Like everyone else, I like to live (or at least try and live) healthily and a huge part of doing this is how I manage my diet and the food choices I make.
Don't get me wrong, I am not an expert in healthy eating and knowing exactly what to eat and to avoid, but I think my overall attitude towards food and my sheer love of it helps me maintain a pretty decent lifestyle.
Here, I'm sharing with you my top 10 tips on how I try to stay healthy - of course, it may vary person to person, depending on various different factors (allergies, for example).
Mariye's "How I Live Healthily" - Top 10 Tips!
1) Go Green with Tea!
I'm seriously in love with green tea. I have been drinking it for about 15 years now and aim to drink about 4 cups a day. Not only does it taste good, the health benefits are endless, such as reducing the risks of esophageal cancer, high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as helping fight wrinkles and signs of aging and of course, keeping you hydrated.
Though I am not too fussy on the brand of green tea, my total favourite is Lipton Green Tea Tchae Orient, which by far is the tastiest, most refreshing I have ever tasted!
2) Monkeys for Bananas!
When buying fruit to take to the office, I always make sure I stick a big bunch of bananas in the basket.
I try and eat at least one banana a day, usually as part of my breakfast or a morning snack. I always find that when I have a banana as part of my breakfast, I tend to snack less later on as it fills me up quite comfortably.
Bananas are also super healthy, and eating them helps increase your brain power, provides energy (thanks to the abundance of vitamins and minerals!) and can help lift your spirits too.
3) Fishy on your Little Dishy!
I make it a point to include fish as part of my weekly menu, and it usually comes in the form of salmon, mackarel or haddock, occassionally trout or tuna too.
Serving a simple fish dish once a week (my personal favourites include Teriyaki Salmon or baked salmon with vegetables) helps add a bit of variety into my diet, and it does have its health benefits too.
4) (Do not) Curb the Carbs!
I could never live without carbs. To me, it is the staple of every meal and I tend to think that meals without carbs are never as satifying as those with it.
Being typically Asian, I eat rice pretty much everyday, but I do enjoy pasta and wholemeal bread too.
I know that there are a lot of diets which advise people away from carbs, stating that it contributes to weight gain and constant bloating, but I believe this is only true if consumed in giant portions. Carbs are quite heavy in small portions anyway, so including it in my diet means I get full quicker, which means I snack less later on.
Carbs are not fatty - it's the stuff served with it (such as cream sauce or oily, deep-fried foods) that add on the calories!
5) Veg, veg...and more veg!! Oh and Fruit too!
Yes...fruit and veg. Lots of it too! I needn't have to explain all of the health benefits that come hand in hand with eating fruit and vegetables, but UK guidelines have set a recommendation of at least 5 portions a day, and there's a reason for it.
I try and include fruit and/or veg in every meal, and I don't mean a small slice of tomato and a slither of carrot here and there - I mean salads, different types of boiled or roasted veg on a plate and a variety of fruits, such as apples and oranges, to snack on. Personally, I tend to feel a bit "urghh.." when I haven't had fruit or vegetables in a day, so I always ensure I have some on a daily basis.
Fruit and veg are so versatile too, and there are so many recipes out there that you could try to help contribute to your daily intake.
6) International Love!
From a young age, my mum always served a variety of dishes from around the world, which I believe has helped me keep an open mind about foods from different countries.
Most of the time, our meals consisted of Japanese and Filipino food, but we would also have Italian and the occassional English dish too.
I consider having an "international diet" a health tip for 2 reasons. One, I believe there is goodness in most cuisines, depending on what it is, and two, it contributes to having an open mind.
Even to this day, Japanese and Filipino dishes remain my favourites, but I'm always willing to try new things. I also love Greek and Spanish food, which are completely different to Japanese (many Filipino dishes have been influenced by the Spanish, and many share the same names too!).
7) Hold the Fats!
Saturated fats such as those found in butter, oil, cheese and fatty cuts of meat are no good for the heart. Though I disagree with eliminating them completely, it is best enjoyed in the smallest portions, mainly because they don't boast of the best health benefits and too much of it can cause high cholesterol levels, which could potentially lead to increased risk of heart disease.
I always try and find ways of reducing the amount of saturated fats I consume, including eating lean mince and purchasing reduced fat products.
To learn more about saturated fats and tips on how to cut down on it, go to: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/Eat-less-saturated-fat.aspx
8) 3 Meals a Day Keeps your Hunger at Bay!
It is very rare that I skip meals. Mealtimes are my favourite times of the day and I'm always thinking about what to eat next!
I'm a big believer in having your 3 most important meals of the day, and was advised to leave at least 4 - 5 hours between each one. Snacking on healthy, low-fat foods (such as fruit) between meals is also beneficial as it helps to keeping you going until your next meal.
Breakfast: THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. It helps kick-start your day, and gives you energy to perform your everyday tasks. I know a lot of people tend to skip breakfast due to time contraints or they simply don't like the feeling of eating food so early on, but I personally think that starting your day with something in your stomach will keep you more energized and feeling less groggy as the hours go on.
I usually have a low-fat yoghurt, banana and a huge cup of green tea on a weekday and bread, eggs and grilled bacon on a weekend.
Lunch: This is when we have our mid-day energy boost! Depending on whether you work, go to school or are running errands on your day off, it's always good to top-up and eat a healthy, nutritious lunch. Again, it doesn't have to be a massive lunch, as long as you enjoy it and it is packed with health and goodness. In addition, it is the perfect time to switch off from work/school/ daily duties for half an hour or so and eat with colleagues, school mates and friends, or just to eat alone, which is good for the soul. It also helps stop that mid-afternoon urge to binge on snacks such as crisps and chocolate!
Dinner: The last meal of the day. I don't know about you, but I always feel hungry after a hard day in the office, and look forward to dinner time when I can just relax with good food and satisfy my hunger pangs. Again, I always aim to have a variety of foods on my plate, and ensure everything is balanced.
Dinnertime is usually a great opportunity to gather friends, family and loved ones together to reconvene and spend time together.
9) C.I.Y (Cook It Yourself)
I would recommend anyone who doesn't know how to cook to start learning.
Not only is cooking a good way to be creative and discover the culinary side of you, it also means you have control of what and how much of something you are eating. Personally, I prefer to cook than to have something already made up in a jar. That way, I know exactly what I am eating and what is being put into my dishes, and I also find that home cooking is much tastier than something that is pre-made.
I am no Nigella Lawson or Gordon Ramsay, but cooking doesn't have to be complicated. There are many super simple, healthy recipes available on the internet that you can choose from and attempt, and I would recommend anybody to give it a try.
10) Enjoy!!!!
To me, this is the best health tip I can give anyone when it comes to food. Food is a necessity in everyone's lives, but it's there to be enjoyed too.
I'm not saying load up on burgers and fried chicken everyday and wash it all down with full-fat fizzy soft drinks because that is what you enjoy. I'm saying don't refrain from treating yourself every now and then and don't feel guilty about eating junk food once a week, or having a cheeky chocolate bar.
Having a good attitude towards food is to have BALANCE. Be open-minded. Try cooking a nutritious meal. Have that ice-cream sundae as a treat on Saturday. Watch those portion sizes and make sure you are having more "good days" than "bad" ones. By mixing a healthy diet with exercise and a positive mind, I can guarantee that you will be happier within yourself and how you live.
Do you have any health tips you live by??
