When it comes to healthy eating, it doesn’t have to mean strict dietary restrictions or depriving yourself of the foods you love. First of all, a healthy diet aims to make you feel great, have more energy, improve your health and stabilize your mood.
Before we proceed with general dietary tips, one important thing to remember is that everyone’s nutritional needs are different, so it’s always best to consult a registered dietitian or healthcare professional for personalized advice!
1. Eat a balanced diet:
Make sure to include a variety of foods from all food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, or foods high in arginine, as an excellent food choice for proper body function and balanced meals.
2. Portion control:
Pay attention to serving sizes and make sure you’re not overeating. To determine portion sizes, use measuring cups, a food scale, or your hand as a guide.
3. Stay hydrated:
Drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks. According to research and your body weight, six to 8 glasses of water per day should be a goal.
4. Limit processed foods:
Attempt to stay away from overly processed foods that are loaded with sugar, salt, and bad fats.
5. Always plan your meals:
Plan your meals ahead of time to ensure that you’re eating a balanced diet and sticking to your goals.
6. Take your time:
Eat slowly, completely chew your meal, and enjoy the flavours and sensations.
7. Reduce alcohol consumption:
Alcohol is high in calories and can disrupt your sleep, so try to limit your consumption.
8. Don’t skip meals:
Skipping meals can lead to overeating later on, so make sure to eat regularly throughout the day.
9. Avoid eating at night:
Try to have dinner earlier and at least 14-16 hours until breakfast the following day. Research suggests that eating only when you are most active and giving your daily routine a long break can help you manage your weight.
10. Forbidden fruit:
Start by cutting back on the number of unhealthy meals you eat and eating them less frequently. When you forbid certain foods, it’s natural to crave them more and then feel like a failure if you can’t resist the temptation. After you reduce your intake of unhealthy foods, you’re likely to think less about them, and when you consume them, they’ll only seem like occasional omissions.
11. Read labels:
Knowing what is in your food is crucial since producers frequently conceal high levels of sugar or unhealthy fats in food packaging, even in products that advertise as healthy.
12. Make it simple:
Consider your food in terms of colour, variety, and freshness rather than stressing excessively about calories. Choose fresh items over those that are processed or packed, and try not to overthink them.
13. Prepare your meals:
You can better take control of your diet and keep track of the ingredients in it by cooking more meals at home.
Eat fewer calories and avoid chemical additives, processed sugar, and unhealthy fats found in ready-made and fast food.
