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5 ways to kick unhealthy eating habits!
Are bad eating habits leading you astray? Here’s 5 ways to kick them – and get control over your weight and health this summer.
1. Read up!
Learning to read nutrition labels can help you decide on your own if something is a healthy option. Look out for foods that are high in fat (look at total and saturated fat), sugar and sodium.
Also, you might think that some pre-prepared foods are a) the healthy option, and b) a single serve, when they actually aren’t that healthy and may contain two or more servings. Having a read of the nutrition label can help you know whether the food is actually as good as it seems, or if it has a little marketing make up on!
| Tip: become label savvy – remember that reduced fat or sugar doesn’t mean the the food is healthy, just that it has less fat or sugar than it’s ‘usual’ counterpart – look at the label to find foods low in fat and sugar! |
2. Trade the bad for the good
Instead of cutting treat foods out of your diet completely, have them every now and then, and eat a healthier alternative instead most of the time. For example, eat wholewheat or wholegrain bread instead of white, have a piece of fruit when you’d normally eat a sugary snack, or drink water instead of soft drinks. Eating treat foods every now and then is unlikely to affect your weight (unless you eat a huge amount!), and you’ll enjoy them a lot more.
If nothing cuts it like the original version of your favourite treat though - again, try to eat it less frequently, and keep the serving size moderate. Why not look at ways to make it more healthy!
3. Keep active
It may sound odd, but exercise can actually affect our eating habits! It makes sense that when we’re active, we’re more likely to choose to eat foods that are quality fuel. You don’t want all that hard work going to waste do you?! Also, exercising regularly can up our metabolism, which is important for good weight management.
4. Less is more
Often, it’s what we add to food that makes it bad for us, not the food itself. For example - a potato laden with butter and cheese is a heart attack waiting to happen, but on it’s own that potato is a healthy option. Having said that, food doesn’t have to be bland to be good for you! Adding spices and basic flavours like garlic and ginger can turn a lowly stirfry into something incredible, while adding small amounts of food to a dish - say sprinkling a small amount of cheese on top of your potato instead of drowning it - can give you the flavour you’re after, without turning into a high fat option.
5. Know what a portion size actually is!
Splitting your meal into three parts can help you know if you’re eating a healthy amount of each food group. As a guide, non starchy vegies should take up half the plate, a ¼ of the plate should be of protein (like meat, fish, eggs or tofu), and a serving of carb rich or starchy foods should fill up the other ¼. Still hungry? As a guide, 1-2 serves of lean meat, chicken, seafood, eggs, beans or pulses is recommended each day, 3+ serves of vegetables, 2+ of fruit, 3+ serves of low fat milk and dairy products, 6+ serves of breads, cereals, pasta (go for wholegrain varieties) and starchy vegies like potatoes. Eat many different kinds of food and go for healthy options – remember to limit foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
| Tip: Instead of avoiding it totally, when eating a high fat food like creamy pasta serve up a smaller amount, and fill the rest of the plate with vegies. Or better yet, go for pasta in a tomato based sauce! |
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The hardest part for me is the exercise! I reeally need to get my A into G and work out more often. Posted by MelissaW "on" 10/05 "at"03:54 PM |
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the more articles i read the more unhealthy i realise i am :-( Posted by tkennard "on" 08/11 "at"03:14 PM |
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cool thanks Posted by tkennard "on" 08/11 "at"12:52 PM |
Best of the rest
