Is the idea of replacing your favorite fried chicken wings with salad the first thought that comes to your mind?
Well.. that's definitely a good conscious effort to make towards eating healthier but in fact, a healthy diet is also a balanced diet which consists of these 7 essential factors:
Carbs
-Gives us energy
Protein
-Aids in tissue growth and its maintenance
Fat
-Provides energy, manages energy storage & hormone production
Fibre
-Regulates blood sugar levels, bowel function and bowel health.
Vitamins & Minerals
-Metabolism regulation, aiding cell growth & other biochemical functions
Water
-Maintaining hydration
A balanced diet gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly. To get the nutrition you need, most of your daily calories should come from: fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts & lean proteins.
Why follow a balanced diet?
Starving the body of the nutrients it needs to function properly can lead to a full suite of health issues like increasing the risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease. With a healthy & balanced diet, we reap the many health benefits such as weight loss, reduced risk to cancer and diabetes, stronger heart health, stronger bones, as well as improved mood and memory!
How does a balanced diet looks like on my plate?
Quoting the ear-worm chant by Health Promotion Board: "Quarter, quarter, half!"
A quarter of the plate should consist of wholegrains.
Another quarter of the plate with meat and other proteins.
Remaining half the plate with fruit and vegetables.
While this is a good guide to follow, each individual’s plate may look different from the other due to our various lifestyles and needs. Just as the saying goes “Big things often have small beginnings.”, similarly, the journey towards cultivating a healthier diet can start with small changes to our eating habits & consciously choosing healthier meal alternatives. For a start, you don’t have to forgo your favorite roast meat or fried chicken, you can simply opt to choose a leaner cut of the protein. If you are often in a rush & have no time to cut fruits or if you are not a fan of veggies, why not throw them into a slow juicer and drink them as a juice! YES! You did not misread it – Hurom’s slow juicers can slow juice whole fruits and vegetables so you don’t even have to cut them up before throwing them in!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, everything in moderation is key to a healthy & balanced diet. Eating healthily doesn't have to be boring & bland, adding variety to your meals & giving yourself a treat to your favourite food in moderation will bring longevity to your motivation in maintaining a healthy, balanced diet for life! Cheers to a balanced diet & a healthier you!