I am studying vegan nutrition and raw vegan nutrition and what I am learning really sums up the way I have chosen to eat and live for many years now. Following my guide to healthy eating is the perfect choice to maintain healthy choices for life and creating a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.
I personally don’t believe diets work. From my own experience with dieting you can end up on a treadmill of over and undereating and just can’t seem to maintain a balance.
A much healthier and easier way to eat is to choose healthy options to really fuel your body and your mind. My favourite guide to healthy eating is looking back to a time when you couldn’t purchase fast and processed foods and instead eating seasonal fruits and vegetables. Anything that is naturally grown and plant based are a perfect choice.
Always cooking from scratch, loving your left overs and buying only what you need are my top tips for a healthy balance.
Universally agreed scientific principles reflect what most healthy eating philosophies have taught us for centuries
Eat as close to nature as possible
Eat food as close to nature as possible. You need to have a good supply of raw foods included in your daily intake and you’ll want to avoid as much processed foods as possible. If you can, try to make all your meals and snacks from scratch. This way you will know exactly what you are eating.
Make sure you include lots of colour in the form of leafy greens and colourful vegetables. At least half of your plate should include vegetables. Leafy greens are making a huge comeback this year and I predict will soon be very trendy too!
Add some legumes
Eat a variety of beans, lentils and pulses (legumes). If you can, try and sub your usual meat choice (if you are a meat eater) or vegan meat substitutes for a legumes choice instead (a mixed bean chilli or curry are both delicious).
Make sure you eat enough protein too. Nuts, seeds, chickpeas and lentils are all a good source. You’ll want about a quarter of your plate to be protein.
Don’t skip the carbs and fats
The last quarter of your plate should be carbohydrates such as grains, sweet potato, potato, wholewheat pasta or rice and starchy veg are all good choices. A slice of bread is a nice alternative to warm carbs if you’re eating hearty soups or sloppy foods like chillis that need mopping up!
Top tips for cooking
Fats are good (but not all)…think the super avocado! I have avocado at least 4 times a week, on toast, as guacamole or even as a sauce in pasta. You can also try cooking with coconut oil as it can be cooked to a really high temperature making it great for roasting and frying.
Try to reduce trans-fats, which can be found in lots of processed foods.
When you are eating lots of vegetable based foods and meals make sure you use lots of herbs and spices to make your meals super tasty. They not only taste better, they also are really good for you and many herbs and spices have heath benefits too. Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, basil and peppermint are all great choice of herbs and spices with amazing health benefits.
Snack when you feel hungry to stop you reaching out for unhealthy choices such as biscuits and crisps
When you find yourself at the fridge thinking I NEED some sugar/chocolate/anything! Try some fruits and nuts first. Fruits are an amazing snack or pudding choice but they can be high in sugar. If you can, try eating them alongside some low releasing energy foods like a few nuts and seeds. Healthy snack bars (such as our Love Vegan bars) are also a good choice as they don’t cause a massive sugar spike. Look for clean and natural ingredients and steer clear of anything full of words and ingredients you can’t read or are unsure of what they are - they tend to be loaded with nasties that won’t help your gut at all.
The hardest pat of healthy eating…less sugar
My Best advise to you would be to try and reduce sugar your sugar intake. I used to have such a sweet tooth however, I trained myself to not crave sweetness by cutting it out, and it didn’t take that long to do. Eating natural sugars won’t cause as much as a sugar spike and a handful of nuts with the fruits will help balance it all out.
Make small steps one day at a time.
I really hope this help you feel fitter, healthier and stronger in 2021. Throughout this year I will be sharing meal plans, tips on nutrition, how to cut back on sugar, how the body reacts to certain foods and lots more exciting stuff…and of course lots more delicious recipes to help us all feel AMAZING!
Big Love, Jen x