For the sake of simplicity, here are 5 easy ways you can incorporate healthier food choices into your daily habits to fuel your body:
1. Start your day with water or green juice.
Ideally, your digestive system would love a glass of warm water with lemon first thing in the morning. If this isn’t your ‘cup of tea’ (no pun intended) then at least throw back a few swigs of water or some fresh green juice. When I say ‘green juice’ I don’t mean the pre-packaged kind full of sugar (check the nutrition label), I mean juice yourself celery, kale, spinach, cucumber and add fresh lemon or ask them to make a litre of ‘All Greens with Fresh Lemon’ for you at Whole Foods.
2. Snack on real food.
If it doesn’t come in a package, that is a good thing. Eat more fruits, more veggies, more eggs, meat, fish … anything that is as close to its natural form as possible. A plate of sliced mini cucumbers, grape tomatoes, blueberries, apple, and cheese is a great snack for kids and parents! Save the crackers for the end of the snack when everyone is filling up, and will eat less of them.
If you’re choosing condiments like salsa or hummus, choose the freshest kind available (i.e. not in a sealed glass jar) or make your own.
3. Lemons, limes and frozen fruit make soda water fancy.
If you want to consume less alcohol (and sugar) in your week, fill a tumbler or wine glass with ice, soda water, and add some lemon or lime with frozen fruit (raspberries are my personal favourite). It’s refreshing, tastes delicious, and is a good alternative from Monday to Thursday.
4. Choose plain and unsweetened.
When it comes to yogurt, milk (cow’s, goat, almond or any other alternative) or any other processed food with a choice for flavoured or sweetened, choose PLAIN or UNSWEETENED always. Your taste buds will adjust quickly, and if you need a little sweetness, add your own berries, banana, honey or jam.
5. Eat treats!
Isn’t it true that you’re not supposed to eat any snacks after dinner time? Probably. If you stay up late because you’re working at night, or relaxing (what a novelty!), then allow yourself a snack. Foods like popcorn, plain yogurt with a handful of granola or berries, cut up apple or pear, and a few pieces of dark chocolate will satisfy you most days. If you need to pig out on ice cream or candy, allow yourself a night of indulgence every now and then (just like your alcoholic beverages).
More to come on adding probiotics and other supplements into your daily healthy habits soon!
