Ensure you’re fighting fit and in great shape throughout 2013 with StyleNest’s healthy eating tips.
It’s only two weeks into January and if like us, you’re already tempted to ditch the New Year’s resolution of healthy eating, help is at hand.
We’ve borrowed some quick and easy tips from the experts that are not only achievable but will slip into the most hectic of lifestyles with ease.
Nutritionist, Tom Whitehead from soulmatefood.com shows you how to get back into shape and feel great throughout 2013 with his top 5 healthy eating tips.
1. Smaller portions
By reducing your main meal size and increasing the amount of healthy snacks you eat can really help shift that extra holiday weight. Have a lighter lunch or evening meal and instead have 5-6 similar size meals per day. This will increase your metabolism and help control blood sugar levels, which will stop unhealthy snacking and reduce body fat storage. Snack-wise go for low calorie foods such as lean meat, raw vegetables or a handful of nuts and seeds.
2. Steer clear of caffeine
It’s an obvious one but reducing your caffeine intake and cutting out alcohol throughout January will really help get your back on the health wagon. Make sure you drink lots of water (8-10 glasses per day) to keep hydrated, as this will stop you mistaking dehydration for hunger.
3. Eliminate refined carbohydrates
Take out all refined carbohydrates i.e. anything white and replace it with wholegrain. This will help stabilize blood sugars and increase fibre content, making you feel fuller for longer as well as helping to maintain a healthy bowel. Swap white bread for granary or wholegrain, white rice and pasta for brown rice and wholemeal pasta and quinoa as an easy alternative, as it’s a very slow release carb high in fibre and protein.
Another great tip is to put potatoes in cold water for 10minutes before you cook them, as this will remove any excess starch that can make you bloated.
4.Cut out processed foods
It’s easy to head straight for the ready meals after a busy day at work but try to cut them out as much as possible as they contain lots of trans and saturated fats, as well as synthetic ingredients. As processed foods are not naturally produced they could affect hormone levels and are hard for the body to digest. They are also high in salt, which increases blood pressure and water retention.
5. Keep it simple, clean and fresh
Stick to simple, clean, fresh foods and choose organic where possible. Eat lots of fruits like blueberries, bananas, apples, oranges and vegetables in a variety of rainbow colours from spinach to carrots. Different coloured fruit and veg contain different properties i.e. green leafy vegetables are high in iron and calcium, whereas orange vegetables are high in vitamin C and Beta Carotene, which is good for the immune system. When it comes to protein choose a variety of lean meats, dairy products, eggs and nuts. And ensure your hair and nails are kept healthy with oily fish rich in Omega3 like salmon, sardines and mackerel.
Check out StyleNest’s Healthy Recipes for some delicious mealtime inspiration.