Food and Eating Habits for A Healthy Lifestyle, During the Pandemic

When it comes to food – what we eat, how we eat and when we eat – has a significant impact on our well-being, both physical and mental.

Consuming nutritious food determines our overall health. Not only does it help prevent heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and other lifestyle disorders, but the right foods can also ensure good sleep, moderate our mood, reduce risk of depression and mental illnesses.

During the pandemic, an influx of several diets to keep infections at bay and the need to build immunity, for some, the lock down has helped keep up a healthy lifestyle, but sadly not all can boast the same!

We bring you a few tips to help build healthy eating habits, that eventually leads to a healthy lifestyle, one that would serve you well post the pandemic too!

1. Snacking Alternatives:

Stock up on nuts, fruits and dry fruits, placing a small portion of it at your work desk or in the vicinity. They help with your hunger pangs; help you feel full in a few bites and moderate brain activity, helping replenish energy levels. More often than not having a mix of fruits, dry fruits and nuts help you meet your nutrition requirements that may otherwise not be fulfilled.

2. Understand your body and its requirement:

Some of us may have a high metabolic rate, needing to eat a bit more to maintain our energy levels and vice – versa. Similarly, a woman with PCOS would need to limit sugar intake much more than a woman with no PCOS. It is therefore, imperative to understand that everyone’s body is unique, learn what works best for our body types and follow a diet that suits us best.

3. High Sugar, high fat food – a big NO:

Watch your sugar intake in any form, on a daily basis and try cutting it down gradually. Consuming too much sugar has several health implications, from heart diseases to type 2 diabetes and is even said to trigger the onset of cancer. Some studies also point out to sugar’s effect on clinical depression!

High fats affect over all metabolism, leading to obesity and hormonal imbalances. Understanding the difference between good fats and bad fats and moderating consumption based on what we require could do wonders for our health.

4. Grow your Food:

The lock down has seen many new hobbies crop up, and we believe that growing one’s own food is the healthiest of all! Even if you don’t have a backyard kitchen garden, there are still several varieties of greens, herbs and root vegetables that you can grow indoors. All you would need are some pots, seeds and the right techniques, and BAM! You’re all set! Growing your food helps you appreciate the food you eat and increases interest in cooking for yourself. Enjoying chemical and pollution free food is an added advantage, one that we may need to compromise when it comes to fruits and vegetables from the local market.

5. Minimum take out or home delivered food:

Work takes a lot of our time with not enough time for cooking and the easiest solutions may seem like a take-out or home-delivered food. In the long term however, this could prove to be a grave mistake with a large impact on our pockets and our health. Outside foods have ingredients and oils we generally would not use at home and in high quantities. While they are okay for our systems once in a while, our bodies need home cooked meals to recuperate and stay healthy. Opt for a simple home cooked meal or even a salad, watch your gut health and overall wellbeing improve.

6. Balanced nutrition is key:

The best diet to follow is the one that allows for a balanced nutrient intake, keeping in mind our body type, bodily requirements and the region you stay in. Plan your meals based on the nutrition you need on a day to day basis. Include natural immunity boosters, seasonal fruits/vegetables and opt for whole grains in your meals. Incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables and meat rather than the frozen kinds promise better taste and health!

7. Schedule your meal times:

The most important tip of them all is having our meals on time. Having the most nutritious of foods might not mean much if our meal times are all over the place and inconsistent. Have meals on time, maintain a consistent schedule for meals on a daily basis and finish your last meal of the day shortly after sunset. Your body and mind will thank you for these choices!

Each of these tips may take time getting used to, but with persistent effort and sincerity, you can build a lifestyle that sees you active, healthy and happy in the long term.