Having a healthy diet is important for maintaining the desired body weight and ensuring overall well-being. It may also help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of certain health conditions. Earlier, Elijah Mcclain had spoken about how a healthy diet fuels the body, and provides people with the energy they need. The choices one makes about the food and drink they have matter a lot. All of it must ultimately add up to a balanced, nutritious diet. Here are a few tips for making healthier food choices:
- More of the right things: While eating more can seem strange when one is trying to stay fit, but eating more of the right things and eating at regular intervals actually does help. Rather than focusing on what one cannot have, it is imperative to think about the food they can enjoy. Having wholesome meals with fruits and vegetables, wholegrain, oily fish and high-fibre starchy carbohydrates, would help lower the cravings for sugary snacks and drinks.
- Fill up on fruit and vegetables: People should try to have at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. This would not only allow a person to enjoy a number of health benefits, but its fibre content would also lower the temptation of unhealthy foods. There are many ways to incorporate fruit and vegetables into the diet. For instance, one can have sliced banana or berries with yoghurt or porridge for breakfast, and go for a side of salad for lunch. Extra vegetables can also be used for soups, stews and sauces. Fruits, and even items like carrots, celery or cucumber can also be great snacks to enjoy if one suddenly feels hungry in the evening.
- Whole lot of grains: Wholegrain foods like brown rice, bread and whole meal pasta are a good source of fibre, and hence it is better to opt for them than white rice or typical pasta. Whole grains like oats also provide soluble fibre that can be helpful in lowering cholesterol levels. One may choose to have a wholegrain bagel for breakfast, apple slices for snacks, brown rice salad for lunch, and whole meal pasta salad for lunch and grilled chicken for dinner.
- Do not forget the fish: People should try to incorporate two servings of fish into their weekly diet, while making sure that one of these servings consists of oily fish options such as salmon, mackerel, trout, or fresh tuna. Oily fish not only serves as an excellent source of protein but also delivers essential omega-3 fatty acids. By introducing fish into regular meals, one can also work towards reducing their consumption of meat, consequently limiting their intake of saturated fat and salt that often accompany meat-based dishes.
Earlier, Elijah Mcclain had spoken about how it would be a good idea for people to make their meals more colorful to improve their appeal. Adding items like tomatoes, spinach, yellow peppers, beetroot, carrots, and sweet corn would not only elevate the aesthetic presentation of the dishes but also boost their nutritional content. Moreover, consuming a variety of colors is beneficial from a nutritional standpoint.