Healthy eating tip 2: Don’t eat more than what you need

Too much of something is poisonous and this may come as a surprise to you but eating more than you’re your body can handle is not healthy. There have been cases whereby people have died from stomach rapture because of eating too much. Eat to feel satisfied and not to get stuffed. Eat a balanced diet that means it should have protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body.

When we say don’t eat more than what you need, it doesn’t mean that you should stop eating what you love. Be moderate with what you ingest in your body.  For example if you like sausages for breakfast, it’s ok to eat it but don’t make it a frequent habit. You can eat sausage once a week or a month then follow it with a healthy lunch and dinner later on.

• Avoid the guilt of eating foods that you feel are “off-limits.” 

Whenever we start practicing healthy eating habits, you will find yourself bouncing back to your old habits. This is very natural and nothing challenges us more than being taken out of our comfort zone. Once or twice you may be tempted to eat what you’re not supposed to but it’s no reason to feel bad about yourself. You can’t change your old habit drastically. Try by eating less of unhealthy foods that you were used to bits and portions as you reduce. In some cases you’ll find yourself naturally letting go of them completely most of the time eating healthy starts with your mental adjustments. Once the mind accepts this new habit that you want to try out the body will also respond in a similar way.

• Don’t have too much on your plate.

When you’re serving yourself a dish, don’t fill your plate with too much food so that it forms a pile on your plate. That’s being gluttonous but it’s also not healthy. Serve yourself size able food portion and then eat until you finish. If you don’t feel satisfied you can always go for a second dish. Tip: Make sure you serve yourself some leafy greens, vegetables or give room for a fruit for the second round.

• Be gentle and eat slowly.  It has been said that your brain takes a few minutes before it can alert your brain that you’re full. So don’t eat too fast just take your time. Eating slowly also allows you to chew your food properly before swallowing.

It's not just what you eat, but when you eat

• Eat breakfast, and eat smaller meals throughout the day. A healthy breakfast can jump start your metabolism, while eating small, healthy meals (rather than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up.
• Avoid eating at night. Try to eat dinner earlier and fast for 14-16 hours until breakfast the next morning. Studies suggest that eating only when you’re most active and giving your digestive system a long break each day may help to regulate weight.

   Read next: Healthy Eating Tip 3