Here are 10 of the best quick and simple tips for maintaining a healthy diet that will get you in better shape in no time at all. 10 healthy diet tips Drink lots of water During the working day you should be drinking 1.5 litres, equivalent to 2.5 pints, of water every day. Eat at least 5 fruit and veg a day In the UK, eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day is advised by the government. If you find this difficult, smoothies and juices are a great way to hit that target without even realising it. Don’t skip breakfast Often dubbed the most important meal of the day, it is key to have something which releases energy slowly over the course of the day such as porridge or blueberries. Plan your meals for the next week Don’t write a shopping list when you’re hungry because you’ll end up buying a load of junk food. Keep a supply of healthy snacks Fresh and dried fruit, cereal bars, rice cakes, low-fat fruit yogurts and wholemeal pitta and hummus all fall under the bracket healthy snacks to have around. Remove visible fat from food before cooking When it comes to meat, you should consider trimming the fat off before cooking it up. Limit your intake of stimulants Limit caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar intake. Only eat out once a week Prepare your food at home before heading into work or go for something like a soup in the canteen instead of eating out which can be surprisingly bad for you even when you think you are going for the healthy option. Have a balanced diet Have a varied diet and don’t cut out food groups such as carbohydrates in a bid to lose weight, a balance is always best. Eat the foods you actually like Just because something is supposedly good for you doesn’t mean you should eat it if you dislike the taste. There will be healthy alternatives which you might enjoy a lot more.
