In fact, there are some tiny changes you can make to your everyday routine that will promote a sense of well-being without you even noticing.
And the benefits are tenfold; in the process of upping your intake of much-needed vitamins, minerals and nutrients, you can boost your metabolism, your immune system and your brainpower.
Breakfast
It’s the most important meal of the day! Making sure you take the time to have a healthy breakfast each morning will kickstart your metabolism and reduce the chances of you reaching for something sugary mid-morning.
Get your day off to the best possible start with this make ahead chia breakfast pudding, eggs on toast, or a vibrant breakfast bowl.
Half and half
When you’re dishing up your dinner each night, start with the vegetables; filling up one half of the plate with fruit or vegies means you’re automatically upping your vitamins and minerals. Your protein and carbs make up the other half of the plate, lending a more balanced approach to eating.
Spiralise it
Yes, everyone seems to be spiralising their veg at the moment, but for good reason. Turning a zucchini in to “spaghetti” can change a carb-heavy pasta dish to a light, flavoursome vegetable-based one instead.
Try this zucchini ‘spaghetti’ recipe for a delicious introduction to spiralising.
H2O
The recommended fluid intake for adult men and women is between two and two-and-a-half litres a day. Make it an easier goal to achieve by keeping a litre bottle on your desk at work; you’re more likely to reach for it if it’s in sight, and you can easily keep track of how much you’re drinking.
Stash it
Make a bunch of meals over the weekend that you can freeze in individual portions. Then you can either take them to work for a balanced lunch, or have them as back-up for when you’re not in the mood to cook and might be tempted by a takeaway.
Try whipping up these easy make ahead recipes.
Roast, not fry
Trying roasting ingredients instead of frying them, whenever you can. Not only will the roasting process make the flavours of your veg, meat and potatoes really sing, it automatically cuts out the amount of cooking oil you use. Simple!
Go meat-free
Opting for one vegetarian meal a week will not only teach you to cook in a fun new way, it will automatically bump your fruit and veg intake. Joining in on #MeatfreeMonday will have you eating healthier and help the environment, too.
Take your pick from a veritable smorgasbord of meat-free dishes, from pasta recipes to quiche recipes, egg recipes to tofu recipes. Here are our top picks.
Eat colourfully
The more colours on your plate, the greater the combination of different vitamins, mineral and nutrients. Get your vitamin C from citrus fruits and plump strawberries, vitamin A from tangy blueberries and plenty of potassium from bananas; before you know it, your fruit salad is doing wonderful things for your well-being!
Add a little more
Another way to eat healthier without even noticing? Get in to the habit of chucking an extra handful of veg in to your dinner. Peeling an extra carrot or adding a few more green beans to your stir-fry may not seem like much, but it all adds up.
Smaller plates
Eating from smaller tableware tricks our brain in to thinking we have eaten more than we actually have, which means that even though we’re eating less, we’re still satisfied. Dish up your dinner on to a smaller, shallower bowl or plate and voila! Easy as pie.
Story by : Deirdre Fogarty.
Feature photography by : Ben Dearnley/bauersyndication.com.au
This article originally appeared on foodtolove.com.au