Eating healthy for many people is difficult. However, setting yourself up for success and establishing proper eating habits, can mean so much more than you think. But how do you do it? If you’re looking for tips and tricks on how to have optimized health then you came to the right place.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do for your body. With so much advice on the internet it is hard to know what is real and what is not. Not to worry, this blog is all advice that I would take myself.
We aim to help you reach your goals of being “that girl” because it’s closer than you think.
The main points being spoken about in this article are limiting processed foods, a whole food diet, making water your drink of choice, eating smaller meals more often, and last but not least why balance is key when it comes to a healthy diet.
- Limiting processed foods
Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a snack and wondered what half of them even are? Or: “processed foods are everywhere, but what are they actually doing to our bodies?” Everyone hates to see it, but it is true. Limiting processed foods is going to get you where you need to be in terms of healthy eating. Here I will be covering what processed foods are, why they are problematic, and how to shift away from them.
What are processed foods? Processed foods have been categorized as anything canned,
cooked, frozen, pasteurized, or packaged.
Limiting processed foods in a healthy diet is crucial because they are often high in unhealthy fats, sodium, and added sugars. Overeating of processed foods, overtime, can lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It is important to understand the severity of a long term diet of processed foods, to encourage yourself and people around you to eat a more whole food diet.
- A Whole Food Diet
A whole food diet consists of many different foods. Foods that are seen to be not as flavourful or delicious as the processed foods, but that is very far from the truth. A whole food diet doesn’t mean you have to eat vegetables all the time. It just means incorporating more natural, and colourful foods to your plate.
Whole food plates can include foods from vegetables, to fruits, legumes, grains, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The most important tip I can share with you about a whole food diet is to not think about restricting, but to try to incorporate many different food groups onto your plate. According to the Canadian food guidelines, a “healthy plate” consists of 50% fruits, and vegetables, also known as the fibres. Then the other 50% of your plate should contain proteins, and whole grains.
The benefits of eating a whole food diet are improved digestion, weight management, and reduced risks of chronic diseases like, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Make Water Your Drink Of Choice
Water plays a key role in a body’s functions. Water brings nutrients to our cells, gets rid of waste, protects joints and organs, and maintains body temperature.
It is important for us to always stay hydrated. No matter what you are doing, think of having a bottle of water near you that is easily accessible, and available for your consumption. A woman should drink approximately 2.7 litres of water every day, while a male must drink 3.7 litres of water each day. Eating a healthy diet along with consistent water consumption will help kickstart your digestion, and nutrient absorption. It can also improve your metabolism and improve your overall health in many different ways.
4) Why Balance is Key
While maintaining a healthy diet is important, it is also important to balance your eating. What I mean by this is, you don’t have to completely cut out processed foods. Processed foods are foods that make the soul happy. Nutrient dense foods make the body happy. It is totally ok and recommended to find a balance between these food groups.
A known way to split up these foods is by following the 80/20 rule. To break down this rule, it is essentially 80% of the time to eat nutrient dense foods/gut healthy foods. The other 20% of your diet should be those soul happy foods. Limiting yourself completely is not realistic and wont last. So make sure you are fueling all parts of your body to be able to challenge yourself in the best ways.
What have we learned? – Conclusion
In conclusion, healthy eating is all about balance – nourishing your body with a variety of whole foods while being mindful of portion sizes and food quality. Choosing water as your primary drink will help boost hydration without added sugars. Focusing on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins will ensure your body has the nutrients it needs. While limiting processed foods will help reduce excess salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. By making these simple, yet impactful choices, you set the foundation for long-term health and well-being.