In our society, everywhere you look we are bombarded with advertisements on keeping fit and healthy whether it is the newspapers we read, magazines we pick up or on our television screens. In sight of all the adverts trying to sell us a healthy living, the steps we can take to improve our health and eat nutritiously can be done with the all the resources we already have and can be found at home, along with the extra secret ingredient "willpower".
I will go through some tips on some of the simple ways we can drastically improve our lives by just doing things a little differently, remember balance not just in food but in our daily lives is a unique mind skill to have whether it be in exercise, food or even at work.
A Kind Wakeup call
People everywhere are always on the run, on the run to work, on the run with getting the kids to school, on the run to our appointments but when it comes to home cooking no-one has the energy to spend long periods of time investing in food preparation and looking into alternative healthier recipes. This is where we lack and it so happens to be on one of the most important aspects of our lives – our own health. This is something we just cannot compromise. Our kids deserve more than eating an unhealthy take out or a meal from the microwave because it is "convenient’. There is a whole range of quick healthy options awaiting your time and effort.
Healthy Cooking
If you are always on the run, the secret to cooking healthily is preparation. You can start by chopping up lots of carrots, cucumbers, celery sticks and placing them into individual food bags that can be easily stored in our fridges; this will make the perfect good to go snack to work and for your children’s lunchboxes, by this being done prior to the mad school/work day rush.
Implementing this concept of doing things than prior will help your cooking time and progress, giving you that extra energy to make a full healthy family meal. A weekly timetable of different meals to make is encouraged to be made and changed when needed; so that you are never in two states of mind on what to cook as you will have your chart full of healthy lovely meals your family to enjoy. Preparing the mundane tasks of chopping, getting things organised into containers (such as vegetables, spices, peeled garlic’s) will be ready for your cooking magic.
Listen up – throw out that cooking oil in your cupboards and switch to vegetable oil. Why do we look for the quickest ways to damage our health? Cooking oil alone takes out from any healthy dishes you make whether it is steak, eggs, chicken or simply rice – swap to vegetable oil for a healthier alternative and save on the unnecessary lard substance that sticks to your organs and does you no favours in the future.
Instead of frying food turn to grilling chicken to save on them calories and for a healthier meal as what beats a grilled steak or chicken with a bed of broccoli, peas and mash? Oily fried foods have to go!
Fruits
Fruits have natural sugars that are actually good for you! So why reach for the chocolate bar when you can have a sweet watermelon or mango? Having a variety exotic fruits in your fruit bowl will not only help boost your energy levels but is healthy and a sweet alternative for those of you with a sweet tooth. Fruits are needed for your 5 a day and daily vitamins your body needs, as well as provide women with that apple glow that no cream can compete with. This is why all face products nowadays are filled with fruit extracts as an apple a day not only keeps the doctor away but does wonderful things to your skin that no amount of face cream can do. Green apples, avocadoes, and berries in particular are exceptionally good sources for healthier skin that contain antioxidants to refresh tired skin and provide a healthy glow.
Drinking plenty of Water
Yes – I had to mention this, not only is it fruits that can help you feel and look good but drinking your 2 litters of water (or 6 glasses) everyday will keep your body hydrated, stop you snacking and eating more and keep your skin healthy and full of life. If you feel you cannot drink that amount of water, then on your bedside table or at your work desk make sure to place a large glass of water that is always filled reminding you to drink-up, once the glass is empty keep refilling and you will soon realise that this is an easy way of drinking your 2 litters without even noticing.
