Life can certainly get in the way sometimes, especially if you’re trying to eat more healthily. All it takes is a late-night return home from work and order in a typically unhealthy meal, and a health kick can start to wane. It’s a common occurrence, especially for busy professionals. Alongside having a morning coffee, though, it’s vitally important we manage to add fruit and vegetables into the mix at some point.
After all, what we put into our bodies is essentially what we get out of them. In terms of fruit and vegetables, this is entirely accurate too. In fact, according to a recent study by University College London, people who ate up to seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day experienced a range of increasing health benefits. Sadly, though, people do struggle to factor in these vital ingredients into their daily diets. Instead of sampling watermelon and cherries and playing Fruit Snap for real money, focus on adding fruit into your diet. Vegetables are important also. In order to make it easier to achieve, below are some helpful ways you can get these vital nutrients into your body.
Start with breakfast
According to many experts in the field, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A popular option for many is dried and fresh fruit, which can be added to porridge bowls or cereals in the morning. If you tend to prefer a hot breakfast, though, then consider grilling some tomatoes and mushrooms while also throwing in some beans too.
Consume fruit and veg snacks
We all snack on occasions, perhaps opting for a packet of crisps or a sweet treat from time to time. This type of snacking is the perfect opportunity to add some fruit and vegetables into a diet, though, perhaps by indulging in a lettuce wrap or by drinking a homemade fruit and vegetable concoction. Veggie dippers are popular too, a snack which contains the likes of peppers, sweetcorn and cucumber batons accompanied with a dip of your choice or simply eaten alone. Whatever your preference, ditch the salty and sweet snacks for some of the good stuff.
Make sure lunch is healthy
In order to make sure that you’re eating healthily, it’s important to plan your meals in advance. One way many people do this is by creating their own packed lunches, therefore giving them a reliable daily option that contains a selection of healthy foods. Avoid the shop-bought sandwiches and unhealthy crisps, and throw in a delicious homemade pasta salad or a hearty soup that is packed full of pulses and beans instead.
Plan produce-packed dinners
Similar to the aforementioned lunch planning, it’s worth doing the same for your evening meals too. In order to make sure your dinners contain fruit and vegetables, use the weekend’s to plan your weekly meals in advance and have your ingredients ready and waiting for when you return home from work. Tasty and healthy options include quinoa chilli with avocado and coriander, slow-cooked ratatouille, and a caponata bake. The options are extensive, though.
Consider using an app
A popular tool for many people in the modern world is the huge selection of smartphone applications we all have access to on both iOS and Android these days. Thankfully, there are some great options in the healthy eating space. These types of apps can help with meal preparations, provide some recipe inspiration when needed, and enable you to keep track of the good (and the bad) stuff that you’re eating. Fooducate is a good option, so too is MyFitnessPal.