Many of us want to make an effort to eat a healthier diet, however it can be quite overwhelming starting from scratch and not knowing where to begin. So, we have put together a list of four simple ways to make healthier diet choices that you can easily implement into your daily life. The best thing about these changes is that you don’t really have to compromise much at all, as you will naturally be fuller and eat healthier without really knowing! So, sit back, relax and find out how to make your diet healthier.
Eat More Vitamins
Eating vitamins and minerals is essential to our overall health. Each vitamin plays a vital role in keeping our body, mind and immune system healthy, as well as giving us the energy we need for day to day life. When you are not consuming enough vitamins, you are likely to experience fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness and it can also have an impact on your long term health.
So, it is vital that you make the effort to eat enough vitamins to make sure your diet is healthy. An easy way to do this is buying a range of different coloured fruits and vegetables, as they usually contain different vitamins. For example, yellow and orange vegetables generally contain vitamin A and C, green vegetables contain calcium, vitamin C and iron and red fruits and vegetables contain vitamin D. If you think some of these vegetables will go to waste, then take individual tablets, like vitamin D3 supplements, and then just eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible, too.
Plan Your Weekly Meals
The next tip is to plan all of your weekly meals. Not only will this save you time, but it also means that your weekly shop will be cheaper and way less food will go to waste. On a Sunday morning, sit down and plan out all the breakfasts, lunches and dinners you will eat for the week. Then, write a list of all the ingredients you need and do your shop Sunday afternoon so you know you’re ready for the week!
This is also a great way to make sure that you are eating enough of each vitamin, so you can incorporate all of the different coloured fruits and vegetables into your diet. For example, one day you could do a mixed berry smoothie for breakfast, butternut squash and red pepper soup for lunch and then spinach pesto pasta for dinner, so you have red, orange and green all covered in one day. This is such a simple tip that can really help to transform your diet, without much change at all.
Focus on Whole-Foods
Our next tip is to move away from processed foods and to eat more whole foods. Whole foods are filled with phytochemicals, which are natural compounds that help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as well as many other serious health conditions. We understand that avoiding processed foods completely is difficult, so just try to make the majority of your meals using whole-foods. Not only this, but whole foods also keep you feeling fuller for longer, so you will naturally eat less.
Whole foods include whole grains like brown rice, brown pasta, quinoa, bulgar wheat and rolled oats, beans and legumes like lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas, any nuts and seeds and all fruits and vegetables! Introducing these foods into your diet will make such a big difference to your health.
Increase Your Protein Intake
The body needs enough protein to maintain and repair all tissues in the body, but it can also help you to lose weight whilst building muscle. When you eat more protein, you will naturally feel less hungry, as most protein sources are very filling. When combining a high-protein diet with exercise, you will find it much easier to build lean muscle whilst losing weight.
Good amounts of protein can be found in animal products like meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, but also in many plant-based products. Tofu, edamame, lentils, chickpeas, broccoli, nuts, seeds and vegan protein powders are all fantastic sources of protein that can easily be incorporated into your diet. Plus, you might just find your favourite new recipe when you experiment with foods you wouldn’t usually eat. Making a few small changes to your diet by eating more protein is a great way to make your diet healthier.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it! We hope we have shown you how simple it can be to make healthier changes in your diet. Although it is easier said than done, you’d be surprised at how quickly these small swaps will become a normal part of your diet. Start by changing one or two things and gradually work your way up, as slow and steady changes will be much more effective long term than completely detoxing from the get go!