Need An Easy Way To Start Eating Healthy?
Simple healthy eating tips to get you started on your journey to good health. We all know that what we eat affects our health. So how do you establish healthy eating habits? Healthy eating is not about losing weight or being skinny, but it is about enjoying your food and obtaining the most out of each meal. You can’t achieve good health overnight. However it is not impossible. Just follow this simple advice on how to eat healthy.
Here Are 10 Easy Healthy Eating Tips:
1. Balance your foods
Try to eat foods from all the different food groups in the healthy eating pyramid. It’s all about eating a whole range of nutritious food. Healthy food choices include vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, lean protein, dairy and healthy fats. To have a healthy diet you need to get as many nutrients as you can from your food, in order to protect yourself from disease. In the beginning you may not be aware of what nutrients are found in what foods. One of the best healthy eating tips is that as a rule of thumb,the more colours you have on your plate, the more vitamins and minerals you are likely to obtain. Balance your intake for one day with foods containing different nutrients the next day. Do not completely eliminate any foods from your diet unless you are allergic to them.
2. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains
The healthiest foods to eat at those that are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Fibre is useful in keeping your cholesterol levels low and cleaning out the intestinal tract. Vitamins and minerals are required by the most basic of metabolic processes in the body. Wholegrains are complex carbohydrates and contain more fibre and complex sugars than simple carbohydrates. Examples are bran, oats and brown rice. Fruits and vegetables are also fibre-rich and contain more nutrients calorie for calorie than most other foods. Most healthy eating tips from health authorities include eating at least 2 to 3 servings of fruit, and 5 of vegetables every day.
3. Moderate your portions.
If you don’t need it, don’t eat it. Most people eat larger portions than required. However, if you choose highly nutritious foods you will find that you are satisfied with smaller portions. Chew your food properly and enjoy the taste of the bite before you swallow it. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten how to eat! In the rushed world that we live in, with take-outs becoming a habit we tend to eat out more and more. Restaurants serve huge portions and we now have a distorted idea of how much food to eat. Eating right is not only about what we eat, but also about how much to eat.
4. Avoid eating fast foods.
We all know that fast foods are bad for us. They are loaded with salt, sugar and bad fats that have low nutritional value. While they may put an end to your hunger, they are of no benefit to your body. Rather than eat fast foods, make as many meals at home as you can from fresh produce and ingredients. There are many easy recipes that you can use to whip up a meal in less than half an hour. With good planning you could avoid fast foods most of the time. Always carry your own source of healthy food snacks, such as nuts and fruit so you don’t succumb to the temptation of filling up on fast food when you’re hungry.
5. Choose low fat foods.
The average diet contains more fat than our body requires. From the many healthy eating tips you will come across, this is an important one to note as fats are caloric dense. Opt for low fat or even no-fat foods when you can. This will help balance the foods that are higher in fats. This is not to say that all fat is bad. Fats carry flavour and are necessary for many vital bodily functions. The key is to choose healthy fats. Unsaturated fats like those found in olive oil, avocados and nuts are good for you, while saturated fats are bad for you. Examples of these are butter, cheese, palm oils and animal fats. So, keep these types of food to a minimum for a healthy diet.
6. Eat at regular intervals.
Timing of your meals is as important as making healthy choices. Eat at regular intervals so that your blood glucose does not drop to unhealthy levels. You are at higher risk of diabetes if you allow your blood glucose levels to constantly fluctuate. Eating a healthy snack when you’re hungry will keep you blood sugar levels in control. Furthermore, it will be more difficult to make healthy food choices when you are very hungry. Enjoy your food, take your time and pay attention to the taste and texture of your meal so you feel satisfied and full.
7. Drink water.
It’s important to keep yourself hydrated. There are many benefits of drinking water. Water is appetite suppressant. Often, when we think we’re hungry, we’re simple thirsty. Try drinking some water the next time you’re feeling hungry. You may well find that you don’t need to eat right away. You will do well to avoid fizzy and sugary drinks in your diet and replace these with water.
8. Plan your meals.
Make a weekly menu before you do your grocery shopping. Healthy meal plans made in advance can take some time, however they are well worth the effort. You will can save yourself a great deal of stress by knowing in advance what you will be cooking for the week. You can stock up your pantry beforehand with healthy foods that are readily available at your local store. Furthermore, you can vary the nightly menu and include a range of different nutritious healthy foods for the week.
9. Make room for treats.
Be realistic in your goals. We’re all human, and sometimes we crave foods that are high in sugar or fat. There is no harm in occasionally treating yourself to a little desert or piece of chocolate! The key is to make up for it by cutting out some of the other fat or carbohydrate in the day. Also, limit your portion and don’t make it a habit! The best course is the middle road. There’s little value in being overly strict, simply to fall off the rails because it’s too hard to keep up.
10. Learn about food labels.
Read the label at the back of products when grocery shopping and become familiar with the ingredients in pre-packaged foods. In this way, you can avoid products loaded with fats and sugars. Food labels can be confusing, so teach yourself how to read them so that you can make an informed choice about the healthiest foods to eat.
In conclusion, you can learn how to start eating healthy by following these healthy eating tips and making them a part of your decisions about food.