National Nutrition Week is observed worldwide from September 1 – 7. The theme for this year is, “Eat Right, Bite by Bite.” The main objective of Nutrition Week is to spread awareness and educate people on the importance of nutrition in our lives and impact of healthy eating.
As of today, I want to talk about how to begin eating healthy. Eating healthy is necessary for good health and well being. But for this, some level of dedication, discipline and motivation is needed. Healthy eating doesn’t mean following a strict and restrictive diet and living only on fruits and salads. Eating healthy truly has to be seen from a holistic approach. I truly want eating healthy for all of you to be an enjoyable social experience.
What is healthy eating?
Like I said before, healthy eating isn’t about following a restrictive and strict diet or simply living on fruits or salads. It is about having a balanced diet, eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions that your body requires. It’s simply about getting the right balance of different foods. You can eat all that you want, only if you practise moderation.
How to start eating healthy?
Eating healthy is the art of maintaining balancing. Follow these few tips that will get you started on how to eat healthy.
- Proportion control – You can consume all that you like to eat, only if you practise moderation. You can continue to eat the junk food you have been eating but the key is proportion control at all times! As Diwekar’s meal map suggests that, it’s important you visualise how much you want to eat at a particular time, consume half of that amount of food, and take double the time to eat it. And, if you feel hungry again, repeat the same process. The mental meal map provided by nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar is an effective way to practise moderation while eating.
- Avoid everything packaged – Nothing is healthier than freshly cooked home made food. Foods that packages are processed and loaded with sugar and preservatives that are harmful in many ways for our body. It’s normal to crave comfort food such as pizza, pasta or cake, but avoid ordering it from outside and instead make it at home. Satisfy your craving by making comfort food at home.
- Consume fresh fruits and vegetables – It is important to eat fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. They provide numerous benefits to our body. So make the most of seasonal fruits and vegetables that are available. Eating sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables ensures that you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals required by your body.
- Eating local and traditional – Eating local and traditional food that is being consumed in your family for over years is a way to ensure variety in your diet and make sure you are getting sufficient nutrition. Eating seasonal, local and traditional foods is a way to start eating healthy. Our ancestors would eat a balanced diet, so it is important we follow the tradition.
In addition to these points mentioned above, it is important to have a healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind along with a balanced diet and proportion control, make sure you remain active and exercise regularly.
Follow SpoonfulStoriesbyIshanaPassi for healthy and delicious recipes!