Confused about what to eat
I often get asked what to eat, “there are so many diets out there and I don’t know what to eat anymore”. It feels like there is a new diet out most months, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the latest diet.
“Basically, if you can tell the food was grown in the ground or from a tree then it’s likely to be good for you. That is, it’s not processed or packaged.”
Let’s turn this around and not focus on diets as such (unless you have a chronic health issue, then a specific diet may be indicated). Rather lets look at some basic food principles.
There are a few simple principles to eating well which can form the basis of your food thinking.
Basically, if you can tell the food was grown in the ground or from a tree then it’s likely to be good for you. That is, it’s not processed or packaged.
Eat a rainbow
An ideal way of living a healthy life is to eat all the colours of the rainbow. By this, I mean add as much colour from a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables as you can. Mother nature has provided us with the most abundant supply of fruit and vegetables in a wide array of colours. e.g. there are at least five colours of carrots available. The more variety, the more diverse our microbiome (gut health) will be. Good gut health is linked to better moods and better overall health and immunity.
40 different plant foods
Try and challenge yourself to eating 40 different whole plant foods and plant fibres per week. There is so much choice at local markets and supermarkets these days it can be easier than you think. If you buy what is in season, then it doesn’t need to be expensive either.
For instance, you might eat an omelette for breakfast and add some parsley, tomato, capsicum, mushrooms and zucchini. You are getting five different plant foods in one breakfast.
If you make a salad, choose a couple of different coloured carrots, mixed coloured lettuces, avocado and mixed nuts and seeds.
Rather than eating the same fruit every day, choose a banana one day, strawberries the next, a different coloured apple on other days. You can of course make a fruit salad for each day but if you’re time poor just choose variety.
Other tips to feeling good
Stay hydrated, drink water (and no soft drinks or fruit juices).
Chew your food.
Try not to overeat, stop eating before you are full.
Drink away from meals
Move your body
Get out in the fresh air.
Get some sunshine every day, even just for 15 minutes, out of the hottest part of the day (10-3pm)
