Feeling the bloat of a heavy Christmas, you’d be forgiven for ranting about how your New Year’s resolution is to cut back on excesses and have a healthier 2016.
So we’ve done a bit of research, drawing on sources including prominent food bloggers, the NHS and Weight Watchers to give you some simple tips on how to make this pledge to yourself a reality.
Get as much of your nutrition as possible from a variety of completely unprocessed foods.
It’s recommended that we eat at least five portions of different types of fruit and veg a day.
Don’t be put off, it’s easier than it sounds. A glass of unsweetened 100 per cent fruit juice can count as one portion, and vegetables cooked into dishes also count.
But you also want to get your nutrients from meat, fish, poultry and eggs that haven’t been processed. That is, when buying food, look for items that haven’t been been cooked, prepared or altered in any way.
Eat as much home-cooked food as possible
By cooking your own food you are able to avoid processed ingredients more easily. Processed foods typically have more calories and salt, not ideal for healthy living.
Some of these foods typically include bread, crisps, cookies, processed meats and ready meals.
Watch the salt
No surprises here: eating excessive salt can increase blood pressure.
And even if you don’t add salt to your food, you may still be eating too much. About three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, such as breakfast cereals, soups, breads and sauces. So watch out for those processed foods.
Cut back on saturated fats and sugar
While you need a little fat in your diet, it’s no secret that too much saturated fat can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases your risk of developing heart disease. Saturated fat is found in many foods, such as hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, sausages, cream, butter, lard and pies.
Opt instead for unsaturated fats, such as vegetable oils, oily fish and avocados.
And cut down on sugary fizzy drinks, alcoholic drinks, sugary breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits and pastries, which contain added sugar.
A typical guide is that more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g means that the food is high in sugar, while 5g of total sugars or less per 100g means that the food is low in sugar.
Read more healthy tips here
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