The New Year offers an opportunity to eliminate bad habits and establish healthier routines. And while the New Year brings renewed motivation, this is often short lived, with many people abandoning their resolutions faster than Usain Bolt can run one hundred meters.
New Year’s resolutions typically don’t work out because people set too big of a goal for themselves. Big goals make it difficult to know where to start and as a result, motivation is lost quickly. Instead, long term success is found by setting smaller goals that can be achieved gradually over time.
If eating healthier is one of your top 2020 New Year’s resolutions, tackle your goal from a different perspective this year by following these 10 bite-sized healthy eating tips!
1. Forget the diet.
Diets are notorious for being unnecessarily restrictive and difficult to maintain long term. There is no such thing as a perfect diet, so stop trying to achieve one. All foods have a place in a healthy diet...work on creating balance, not restriction.
2. Veggies are king, fruits are queen.
Vegetables and fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. Research shows that people who eat vegetables and fruits live longer and have a lower risk of developing chronic disease. Aim to eat 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit every day!
Struggling to eat a serve of veggies at breakfast? Try our easy Breakfast Bruschetta recipe.
3. Love thy wholegrains.
Eating wholegrains as part of a healthy diet has been found to lower your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and gastrointestinal disease. Wholegrains such as brown rice, wholegrain bread and pasta, oats and buckwheat are a great source of fibre which helps to keep your digestive system working properly. Aim to eat 4-6 serves of wholegrains every day!
4.Don’t skip on protein
Proteins are essential nutrients. They are the building blocks of all of the cells in our body and are needed for growth and repair. Protein containing foods help to reduce cravings and promote a feeling of fullness...both of which are favourable if you are trying to lose weight! Protein can be found in foods including meat, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds and quality protein supplements such as Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Powder.
5. Eat more legumes.
Legumes are a group of plant foods that contain lentils, beans and peas. They are packed full of protein and fibre and contain an array of vitamins and minerals. Due to their nutritional profile, legumes can be considered a vegetable (thus contribute to your 5 a day target) however they are also a fantastic source of plant-based protein making them a great alternative to meat and fish.
6. Stop fearing fats
Fats have many important functions in the body including insulation of the body and organs, regulating inflammatory and immune responses and aiding in brain development and function. Mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are considered ‘healthy fats’ as they are beneficial for our heart health. Healthy fats can be found in foods such as oily fish, olive oil, nuts, avocado and chia seeds.
Looking for a healthy dinner recipe? Try our delicious Zucchini and Sun-dried Tomato Frittata recipe.
7. Optimise your gut health with pre- and pro-biotics.
Pre- and pro-biotics support the body in building and maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome is believed to be beneficial for our immune, mental and digestive health. Prebiotics are found in fibre rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains. While probiotics occur in many fermented foods, including yogurt, sauerkraut, and tempeh. Aim to eat these every day to help your gut health flourish.
8. Drink up!
Water is vital for so many bodily functions. It helps to regulate your body temperature, assist your organs in flushing out toxins and aids in the circulation of blood and nutrients around the body. The average adult requires 2L of water per day to stay hydrated, so remember to drink up!
9. Eat mindfully.
Have you ever eaten a meal so quickly that you’ve gotten to the end and wondered where it all went? Switch off your screens and start paying attention to what you are eating at mealtimes. Eating in a more mindful way helps to increase meal satisfaction and has also been shown to promote weight loss and reduce binge eating.
10. Be Kind to Yourself.
Making healthy changes to your diet doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a lot of hard work and persistence! Remember to strive for balance and be kind to yourself throughout the process and beyond.
If you enjoyed these healthy eating tips, read about our top 5 exercise and lifestyle tips to create a happier and healthier you this New Year.
Article by Rachel Hawkins (Accredited Practicing Dietitian & Nutritionist)
