Healthy Eating Week is a great opportunity to give your health and wellbeing a boost. And it’s not just about the food you eat.
From drinking the recommended amount of water to reusing your leftovers, there are five healthy themes to choose from.
Which one will you pick?
Reach that five a day target
We all know that five is the magic number when it comes to fruit and vegetables. But when is the last time you reached that goal?
It can help to space out your portions throughout the day:
- Breakfast – porridge or muesli with blueberries
- Lunch – a fresh salad or tomatoes with your sandwiches
- Dinner – a side of broccoli, red pepper or peas
- Snacks – get to give with carrot sticks, a handful of berries or a banana
Or why not have multiple portions at once? Fruit salads and veggie pasta bakes are easy ways to get your daily dose.
Keep hydrated
You will be more likely to drink the recommended 6-8 daily glasses of water if you add a splash of flavour.
Lightly crush some strawberries, raspberries or blueberries to pop into your glass for a berry buzz. A wedge or citrus or slice of cucumber will also bring refreshing flavour.
You can even freeze these fruity mixtures to create some instant ice-lollies. It’s a simple way to keep the whole family hydrated as the weather warms up.
Make time to move
Getting active is the perfect companion to eating well – and you don’t need to spend a second in the gym.
Always remember that any exercise is better than no exercise. Something as simple as gentle stretches, a walk to the shops or even cleaning the house are easy ways to get active.
And if you bring a friend or family member along with you, it will feel a lot less like exercise!
Fabulous fibre
Fibre provides important energy, keeps our digestive system moving and prevents us from feeling sluggish. That makes it a key part of our diet.
You can add fibre to any of your meals:
- Apples (skin on), bananas or oranges
- Carrots, cauliflower or aubergine
- Seeds, nuts or oats
- Wholemeal bread, brown rice or wholewheat pasta
- Beans or pulses
Most breakfast cereals are naturally high in fibre too.
Love your leftovers
Every person in the UK wastes around 70kg of food every year. And most of the time, food is still edible when it is thrown away.
One of the most wasted foods is the humble banana. But bananas are still safe to eat even once the skin has started turning black. Some delicious banana bread is the perfect way to use your mushy bananas – and make a tasty, healthy treat.
And for those forgotten vegetables in the fridge, rustle up an oven bake, casserole or stir fry.
Building healthy habits after Healthy Eating Week
Healthy Eating Week is a great opportunity to make some changes to the way you think about exercise and food. And these changes can become long-term healthy habits too.
Our healthy lifestyle support can show you how.
