How to get started in healthy eating — part 3

Healthy eating on a daily basis

So now you know what healthy eating is and understand the terms used by nutrition experts and in the media, how do you now go about putting that knowledge into practice? What does a day’s healthy eating really look like? Take a look at these meal ideas and perhaps try to make a few healthy changes to your daily diet.

Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you can, take time out to really enjoy it — it’s a great way to start the day. If you need an incentive to get out of bed that bit earlier, remember that people who eat breakfast tend to be slimmer than those who don’t. Investing some time for breakfast in the morning will kick-start your metabolism and stop you snacking mid-morning. Set the table the night before and make it look appealing if that helps — and most of the ideas below will only take 10 minutes to prepare, so lack of time is no excuse.

• Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, chopped tomato and basil
• Boiled egg and wholemeal toast
• Wholemeal toast and peanut butter or marmite/vegemite
• Hot or cold fruit with low-fat yogurt
• Porridge with stewed fruit (for example, apple and raisin or rhubarb)
• Kedgeree (make the night before)
• Cereal with skimmed milk
• Fruit juice, fruit smoothies, herbal or black tea, one cup of coffee

Lunch

Lunch is probably the hardest meal to get right. Too often we end up grabbing something on the go and not taking the time to really savor it. This can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction later in the day, when you inevitably find yourself reaching for a chocolate bar. If you can, take at least 20 minutes to yourself in a quiet place to really unwind. Have something starchy with some protein, and remember to add fruit and veg. A good tip is to mix hot and cold foods for a more satisfying meal.                                

• Baked potato with low-fat cream cheese and roasted vegetables, or tuna with salad
• Salmon or prawns on wholemeal bread with salad
• Vegetable and lentil soup and a bunch of grapes
• Avocado, chicken and tomato bagel
• Rice, pasta or couscous salad

Snacks

Snacking has an unfairly bad reputation. Snacking itself is not inherently unhealthy, rather the snack choices we tend to make. If you are hungry, then by all means eat! Your body is trying to tell you something. But make sure you pick something nutritious, and stick to smaller portions so that you don’t overdo your calorie intake.

• Handful unsalted nuts
• Fruit, for example grapes, apples, satsumas, pears or chopped melon
• Celery or carrot sticks with tzatziki or hummus
• Two or three oatcakes with cottage cheese.http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/how-to-get-started-in-healthy-eating-part-3/#pagination-top