- Eat a variety of foods
- Base your diet on plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates
- Replace saturated with unsaturated fat
- Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Reduce salt and sugar intake
- Eat regularly, control the portion size
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Get on the move, make it a habit!
- Start now! And keep changing gradually.
1. Eat a variety of foods
We require more than 40 distinct nutrients for optimal health, and no single diet can also provide them all. It’s not about a single meal; it’s about making the good diet selection over time that will make a difference!
We require more than 40 distinct nutrients for healthy health, and no single diet can provide them all. It’s not about a single meal; it’s about making a well-balanced diet selection over time that will make a difference!
- After a high-fat lunch, a low-fat dinner could be offered.
- Probably fish should be the next day’s meal after a big beef portion at dinner?
- Include a lot of carbohydrate-rich items in your diet.
- After a large meat portion at dinner, perhaps fish should be the next day’s choice?
2. Base your diet on plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates
Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, should account for about half of the calories in our diet. At least one of these should be served at each meal. Fibre intake will be increased by eating wholegrain meals such as wholegrain bread, pasta, and cereals.
3. Replace saturated with unsaturated fat
Fats are necessary for good health and proper physiological function. Too much of it, on the other hand, can have a bad impact on our weight and cardiovascular health. Distinct types of fats have different health consequences, and some of these suggestions may help us maintain the proper balance:
- Total and saturated fats (typically found in animal-based foods) should be limited, and trans fats should be avoided entirely; reading labels can assist identify the sources.
- Fish 2-3 times a week, including at least one dish of fatty fish, can help us get the correct amount of unsaturated fats in our diet.
- Instead of frying, we could boil, steam, or bake our food, removing the fatty component of the meat and using vegetable oils.
4. Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are among the most important foods for supplying us with enough amounts of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. At least 5 servings per day should be our goal. For example, a glass of fresh fruit juice for breakfast, an apple and a piece of watermelon as snacks, and a variety of veggies at each meal.
5. Reduce salt and sugar intake
High salt consumption can raise blood pressure and raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. Salt can be reduced in the diet in a variety of ways:
- We could choose products with lesser salt content when shopping.
- Spices can be used in place of salt in cooking to increase the range of flavours and tastes.
- It’s best not to have salt on the table when you’re eating, or at least not to add salt before tasting.
Sugar gives sweetness and a pleasing flavour, but sugary foods and beverages are high in energy and should be consumed in moderation as a pleasure. Instead, we may use fruits to sweeten our foods and beverages.
6. Eat regularly, control the portion size
The greatest formula for a healthy diet is to eat a variety of meals on a regular basis and in the proper amounts.
Skipping meals, particularly breakfast, can lead to uncontrollable hunger and uncontrolled overeating. Snacking in between meals can help with hunger control, but it should not be used to replace full meals. We might eat yoghurt, a handful of fresh or dried fruits or vegetables (such as carrot sticks), unsalted nuts, or bread with cheese as snacks.
- Paying attention to portion size will help us avoid consuming too many calories while also allowing us to eat all of the foods we enjoy without having to give up any.
- It’s easy to avoid overeating if you cook the correct amount.
- 100 g of meat, one medium piece of fruit, and half a cup of raw pasta are all suitable serving amounts.
- Using smaller dishes makes it easier to serve lesser portions.
- Portion control could be aided by packaged goods that list calorie counts.
- If we go out to dine, we could split a meal with a friend.
7. Drink plenty of fluids
Adults must consume at least 1.5 litres of water every day! Or even more if it’s extremely hot outside or they’re actively active. Water is, of course, the best source; we can use tap or mineral water, sparkling or non-sparkling, plain or flavorful. Fruit juices, tea, soft drinks, milk, and other beverages are all OK – on occasion.
8. Maintain a healthy body weight
Gender, height, age, and genetics all play a role in determining our ideal weight. Obesity and overweight people are at a higher risk for a variety of ailments, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Excess body fat is the result of eating more than we require. Extra calories can be obtained from any caloric food, including protein, fat, carbohydrate, and alcohol, although fat is the most concentrated source of energy.
Physical activity allows us to expend energy while also making us feel good. The message is straightforward: if we are gaining weight, we must eat less and exercise more!
9. Get on the move, make it a habit!
Physical activity is beneficial to people of all sizes and health issues. It aids in the burning of excess calories, is beneficial to the heart and circulatory system, preserves or grows muscular mass, aids in concentration, and enhances general health and well-being. We don’t have to be Olympic athletes to begin moving! 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week is recommended, and it may simply be included into our everyday routine. We could all:
- Instead of taking the elevator, take the steps.
- During lunch breaks, go for a walk (and stretch in our offices in between)
- create time for a weekend activity with the family
10. Start now! And the changes will continue to be incremental.
Major lifestyle changes introduced all at once are more difficult to maintain than gradual improvements. For three days, we could keep track of everything we ate and drank during the day, as well as how much exercise we got in. It will not be difficult to identify areas where we can improve:
- Why are you skipping breakfast? A little bowl of muesli, a piece of bread, or some fruit could help us get into it gradually.
- Is there a lack of fruits and vegetables in your diet? To begin, we can add one additional piece per day.
- What are your favourite high-fat foods? Eliminating them all at once may have the opposite effect, causing us to revert to our previous patterns.
- Instead, we might consume low-fat foods less frequently and in smaller portions.
- Is there a lack of activity? Taking the stairs on a daily basis could be a good start.