Five Ways to Enjoy Healthy Eating
Healthy eating can seem like a chore when a Dominos can be delivered at the tip of your fingers. A survey carried out by Populus found that 50% of 18 to 24-year-olds said that they have been eating more unhealthy foods than before lockdown. Many find the idea of healthy food boring and a waste of time. But here are five ways to enjoy healthy eating:
Give your food a makeover: Make your food more appealing by adding colours or creating fancy designs instead of throwing it on a plate. You can add a variety of vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes and bell peppers. You can also cut veg into different shapes and design your own plate. Think of it as an art project and get stuck in. Science says that the colour and size of your plate affects your eating. A meal on a large plate will make you think that you haven’t eaten enough, however, the same portion on a smaller plate makes you think you have eaten a lot more. The colour of your plate also matters: a red coloured plate reduces the amount you’ll eat. But, if you want to eat more, you should put your food on a plate that is a similar colour. For example, if you want to eat more greens, serve them on a green plate.
Give it a kick: Spice it up or sweeten it out - the key is to season your food. You can season foods with garlic, vinegar, sauces and herbs etc. It’s quick and easy to sprinkle your food with a bit of cheese or nuts. This adds flavour and texture that will enhance the quality of your meal. You can also boil your fish and poultry in chicken or vegetable stock instead of water. The aroma encourages to keep you going and the taste will become more flavourful. You can keep the same excitement in fruits with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a quick drizzle of chocolate sauce. Drown the fruits in your favourite flavours such as orange and apple juice or even milk!
Change it like you change your clothes: No one likes the same old boring routine, and you shouldn’t tolerate it when it comes to food. Jazz it up and change it with each meal. Sometimes you can boil your chicken and sometimes it can be grilled or fried in a little oil. Swap your flavours! One day it’s paprika with lemon and the next, it’s cooked in vinegar. It's cool to cut your fruit but it can also be thrown in a blender for the perfect nutritious drink. It’s always different and that makes it more exciting!
A plan goes a long way: As chaotic as this all sounds, sometimes it’s important to plan your meal ahead. You can write out a meal plan so that you’re not stuck on what to make and eat. You can get your ingredients beforehand and store them, so you’re not missing anything whilst cooking. It's important to keep healthy food readily available. You can place your healthy option in front of your eyes such as the kitchen worktop or the front of the fridge. You can also prepare healthy little snack boxes for work or school.
All in this together: That’s right, get everyone together. Healthy eating can seem like hard work when no one else is eating with you. You can make a dinner time for your home and ask everyone to be there. As a student, you can ask your friends or neighbours to join. You can also request for others to make meals with you. This builds conversation and can benefit your mental health. If you’re busy at work or studying, you can ask for a work member or friend to eat with you. This increases appeal and socialisation which makes things more exciting.