You want to go into summer with a size down, start exercising again or just take better care of your body. Whatever your reason: a healthier lifestyle is always a good idea. You are less susceptible to the flu, your skin gets a welcome boost, you sleep better, have more energy and you feel better about yourself. You don't need more encouragement, right?
In this blog we give you tips for healthy(er) eating and drinking and for responsible snacking. Keep on reading!
Start with vitamin-rich drinks
You need about two liters of fluid per day. If you like to drink coffee and a glass of wine in the evening even more, because these drinks cause you to lose extra fluids. It is best to keep your fluid levels up with water, but fortunately there are plenty of tasty and healthy alternatives.
Make healthy drinks yourself with a blender and you taste nature.
Tip 1 | Go for a fruit juice. Oranges, grapefruits and pineapples are packed with vitamin C, making your body extra happy.
Tip 2 | Tomatoes and beets are chock-full of healthy substances, such as potassium, iron and vitamin B1. Tomato juice and beet juice are ideal thirst quenchers during the winter months.
Tip 3 | Make a smoothie from vegetables such as spinach, celery and cucumber. Add another apple and a little lemon juice for flavor and a piece of ginger for an extra boost of vitamins and minerals.
Eat healthier do with these 3 tips
Healthy eating is done by preparing your meals with fresh products. So foods that are processed, packets and sachets are best left out. But there is more you can do to start the new year healthy:
Tip: 1 | Don't have time to spend hours in the kitchen in the evening? Make a stew, an oven dish or prepare the meal in a tagine. Just sear the ingredients and put them in the pan/bowl/tajine to cook further. In the meantime, you can relax and recover from your day with your legs high up.
Tip #2 | Your body loves variety. There are so many different foods that it's simply a shame to make that whole grain macaroni dish every Friday and eat broccoli every Tuesday. Never a dull moment: so try a new recipe every week. Throw a parsnip in your shopping basket for a change and replace the rice with couscous (so ready and perfect for the tagine).
Tip 3 | Hunger is a creature of habit, so plan your meal times and you will suffer less from intermediate cravings. After a week or two your body will be used to the new eating pattern. You will see that you are less likely to have the urge to reach for that cookie jar.
Tip 4 | Leave the skillet in the cupboard for a day and cook, steam or grill your food. There is no easier way to avoid unhealthy fats!
Make delicious and healthy baked goods with these tips
Even if you start the new year in a healthy mode: a treat now and then is allowed. Especially since there are plenty of ways to snack responsibly and tasty. How about carrot cake, banana cake, whole wheat muffins and healthy brownies? Some general guidelines for healthy baking are these:
Tip 1 | Use almond flour or oatmeal instead of white flour. Almond flour, for example, is low-carb, gluten-free and just plain delicious.
Tip 2 | Incorporate extra dark chocolate into your baking instead of white chocolate or milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is a good antioxidant, lowers your blood pressure and contains substances that give you a feeling of happiness.
Tip 3 | Push refined sugar aside and sweeten your baked goods with dates, banana, applesauce, maple syrup or coconut flour sugar.