Healthy eating
is about more than the food on your plate—it is also about how you think about
food. Healthy eating habits can be learned and it is important to slow down and
think about food as nourishment rather than just something to gulp down in
between meetings or on the way to pick up the kids.
Eat with others
whenever possible. Eating with other people has numerous social and emotional
benefits—particularly for children—and allows you to model healthy eating
habits. Eating in front of the TV or computer often leads to mindless
overeating.
Take time to
chew your food and enjoy mealtimes. Chew your food slowly, savouring every
bite. We tend to rush though our meals, forgetting to actually taste the
flavours and feel the textures of our food. Reconnect with the joy of eating.
Listen to your
body. Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if
you are thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you feel
full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it
has had enough food, so eat slowly.
Eat breakfast,
and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jumpstart
your metabolism, and eating small, healthy meals throughout the day (rather
than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up and your metabolism
going.
Avoid eating at
night. Try to eat dinner earlier in the day and then fast for 14-16 hours until
breakfast the next morning. Early studies suggest that this simple dietary
adjustment—eating only when you’re most active and giving your digestive system
a long break each day—may help to regulate weight. After-dinner snacks tend to
be high in fat and calories so are best avoided, anyway.
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