Eating well does not have to be hard and you don’t have to cut out all the foods you love. There are a few simple rules I live by which ensure I am getting the right nutrients into my body, even if I am away from home, traveling or super busy.
In this article, I am going to share 10 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Meals More Nutritious.
Don’t feel that you have to follow all the tips. If all you implement is one or two changes, that’s good. I always say, taking baby steps is better than one giant leap and consistency is key.
It is what you do every day that counts. If all you do after reading this post is drink a glass of water first thing every morning, that’s a win!
So, without further ado, here are my 10 simple tips to improve your diet and Make Your Meals More Nutritious.
1. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning
Start the morning with a large glass of water before you reach for your coffee. This acts like an internal shower, cleansing and cleaning the stomach, rehydrating the body, and getting rid of toxins.
You can add a slice of lemon to improve the flavour. Drink the water at room temperature or a little warmer.
2. Add a handful of greens to every meal
Include cruciferous vegetables with all your meals, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, asparagus, rocket, watercress and brussels sprouts. Start doing this with every meal and it will soon become a habit.
3. Ditch the bad oils and add in the good ones
Ditch oils like sunflower, rapeseed, safflower and vegetable oils. Replace with unrefined oils like extra virgin olive oil, or coconut oil.
You can use flaxseed and olive oils in salads. If using flaxseed oil, do not heat it!
4. Replace a snack with a smoothie
Instead of a croissant at breakfast or a chocolate bar or crisps during your break, how about trying a smoothie? Smoothies are super quick to make and you can pack them with protein and healthy fats.
A simple recipe for beginners is to blend up spinach, banana, almond butter and any plant-based milk of your choice.
5. Introduce nut butters and avocado into your diet
Nut butters and avocado are packed full of goodness. They are both so versatile. You can add nut butters to smoothies, porridge and cereals, spread on oat cakes or onto sourdough bread. Try topping with sliced banana for a sweeter treat.
Avocado can be added to smoothies, sliced and spread on toast and added to salads. My favourite way to eat avocado is to make a delicious guacamole.
6. Flavour your water
To help you drink more water, try adding some flavour. You can add cucumber, mint or strawberries to a glass. Try to drink at least 2 litres a day.
7. Cook everything fresh
Whether you’re cooking a burger, fries, or baking a cake, maximise the nutritional value by using all fresh ingredients. This way, whatever you make will be healthier than any pre-packaged or processed food. You will be in control of everything which goes into your food.
8. Add whole grains to your diet
Try mixing up your diet and include brown rice, millet, barley, and oats with meals.
9. Use more herbs and spices in your cooking
Get in the habit of not only cooking everything fresh but also adding herbs to your food. Some of my favourites to add in are turmeric, ginger, basil, parsley, coriander, peppermint, and rosemary.
10. Don’t look at your phone when eating
This may seem odd, but focusing our minds on our food and chewing it properly actually helps our bodies with the digestion process, therefore helping our body absorb the nutrients properly.
You can do this by taking your meal times away from distractions such as work, the tv and your phone.
Pay attention to and enjoy the food on your plate, noticing the tastes and how the food makes you feel. I have to admit; I find this hard. Ideally, the fewer distractions you have when eating, the better.
I hope you can see from this article just how easy it is to Make Your Meals More Nutritious with just a few changes to your eating habits. When you feel better, you will make better choices.
If you would like to know how I can help you feel lighter, with more energy and glowing from the inside out then get in touch.