Most of us, if not all of us, want to live a healthy lifestyle; eat right, exercise regularly, sleep on time etc. but we all know it’s easier said than done. What if you could at least try one or two of the former and you’d be on your way to the coveted healthier lifestyle? I mean, we know that good nutrition is one of the keys to healthier living (and abs), but to be honest, following a stringent diet can be tiresome, boring, and short-lived.
But what you didn’t know (which you probably know) is that following a healthy diet does not mean putting strict limitations on yourself, being unrealistically thin or starving yourself. Rather, a healthy lifestyle is about enjoying what you eat, and in turn, boosting your health and being fit.
That said, the experts at India Gate are guiding us on how we can eat healthy without making unrealistic and short-lived adjustments to our lifestyles.
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How to Achieve a Healthy Lifestyle Realistically
1. Go natural
First of all, it is important to realize that eating healthy does not need to be complicated nor does it mean keeping yourself hungry. Small changes to your food pattern can go a long way. To begin with, avoid any form of processed food, and replace it with natural foods like fruits and fresh vegetables. To ensure you consume a sufficient amount of essential vitamins and minerals, you should at least eat 2 types of fruits and 5 vegetables a day. Try to begin your day with a bowl of fresh fruits and dried fruits. You can make a healthy pudding out of it by adding chia seeds to it. Chia seeds are a great source of antioxidants, fibre and protein and contain very few calories. Moreover, its water retention quality helps keep you full for a longer period of time.
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2. Replace staples
We all love our staple foods like rice and bread, even though we are aware that they are loaded with carbs which are difficult for the body to digest. To embrace a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating, replacing your staple food with healthier, tastier and equally filling food substitutes is a great option. Opt for quinoa tortillas when it comes to preparing delicious wraps and quesadillas instead of bread, and use sprouted brown rice instead of white rice for your rice preparations. This way you continue to enjoy your favourite staple in a healthier way.
3. Drink water instead of sugary drinks
Water has a big role to play in your healthy lifestyle diet. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it also cleans your digestive system and keeps your stomach full. As much as you can, replace sodas and other sugary drinks with water. To add flavour to your water you can infuse it with a slice of lemon, apple or fresh herbs like mint or basil.
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4. Reduce your salt and sugar intake
In your quest to embrace a healthy lifestyle, gradually try and reduce the salt and sugar added to your food when cooking. For sweets replace sugar with honey where ever you can while savoury food can be spiced up by adding flavours like pepper, garlic, onion etc. Also ensure you have pre-prepared energy bites and snack bars, made using quinoa, nuts, seeds and honey, handy at all times. These are best to kill the in between hunger pangs. Moreover, quinoa is naturally gluten-free, high in protein, fibre and iron.
What do you think? If you plan on embracing a healthy lifestyle, would you hack it through healthy eating? Share in the comments below.
About the Author
- Esther Lackie
- Aesthetics enthusiast, in love with running; marketing and PR pro during the day, an amateur chef and wine taster behind closed doors.
5 Comments
Yes absolutely! Gut health is crucial to whole body systems.
I agree it is crucial. Thanks for stopping by… 😉
My pleasure
All invaluable pieces of advice on nutrition. Thanks for the reminder and sharing. xx
Thanks a lot …