03 Jan New Year New Healthier You
With the turn of a new year comes a whole bunch of new year’s resolutions. Exercise more, stress less, learn a new language, get into yoga… we all start with the best intentions, and then quickly fall off the wagon. But here’s one that you can stick to: eating a healthier diet.
A balanced diet is so important for many reasons. The organs and tissues in our bodies need proper nutrition to function, and without the essential minerals, your body is more prone to infection, disease, fatigue, injury and poor performance. Without a balanced diet, our bodies are more susceptible to colds and flus, gastro bugs, bacterial infections; any illness that comes along, effectively. So here’s a few quick tips on how you can stick to a healthy diet in 2020:
1. Leafy greens
Dark, leafy greens are the winners of the vegetables – they are great source of nutrition and contain essential sources and minerals. Try to include them at least once a day. Spinach and kale may look a little gross when blended into a smoothie – but it’s easy to mask the taste of them with plenty of berries.
2. Put salad on the table.
If you have trouble getting your veggies in, or even more commonly – getting your children to eat them, chop up a few carrot and cucumber sticks, a handful of cherry tomatoes, and leave them on the table top as you prepare dinner. You might be surprised at how easily you snack on them as you go. Before you know it – you’ve got your serve of veggies sorted.
3. Hold back on the sauce.
Sauces and dressings can be super high in sugar, fat and artificial flavours. If you want to easily cut out a few calories, stick to lemon juice, balsamic vinegar or just a sprinkle of oil.
4. Plan ahead.
Summer can bring with it a whole lot of social engagements, and suddenly you’re smashing another pub meal for the fourth day in a row and feeling bloated. Plan ahead as much as you can. If you know you’re heading out for dinner, look up the menu online and decide what you’ll order, so you’ll be far less likely to overindulge.
5. Reward yourself in another way.
A lot of us are guilty of giving ourselves ‘food rewards’. Chocolate on a long afternoon. Ice-cream after a hard day. If you’re in need of a pick me up, or if you’ve been working hard and deserve a treat, then by all means: treat yo’self. But find another way to do it. Get a massage. Have a bath. Do a face mask. Book yourself in for a salt therapy voucher. Give your body the treat it deserves.
6. Don’t give up.
Every day is a fresh start, not just a new year. If you’ve eaten a box of chocolates for breakfast, it doesn’t mean the rest of the day is a write-off. Keep making healthy choices wherever you can, and your body will thank you for it.
Remember, go easy on yourself. You’ve only got one body. Be kind to it, and treat it like a friend. The two of you are together for life.