If you skip breakfast, by mid-morning you feel be feeling sluggish and more likely to be tempted to make bad food choices. Avoid this by starting the day with a hearty breakfast that will see you through until lunch.
2.Drink plenty of water
Our bodies are made up of between 60-80% water, this is how important water is for us to function properly. If you really don’t like water by itself, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime or try herbal and fruit teas.
3.Cut down on caffeine
The more coffee you drink, the more sluggish you actually feel. Cut down and try alternatives. Don’t forget that chocolate, cola and hot chocolate all contain caffeine too.
4.Eat fresh food
The fresher your food, the more nutrients it will contain. Also if you buy organic it will be less chemicals for your body to detoxify.
5.Five a day
Everyone knows that we should be eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals making it easier for your body to undo any damage caused by lifestyle and generate great health.
6.Say ‘NO’ to fried foods
Fried foods soak up oil and should be avoided where possible. If you do fry use olive oil in small amounts and only fry for a short amount of time. You could try poaching, grilling, stewing or roasting instead.
7.Eat good fats
Not all fats are bad for you, in fact some are essential to your health. Monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats should be eaten regularly and are found in foods such as olive oil, avocados, oily fish, nuts and seeds.
8.Home cooked
Cut out processed and convenience foods, they are full of sugar, salt, saturated fat and devoid of nutrients – where is the convenience of that? Instead cook your food from scratch, you know exactly what is in it and it will be much better for you and taste great.
9.Cut down on salt and sugar
Sugar contributes to obesity and a whole host of health problems. The sugar high that must people enjoy is soon followed by a low and so the vicious cycle begins as you crave that high again. So swap sugary foods for a piece of fruit, some nuts and seeds or a wholemeal bun. Salt causes high blood pressure, so try giving up adding salt at the table and look for alternatives to use in your cooking, such as miso and cut down on the processed foods.
10.Alternatives
Beans and lentils are full of soluble fibre and are packed with protein, making them a great alternative to meat. Swap your white refined goods for healthier brown alternatives. Have wholemeal bread, discover how brown rice has flavour compared to bland white rice and eat brown pasta. Experiment with other grains such as, quinoa, millet and buckwheat.
