A national health survey revealed that one in two Brits don’t eat healthy meals because they find healthy food boring. And even if people try to observe a healthy diet, the majority of these individuals end up going back to their old eating habits after an average of three months because they eventually tire of the restrictive approach they were following.
However, healthy eating habits don't have to be boring, bland, or restrictive. As a matter of fact, you don’t necessarily need to deprive yourself of any of the foods you love to have a healthy diet. To actually start eating healthily, it's better to think of what you can do versus what you can't. In line with this, here are four easy ways that you can start eating healthy without any deprivation.
Add more greens to your plate
Although all vegetables are good for your body, it’s best to include more green vegetables in your diet since they contain the most nutrients. These include vitamins K, C, and E and minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Aside from being nutrient-dense, they also have the least amount of calories, allowing you to munch on them as much as you want without feeling guilty. On top of this, the fibre and water content in leafy greens has been found to stave off hunger for longer. Some examples of green vegetables you can eat are Chinese cabbage, collard greens, kale, and leaf lettuce. To ensure that you’re fully reaping the health benefits associated with these foods, it’s estimated that you should consume at least three cups of dark green vegetables per week.
Don’t skip meals
When you’re always on the go, it’s easy to forgo eating your meals. However, one step to healthy eating is not skipping meals, especially breakfast. This is because eating a sufficient amount of food as you start your day allows your body to receive the necessary nutrients and energy to function optimally. Additionally, studies found that those who eat breakfast seven times per week have a reduced risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This only emphasises why breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. If you’re not skipping breakfast but thinking of skipping other meals, it is worth noting that there’s no significant research indicating that not eating certain meals helps you lose weight.
Follow a customised meal plan
Another way you can easily practise healthy eating is by following a personalised meal plan. What’s great about dedicated weight loss programmes is that they are anchored on personalised meal plans rather than blanket solutions. This means that they can help you eliminate the guesswork associated with most meal planning. Apart from this, they can also ensure that what you’re eating suits your nutritional needs and food preferences. Lastly, since you can adjust the objectives of these meal plans according to your current lifestyle, you can consistently follow and achieve your health goals regardless of how busy you may get.
Use a water-tracking app
Finally, you can promote healthy eating practices by drinking more water. Our article on healthy eating habits shared that you must drink at least two litres of water daily. Apart from keeping yourself hydrated, drinking water can help maintain your energy levels and relieve constipation by improving bowel movements. One way to guarantee that you drink enough water daily is by having a water tracker application. With these tracking tools, you can monitor how much water you’ve consumed, and they'll remind you to drink your water every once in a while, too. If you're always on the move, having a reusable water bottle handy will ensure you're hydrated, satiated, and energised no matter what.
