Food as a lifestyle: By Hannah from Food Intelligence
Hannah created Food Intelligence to educate people on the benefits of eating the right foods and to demonstrate that food can not only give you the body that you want but make you feel amazing too. We asked the beautiful and talented Hannah to give us her top three tips to transition to a healthy food lifestyle. Here's what she said:
When the gorgeous women at Yellow Willow Yoga asked me to write a blog for them on ‘food as a lifestyle’ I thought it would be simple. However, I have actually found it really difficult because there are just so many areas on this subject to explore. After weeks of conversations with myself about which direction to take I decided to settle on giving you some really practical tips for making healthy food your life. I’m not taking about what ever food craze is sweeping the globe or the next superfood, what I’m on about is real long-term dietary change to keep you happy and healthy to live a long fulfilling life.
With so much information out there about what types of foods to eat and when to eat them, I want you to strip it back and encourage you to make your food choices as basic as possible. I’m talking about eating fresh fruit and vegetables as every meal and snack. Cutting out refined sugar and processed foods, while reducing your carbohydrate intake. This will make you feel like a million bucks in no time. Your body, especially your gut, will thank you too. When making these changes it is important to do so with the view of them being long-term, think LIFESTYLE change!
So here are my top three tips to transition to a healthy food lifestyle
1) Transition slowly – If you make huge changes from the get go and go all gung ho there is little chance you will be able to stick to your new food lifestyle. Instead opt for small changes and once you have mastered one and it has become a habit move on to your next food goal while maintaining the goals you’ve already achieved. Remember, this is a life style you want to live not a quick fix diet.
2) Don’t follow the fads. These days it seems every second person I speak to is paleo or vegan or something or other. Research still clearly shows eating a well-rounded diet of whole foods (foods as close to their natural source as possible) is best. Obviously if you have an allergy or intolerance steer clear of your trigger foods but otherwise eat the rainbow to be sure to get all of the nutrients your body needs to function at its optimum level.
3) Life happens, occasionally you’re going to eat a piece of cake or have one too many espresso martinis. That’s ok! Now, I am not giving you permission to have free rein and eat whatever you like, whenever you like but if you try to follow the 80/20 rule you should be good. That means eating well 80 percent of the time and 20 percent of the time not being as strict. If you eat something sugary, alkalise afterward with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 200mL of water. Or, if you’ve had a few wines the night before start your day with the juice of one whole lemon in a mug of hot water to help your little liver along. It’s all about balance people!
LINK TO ARTICLE: here
***Please note this is general advice only please see a qualified health care professional before you make any drastic dietary changes***