Whether you are looking to lose weight, be healthier, or cut down on your eating habits in general, making small changes can lead to a healthier life. Below we look at some simple changes that could make a big difference for you and your family.
Skip the Cream and Sugar
Whether you drink tea or coffee, the amount of cream and sugar consumed in every cup can soon add up. If you drink several cups a day, those extra calories can make a big difference. There are plenty of healthier alternatives, or you can train yourself to enjoy a black tea or coffee by adding a little less cream and sugar every day. There are tons of health benefits of black coffee, such as improving heart health and brain health. Check out this great article from the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine if you want to learn about more benefits of black coffee.
Choose Wholegrains
If you want a healthier alternative to your favorite foods, try wholegrain. You can get wholegrain versions of rice, pasta, and bread, which are full of essential nutrients and vitamins. They are also an excellent source of fiber, so can make you feel fuller for longer. Wholegrains have other health benefits compared to the usual refined grains used in many products, such as a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Drink More Water for a Healthier Life
Whenever you read about eating healthier or losing weight, there will always be a section about drinking more water. This couldn’t be more true, as we often don’t realize how many extra calories we are consuming in the form of liquids. When you add this up, you could be consuming an extra 200 calories a day, easily.
This is especially the case if you drink energy drinks, creamy and sugary coffee, and fizzy drinks. Switching to water is a sure-fire way to feel more hydrated and feel healthier. If you don’t enjoy water, try to add fruit slices or ice. The more you drink water, the fuller you will feel. It also provides other benefits, such as improved skin elasticity and better digestion.
Eat Slower
We often eat too fast, which means we will eat more than we need to and have poorer digestion. The faster you eat, the more likely you are to eat more and gain weight. Eating slower allows us to digest food easier, feel fuller faster, and enjoy food more. While the world around us may seem like its constantly in a rush, taking this time to slow down and mindfully eat is not only better for your physical health, but your mental health too.
Roast or Bake Your Food
If you tend to fry or grill a lot of your food, you are likely consuming more oil than you are supposed to. Those extra calories can add up and grilling or frying can also add toxic compounds into your food, which have been linked to heart disease and cancer. There are plenty of healthier methods to cook your food, such as pressure cooking, poaching, baking, roasting, slow cooking, stewing, and simmering. All these methods do not cause harmful compounds to be created, making food healthier.
Eat at Home More
If you tend to get takeout too often, or eat out more than you should, this could be bad for your gut and your wallet. Depending on where you order from, you have no real idea how much of anything has gone into that meal and there could be a lot of hidden calories. Takeout food does not tend to be as fresh as food that you can cook at home.
Cooking is an enjoyable and relaxing experience, and it can be fun to try out new recipes. If you are struggling in the kitchen, use YouTube for cooking inspiration. There are meals that can be made in just 15 to 20 minutes that are full of fresh ingredients. If you do want to order in, try going for a healthier option.
Have A Healthier Life by Eating More Greens
In order to eat less fatty or processed foods, you must replace them with healthier options. If you add more vegetables or salad to your plate, you are going to feel fuller from that part of your meal, meaning you don’t need to overload your plate with carbs or meat. You should also eat your greens first, as this can help you feel fuller before you eat the rest of your food. Eating vegetables before a carbohydrate-heavy meal has also been shown to help with blood sugar levels, especially in those with diabetes.
Consume More Eggs
Eggs are an excellent source of protein, something many of us don’t get enough of. They can also help you to feel full, meaning they are a wonderful choice for breakfast. There are so many ways to cook eggs that you could have them most mornings without getting bored, and they provide nutrients that are essential for health, such as choline. If you want to lose weight, eggs for breakfast is the way to go.
Avoid Diet Foods
While it may seem like the best option to choose the fat free yogurt or diet coke, diet replacements are often worse for your health due to the ingredients they add in to make them taste better. Many of these foods are often deceiving and may even contain more calories and sugar than their normal counterparts. Instead of going for the diet version, choose whole foods, like vegetables and fruits.
Replace Your Oil
We cook with oil day in and day out, so it’s only fitting that we choose the healthiest oil to bake or fry our foods in. Vegetable oil is possibly the unhealthiest oil, although it does have its place now and again. Some healthier oil options include avocado oil, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil. These are full of healthy fatty acids called omega 3.
These small eating changes can make you and your family have a healthier life because making small changes like the ones above can make a huge difference over time.
