We can’t deny the fact that most of us have great intentions when it comes to eating healthier and staying fit. However, the truth is that changing the old, bad dietary habits can be quite tough, and it may take you a long time to adapt to new and healthier eating habits.
A healthy diet is one in which the energy you consume is the same as that you expend and contains all the essential dietary nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. The total amount of energy that you need to consume varies depending on your gender, age, and exercise habits.
A healthy diet is essential for good health since it lowers the risk of contracting diseases, promotes self-esteem, and gives more energy to explore and enjoy life. Are you struggling to stick to healthy diet practices? Try out these simple tips that will help you improve your diet.
Make a Meal Plan
One of the most important things that you can do to get your eating habits back on track is preparing a simple meal plan that will guide you. Before the week starts, make sure that you write down your breakfast, lunch, and dinner strategy for each day of the week.
You should also prepare a comprehensive list of healthy snacks options and stick to it. It doesn’t matter whether you are making your meals at home or eating out in at your favorite DDO restaurant, be sure to stick to your meal plan.
Creating a meal plan will also help you shop for your foodstuffs more efficiently with a focus on maintaining a healthy diet.
Base Your Diet on Whole Grains and Cereals
A lot of people out there try to avoid starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, and bread when improving their dieting habits because they believe that starchy foods cause weight gain. But, the truth is that a wide range of starchy foods are great sources of energy and contain few calories.
For instance, whole grains are high in fiber than regular refined grains. Therefore, make sure that you consume plenty of grains or cereals with every meal and choose whole grain options.
Don’t be afraid to include pasta and rice in your diet plan and try new cereals and whole grains that you haven’t tried before or don’t consume quite often, e.g., polenta or couscous.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
This is not a new diet tip, but you’d be surprised by the number of Canadians who skip breakfast every day. No matter how rushed your morning routine is, ensure that you sit down and eat a healthy breakfast every day.
If you must eat on the go, make sure that you pack a healthy breakfast that you’ll eat along the way. Eating breakfast boosts your rate of metabolism and helps you burn more calories throughout the day.
Furthermore, you will experience the feeling of fullness for many hours, reducing your chances of succumbing to junk food.
Consume Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
You may have heard it a million times before, but consuming lots of fruits and green vegetables every day is perhaps the most valuable dietary habit that you can develop.
Typically, fruits and vegetables a wide range of healthy antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They include zinc, potassium, vitamin C, folate, and magnesium. Keep in mind that the wider the variety of fruits and vegetables you eat, the wider the range of nutrients you get.
Drink Plenty of Water
Did you know that more than three-quarters of the excess calories in your body come from sugar and fat contained in various beverages that you consume? Drinking plenty of water may help you stay healthy and avoid gaining extra weight.
Substitute the sugary soft drinks with water, and you will start to see a difference. You should also drink at least one glass of water between meals and a total of at least eight glasses all day long.