It’s a New Year and as always, we all have resolutions to help us live a better life. One of them that usually makes it to our top five is our health! We believe this should not kill your budget because it is as simple as eating smarter and just moving more.
Below are five wellness tips from Nestlé to help you live a better life in 2019.
Keep Hydrated
Start encouraging everyone in the family to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, before breakfast. Pack water bottles, so that everyone can take one to school or work. Keep it interesting by adding sliced lemons, oranges or watermelon. Enjoy fruits and vegetables that have a high natural water content such as watermelon, oranges, cucumber or tomatoes.
Eat More Fibre
As a family, enjoy wholegrain cereal, oats or baked beans on wholegrain toast for breakfast. Try include legumes where possible i.e. add hummus to sandwiches or add mixed beans to salad. Provide fruit as snacks and at meal times fill half of everyone’s plates with vegetables or salad – aim to enjoy 5 veggies and fruits a day
Limit Salt, Saturated Fat and Sugar
Consider purchasing products which have the Heart Mark, such as Unsweetened Evaporated Milk. It’s a guaranteed way to buy food lower in salt, lower in sugar, lower in saturated fats, and higher in fibre. Ditch fast foods as these contain high sodium and saturated fats. Instead, cook fresh balanced family meals which include vegetables, lean proteins and grains or starches. Skip adding salt when cooking. Remove the shaker from the dinner table and replace with fresh herbs and spices. Try garlic, no added salt tomato paste, lemon juice or vinegar to flavour your food. In sandwiches, use canned fish or cook a little extra meat or chicken when preparing your main meal, instead of deli meats as these contain high salt and saturated fats. Limit sugary drinks and avoid adding additional sugar to foods i.e. cereals.
Reduce Your Portion Sizes
Help limit portion sizes by plating up your families meals. Remember that ½ plate should include vegetables, ¼ plate lean protein and ¼ plate grains/starches. Swop large dinner plates with smaller side plates as this can also help reduce your portion sizes
Move More
As a family try and commit to doing one fun physical activity together a week so that exercise can become more of a fun tradition and less of a chore. Choose activities that the whole family can get involved with, such as a hiking trip, a game of cricket at the park or going on a bike ride. These activities will not only benefit your families’ health but can also create life long memories.
#ChooseWellnessChooseNestle
For more information, visit Nestlé.
Source: Nestlé. Images: Pixabay.com