Courtesy of JaimeOliver.com

Eating healthily is all about balance.  Every now and then it’s perfectly okay to have pie for dinner or a nice slice of cake at teatime- treats are a part of life –but it’s also important to recognize when we’re pushing things too far.  Indulgent food should be enjoyed and savored, but only occasionally. It’s important to remember that the majority of our diet should be made up of balanced, nutritious everyday foods.  Make healthy food a priority in your life and allow it to bring your family and friends together.  Learn to love how it makes you feel, how delicious it is and remember that a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are the keys to a healthy lifestyle.

Here are ten easy tips to live by:

1. Cook from scratch – This is one of the most important life skills you can learn.  It allows you to have complete control of what goes into your food;
2. Eat a balanced diet- Aim to eat a balanced diet that contains each of the food groups in the correct proportions;
3. Variety is key, eat the rainbow- Fill your diet with a wide range of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, whole grains and naturally low-fat dairy foods. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, different colors provide your body with different nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy- it’s not just greens that are good for you!
4. Understand what you’re eating- Make an effort to learn about the food you’re eating-we all need to understand where our food comes from and how it affects our bodies;
5. Eat nutritious calories- Make sure the majority of your energy intake comes from nutritious calories that also provide your body with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and good fats. Avoid empty calories;
6. Don’t skip breakfast – Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and helps you to be alert and awake throughout the day. Make sure you always eat a nutritious breakfast.  Make it wholesome and make it count;
7. Read the small print- It’s important to read packaging correctly. Be aware of the recommended portion sizes, and the sugar, salt, and saturated fat contents;
8. Drink more water- Water is an essential part of your diet. Drink plenty of water and avoid empty calories from things such as soft drinks, energy drinks or juices with added sugar.  Eat your calories, don’t drink them;
9. Keep active- Exercise is an extremely important factor in staying healthy, so try to be as active as you can;
10. Sleep well- Make sure you get enough sleep, it’s an essential part of being healthy and directly affects how well we are able to learn, grow and act in life. While we’re asleep, our bodies have that all-important time to repair.