Reloaded Mag Africa Volume 21 | Page 9

Healthy Eating Tip #1: Don’t Stress

Eating a nutritious diet can seem stressful. There is conflicting information about fats, carbs, protein sources, and specific nutrients. But the truth is that it’s really not that difficult if you consider a couple of general things.

First off; don’t worry too much about specific vitamins and minerals. As long as you’re eating a variety of nutritious, unprocessed (emphasis on unprocessed!) foods, you’re likely covering all your bases from a nutritional standpoint.

Secondly, when it comes to the selection process during a trip to your nearby grocery store, pick up a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources. Choose to eat “brown” carbs (whole grain and natural foods) and stay away from processed, refined products. As far as fats go, stick to olive and canola oils, nuts and nut butters, sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and naturally occurring fats.

Healthy Eating Tip #2: Shop the “Border”

The key to improving nutrition is to shop the “border,” or along the outer aisles, of your grocery store. When you do this, you avoid the temptation of the sugary, pre-packaged foods filling the shelves in the center aisles. Keeping all the refined and processed options out of sight helps you cut those unnecessary foods you add to your cart. The border of the grocery store is where you’ll find fresh produce, lean protein, whole grain breads, and dairy products. Having said that, it’s OK to veer away from the border for select items, like olive oil and brown rice; just don’t wander too far!

Healthy Eating Tip #3: Taste the Rainbow

The more colorful your plate, the more nutrients it likely features. Focus on buying an array of colorful fruits and vegetables to eat throughout the day, adding them to a salad or stir-fry, or munching on them alone. You can also consider adding these colorful foods to egg, meat, rice, or other protein dishes and carbohydrate sources.

Healthy Eating Tip #4: Avoid Packages

Most of the time, when a food comes in a package with a list of ingredients, this means it has been processed. Even if there is a “gluten-free” label or a health stamp, it’s still best to leave it on the shelf. Health stamps can help guide you in your food choices, but know that they don’t always guarantee that an item is healthy for you, as they were once featured on boxes of “Froot Loops.” When you avoid packages and stick to fresh food, you get all the fiber and nutrition your body needs without the added salts, sugars, and ingredients not even a well-versed English major could pronounce.

or a health stamp, it’s still best to leave it on the shelf. Health stamps can help guide you in your food choices, but know that they don’t always guarantee that an item is healthy for you, as they were once featured on boxes of “Froot Loops.” When you avoid packages and stick to fresh food, you get all the fiber and nutrition your body needs without the added salts, sugars, and ingredients not even a well-versed English major could pronounce.

Healthy Eating Tip #5: Mix It Up

One of the biggest challenges to eating healthy is variety. Although there are countless options, people tend to stick to what they know in the grocery store. If you’re eating the same thing all the time, however, you’re always getting the same nutrients. Eat a wide variety of healthy, fresh foods to get sufficient servings of every beneficial nutrient you can!

By

Khanyisile Maseko