If there’s one constant in our lives, food is going to be a key one. We all need food to survive. This is a basic requirement that we all need to maintain any quality of life. But considering we are so dependent on food, not many of us give it the focus, care or attention it deserves. It’s time to start paying attention to what you’re fueling your body with. Everyone has different needs and requirements, so everyone’s diet needs to vary too – being perfectly tailored to tick all of your boxes. Here are a few suggestions that can help you along the way!
Always Keep the Basics In Mind
The first important thing to bear in mind is that you always need to follow the basics when it comes to making sure you have a healthy diet. There are certain rules that go for everyone and you need to stick to them. First, you need to make sure that you’re consuming roughly your recommended calorie count each day. This varies depending on your age, sex and activity levels, but your doctor or a nutritionist will be able to let you know how many you should be aiming for. Next, make sure that your food groups are balanced and in moderation. We require something from each of them, so you need to make sure that you’re not cutting anything out entirely or consuming too much of a particularly one. Finally, get your fruit and vegetables and stay hydrated. Five portions of fruit and veg and roughly two litres of water a day should be your goal.
Intolerances and Sensitivities
Listen to your body. If you find that you grow unwell or experience discomfort closely after eating something, you may be experiencing some sort of intolerance or sensitivity. Again, it’s worth checking in with your doctor to identify and diagnose these accurately. You may need to adapt to a lifestyle with certain foods eliminated and their nutritional content replaced with foods that you are more tolerant of. For example, you may find that you have a nut allergy, an egg allergy or sensitivity to gluten. There are always alternatives out there, such as nut free foods, egg free cakes or the best gluten free sour cream.
Moral and Religious Dietary Requirements
If you have moral or religious requirements, you may find that you need to alter your diet to match. For example, if you feel strongly about animal rights or the environment, you may decide to follow a vegetarian or vegan, cutting animal produce out and replacing the lost nutrients with plant-based alternatives. Some religions also call for certain foods to be avoided, such as pork in Islam or Judaism. Again, just make sure that you find alternatives that will replace specific nutrients that you may have previously found in foods that you are choosing to no longer eat.
These are just a few examples of how you might like to alter your diet to meet your needs!
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