KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD
Have you ever heard the saying by Heather Morgan, MS NLC, ‘Every time you eat or drink, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.’? Certain foods and compounds within the food can either play a protective role in your body or potentially cause harm. It is the ongoing protection or insult from the food we eat that influences how we feel, such as our energy levels, mood and hunger. Ultimately, our health later in life is also strongly linked to our day-to-day food choices.
Buying instant meals, snacks and drinks from take-aways, canteens, spaza shops, restaurants, grocery stores and meal delivery services happens daily for most of us. From the ‘cappuccino’ on the run to the lunch you ordered from your phone. This saves us time which is one of the most valuable commodities in the ‘modern world’. Unfortunately, we have no idea how the meal was prepared, how the portions were dished up and what ingredients were used. Many convenience foods are loaded with ‘empty calories’ as they provide plenty calories but with little to no healthy nutrients and possibly contain unhealthy compounds.
Choose:
- Meals that have a decent portion of fresh salad or vegetables (add your own dressing sparingly if you need to).
- Meals and snacks with a reasonable portion of lean protein such as meat, chicken, fish or legumes (beans and lentils).
- Meals and snacks with wholesome starches such as potato, sweet potato (not fried), brown rice, corn, barley, quinoa or Bulgar wheat to name a few.
- Water as your drink of choice.
Avoid*:
- Meals that are largely made up of refined or ‘white’ starch such as pap, pasta, noodles and white bread (including rolls, pita’s, pizza bases etc.).
- Meals or snacks that have been fried, drenched in a sauce or crumbed.
- Snacks that are salted (i.e. crisps) or loaded with ‘hidden sugar’ (i.e. biscuits, muffins, scones etc.)
- Warm and cold sweetened beverages.
*Limit these to special occasions.
