What to do to Improve Your Diet & Eat Healthier

I love to cook and eat a great diet. This in no way makes me an expert, but here are a few pointers on how to improve your diet and eat healthier. Many people struggle to eat well during a busy working week or as a student on a busy schedule.

Food and what you choose to eat can impact your mental health, energy levels, and looks. Maintaining a healthy diet is important so you feel your best and function optimally. 

It’s easy to get busy and distracted and fall off track with your diet. However, it’s never too late to make changes that will have a positive impact on your life and well-being. There are some simple steps you can take that will help you improve your diet and eat healthier when you are busy.

Grocery Shop & Cook at Home

Eating out and ordering in takeaways is convenient, but it can be costly and may cause you to consume more calories than what’s necessary. Instead, commit to making a list of healthy ingredients and foods and buying basic groceries to have on hand. If you’re short on time, check out home delivery. Get in the habit of cooking at home in the comfort of your kitchen. This will give you more control over the ingredients in your food. You can find many recipes online that are tasty, nutritious, and easy to prepare. 

When buying groceries, think about stocking staple foods. Keep quality beef or vegetable burgers along with whole grain bread and or burger buns in the freezer, and these will always provide a quick meal with the addition of a packet of salad. Packets of pasta, tomato passata, baked beans, frozen vegetables, and eggs mean you can always whip something up. A store-bought roast chicken is the basis of a dozen nutritious meals

Eat More Salads

Vegetables are a super food that you should work into your diet to eat healthier. They are effortless to make, and you can eat as much as you like! There are many ways to doctor up your salads, such as adding nuts and seeds, a dukkah mix, fruits, and a cheese such as burrata. Make sure salads have a great dressing, by keeping a few basic things like a good olive oil and vinegar. You could also check out some ways to make amazing dressings at home.

Taking homemade food or salads to work can save you money and make lunchtime healthier. Takeaways and quick foods are full of fat and salt. Consider taking a salad (even one of those you can buy sliced in a packet with a little packet of dressing inside) along with leftover roast chicken or a can of tuna or beans. This will save money and boost your healthy intake. A salad is a quick and easy lunch to make and pack, giving you a boost in energy. Salads for winter can include roasted vegetables. These can be reheated, and fresh greens and crunchy bits added. A warm salad is delicious. You may find that you eat less at mealtime when you include a small side salad. 

Keep A Food Journal

If you want to improve your diet and eat healthier keep a food journal. This can help you hold yourself more accountable for your eating choices and clearly see what you’re putting in your body. Track everything from snacks to meals and drinks, and identify where you can make positive changes to your habits. You may think twice before choosing to snack late at night if you have to track it. It’s an effective, proven way to better understand your eating patterns and habits. 

Drink More Water

Sometimes when you feel hungry, it’s really that you are thirsty and dehydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. A great way to start the day is with a big glass of water. Water will instantly fill the void, giving you time to consider your choices. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can always add fruits or vegetables to it. Carry a water bottle around with you during the day that you can fill up as you go. Many benefits come with drinking more water, such as an increase in your energy levels, better-looking and healthier skin, as well as the ability to flush toxins out of your body. Commit to drinking a full glass of water before each meal to help you reduce your food intake. 

Image: Good Housekeeping.com/uk/health

Hope some of these ideas inspire you to eat better when busy or anytime. Meal prep at some time during the week is also a great way to eat homemade food as often as possible