Be prepared – plan your weekly meals and snacks and then grocery shop accordingly so you are organised with nutritious options.
Don’t buy food that is devoid of nutrients – save the chips, biscuits and lollies for parties. If it’s not in your pantry or fridge, it’s not a lazy, available, option!
Make your first meal of the day one that includes protein, carbohydrate and healthy fats. This helps you maintain stable blood sugar levels and makes you less likely to overeat for the rest of the day.
Keep healthy high protein snack options on hand so you can reach for something nourishing when you are hungry. This goes for when you are out and about too. Having a container of nuts, seeds and dried fruit with you is a good choice.
Many herbal teas can be enjoyed hot or cold (eg. peppermint and green tea). Try adding lime or frozen berries to plain or sparkling water to add some flavour.
When you are eating out, go for the option with the most vegetables and the least saturated fat and sugar. Think steak with steamed vegetables or salad, rather than steak with chips! Or eggs with spinach rather than waffles with icecream.
Eat mindfully – remove distractions like the TV and social media and focus on what you are eating, how it makes you feel, and how it is nourishing and fuelling your body.
If you feel sick or headachy after you’ve eaten, then consider what you’ve had and rethink your choices accordingly.
Get enough sleep – when you are tired, you are more likely to make poor choices and reach for empty carbohydrates and sugar.
Be flexible but sensible – aim for at least 90% healthy nourishing foods every day but if you slip don’t punish yourself or give up. Make the next thing you eat a good choice. And the next…