We all have strong habits when it comes to eating. Some of them are good and some are not so good. Although a lot of our eating habits were established while we were children, it doesn’t mean we cannot change them.
People who make sudden, radical changes to eating habits can lose weight, but for a short period of time. However, those changes are neither a good nor healthy idea, and they will not achieve a lot in the long run. People who want to improve their eating habits have to choose a thoughtful approach.
1. Vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits provide you with fiber, minerals, and vitamins to keep your body healthy. They are good for keeping your insides healthy and high in antioxidants. Drink a fresh juice or eat a piece of fruit for breakfast, such as a banana, orange, apple or berries. Have salad and vegetables with your main meals and a fruit as a snack during the day.
2. Water
You’re already dehydrated if you are thirsty. Also, if you are hungry, you may, in fact, be thirsty. During the day, many of us don’t drink as much as we should drink. In case you are drinking coffee and tea in order to keep you going these have a diuretic effect. Therefore, you should be drinking water in order to compensate.
Drink a glass of water every morning when you wake up, and a glass of water before you go to bed. While you’re sleeping your body is losing a lot of water. It doesn’t matter if it’s warm and you sweat a lot but just sleeping for 7 to 8 hours and you’re going to wake up dehydrated.
3. Avoid processed food
Today, many people eat takeaways, ready-prepared meals and convenience food to save time. Check the label before you buy a convenience meal to see how much hydrogenated fat, salt, E preservatives, sugar, and coloring it contains. Since it is processed, many of the goodness and flavors is lost and has to be added in the form of flavors, colorings and bulking agents. Also, it has to survive transport and a long shelf-life and preservatives and cooking fats are added.
4. Fish
At least once a week eat fish. Fish contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids that are good for your nerves and joints. Hemp and flax oils are good alternatives for people who don’t eat fish.
5. Eat regularly
Make sure to eat breakfast every morning. Overnight your body has been without food, so break the fast with a fresh juice. Also, eat a breakfast of porridge, muesli or cereal.
6. Eat every 2 to 3 hours during the day
Eat often and little in order to avoid your blood sugar fluctuating a lot. Also, stop eating a heavy meals a few hours before you go to the bed. Your body naturally slows down and it digests harder.
7. Juice
One of the best ways to wake up your digestive system and to kick-start your day is to have a fresh juice in the morning. This doesn’t mean the orange juice with your breakfast but rather fresh vegetable juices. Buy local organic produce, invest in a good juicer and discover how good fresh juice is. A simple daily mixture is the lemon, ginger, celery, carrot and apple.
8. Know what you’re eating
Read the labels on food if you buy processed food to be aware of how much fat, sugar, and salt is in the food you buy. Also, buy organic meat if possible in order to avoid the antibiotics, hormones, and steroids that are in factory farmed meat.
9. Balanced diet
The best way to improve your eating habits is to have a balanced diet which contains plenty of vegetables and fruits, fish and meat, whole food, seeds, and nuts. Everything in moderation, of course. Avoid sugary and fatty foods, but if you like cakes, curries and chocolate there is nothing wrong with eating one during a week.