Lifestyle tips
Healthy living is not just about good nutrition. Exercise should also be on the daily menu. See below for 10 pieces of advice towards a healthy lifestyle.
1. Add variety
Tired of the same old thing for dinner? By adding variety and trying new things you’ll not only make eating more enjoyable, but it will also help ensure that your body will get the nutrients it needs.
2. Choose whole grains
When choosing breads, pastas and crackers, choose the whole grain variety whenever possible. And try making the switch from white rice to brown rice.
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables
Try to include fruits or vegetables at every eating occasion. Adding a few slices of tomato to your whole grain bread at breakfast, a bowl of cut fruit at lunch, sliced cucumbers, celery or carrots as an afternoon snack, or a glass of 100% juice with dinner are just a few ways to boost your intake.
4. Exercise to maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces your risk of chronic diseases. Aim for daily physical exercise to balance the energy you consume with the energy you burn.
5. Limit salt intake
Put away the salt shaker – instead reach for ingredients like herbs and spices and lemon or lime juice to add flavour to foods you eat at home.
6. Limit saturated fat intake
Make the switch to healthful fats: use liquid margarine or plant oils for cooking or choose semi-skimmed milk instead of whole milk.
7. Eat often, but modest!
Eating regularly, by choosing small frequent meals or healthy between-meal snacks can help keep your appetite in check and help prevent over-eating.
8. Drink plenty, be moderate with alcohol
Drink at least 1.5 litres of water, tea or other low energy beverages every day, but limit alcoholic beverages to two per day, and best not every day.
9. Handle food safely and hygienically
Check the shelf life date on food packages and carefully refrigerate perishables and leftovers and discard them after a few days if unused. Frequently wash hands and kitchen tools to avoid cross-contamination between raw meats/poultry/fish and other foods.
10. Look at the labels
Take a closer look at the nutrition information and ingredients list on food packages to become more familiar with what is in your foods and drinks.