Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of our overall health. Making sure we get enough fuel, vitamins and minerals can help to support our health and make us feel and look our best. So what is healthy eating?
While I’m not a qualified nutritionist, I have dedicated years of my time digging deeper into the foundations of healthy eating so I can better understand what it is to eat a healthy diet. I believe there are a number of strong foundations that make up what is considered to be a ‘healthy diet’.
Add More Colour and Variety
When we eat a rainbow diet of foods, from colourful fruit and vegetables, to grains, pulses, nuts and seeds, we’re helping our bodies get a rich variety of vitamins and minerals in. When we focus on eating natural, whole foods, we can also more easily get plenty of fibre in and feed our all-important gut microbiome the food it needs to thrive.
Eat More Plants
There is increasing research that eating a wide variety of wholesome, plant-based foods can help improve our overall wellbeing. A lot of content on social media reinforces the message of restrictive diets and high-protein meals from predominantly animal sources. Chicken and rice tends to crop up as the go-to meal, but it doesn’t have to be so limited.
Adding in a bunch of different plant based foods can still provide enough protein, carbs and healthy fats as well as antioxidants that our bodies need to not only function, but to thrive.
Plant based foods include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Wholegrains
- Beans
- Legumes
Get More Fibre in Your Diet
According to the NHS, the average person in the UK currently eats less than the recommended 30g of fibre a day. It’s actually incredibly easy to have so little fibre in our diet when we rely on processed foods. But it can also only take a few simple changes to turn things around and get the amount you need.
- Next time you slice up some vegetables for dinner, wash them, but keep the skins on. From carrots roasted in the oven to homemade chips or a jacket potato, eating the skins can be a great way to increase your fibre intake without too much effort.
- Add more beans and pulses to your everyday. These will help you feel fuller for longer, and can be a great source of protein too.
- Include more wholegrains in your diet. Make healthier swaps such as white rice to brown rice, and white bread to wholegrain bread to add more fibre around your main meals.
- Fancy a snack? Grab a small portion of unsalted nuts to nibble on.
Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Reducing our intake of refined sugar is really hard for many of us. It’s highly addictive, it’s everywhere you look and it tastes delicious! As a self-confessed sugar addict myself, I’ve battled with reducing my own sugar intake – something I still struggle with. But over the years, I have been successful in removing it from my diet dramatically, and have felt so much better for doing so.
So how do you reduce your sugar intake as part of eating a healthy, balanced diet? Start with 5 simple ways to cut down on sugar and lay the foundations for kicking the sweet stuff.
Stay Hydrated
Our bodies need water to stay alive. Making sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking clean water throughout the day helps our bodies remove waste, transport nutrients and our cognitive ability. Drinking water can also help keep us feeling satiated so we don’t overeat during the day.
Take Time to Enjoy Your Food
Eating nutritional and balanced food doesn’t have to be boring or a chore. So much of our social events in life are surrounded by food, family and friends and you should enjoy the foods you eat in life. None of us want to look back and regret all of the weddings we went to without enjoying the cake or at all of the Christmases we spent turning down parts of a roast dinner or the boxes of chocolate gifts. Food is to be enjoyed. We’re fortunate that in the Western world, many of us have an abundance of food available to us all the time.
How To Eat Healthy On A Budget
There’s a common misconception that to eat healthy foods, means you have to break the bank. I know from personal experience, that you can eat a healthy, balanced diet on a budget.
Not sure where to start? Find out how to eat healthy and keep the cost down.
