Cathal BarryAutumn is a chance to renew resolutions made in January
So summer is over and the kids are back at school. Many view the beginning of the academic calendar year as an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to renew resolutions made in January that may have fallen by the wayside over the summer months.
Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition plans, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, itís about feeling great, having more energy, stabilising your mood and keeping yourself as healthy as possible – all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a tasty, healthy diet.
To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps, rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think.
Here are 10 simple steps to getting back on track with your diet, and changing your life.
Enjoy eating. If you are unhappy with what you are eating you are unlikely to continue to keep eating that way.
Pre-cook food. Spend a few hours at the beginning of the week and cook big batches of food. This will allow you to minimise the amount of time that you have to spend cooking during the week.
Cook more than you need. This is similar to the previous tip, the idea being that if you cook more than you need for one meal, then you can eat it later, or the next day. Better than finding yourself stuck and reaching for the biscuits!
Rather than cutting yourself off from all of those foods which you enjoy, simply eat smaller amounts and be moderate.
Do not keep unhealthy junk foods that you know you shouldnít eat in the house. For most people, if it is in the house, they will eventually eat it.
Do not run out of food: keep your fridge stocked and do a big weekly shop.
Try planning your meals for a week. This comes easily to some people, but for others it can be a nuisance. However, this has the benefit of ensuring you know what you need in the house for the week, and eliminates that time-wasting period during which you try and figure out what you should cook for dinner.
Keep a handy healthy snack in your car or at the office in case plans change. Fruits and unsalted nuts are always good to have in case you are ever stuck.
Learn to use spices; this will do wonders for you and will offer variety and different flavours to your meals.
Eat lots of vegetables; try and eat a good variety with many different colours!