Get Real with Food!

Hey do, do you sometimes struggle to find the time to eat healthily? With a busy lifestyle it can be surprisingly difficult.

Yes, we all know we should be getting our 5-a-day, and be conscious of what’s going on our plates. Planning meals can be so time consuming though - many of us spend more time stuck in traffic than in the kitchen! Plus there are so many more convenient options!

Of course, relying on ready meals, packaged snacks and restaurants can often be pretty unhealthy, as well as expensive. Eventually it adds up to a hefty cost to our waistlines - as well as our bank balances!
 

Real food!

Here’s some great news for you though  - it really doesn’t have to be like that. It’s much easier to fit a healthy (and perhaps cheaper) diet into a busy working life than you might think.

The key is to start thinking in terms of real food.

Basically, it’s any food that has not been refined or processed. It’s food in its natural state - commonly known as whole foods.

For example, white rice is a refined version of brown rice. Brown rice is whole food, white rice is not. Fresh fish is whole food - fish fingers are not!

Food writer Michael Pollan has described the processed products that fill our supermarket shelves as “edible food-like substances”. What do you think?

Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of most things you can consider as a “real food”. And some excellent reasons why you should eat more whole foods include:

• More fibre: Fibre is absolutely crucial for a healthy digestive system - and processed foods have often had all that stripped out! See here for more info on fibre benefits.
• More nutrients: You get more nutrients per calorie from whole foods. Processed foods are often loaded with fat and sugar instead! Plus your body can absorb these nutrients more easily when food is in its natural state.
• No harmful additives: Packaged food is often stuffed full of mysterious additives, as any quick glance at a label will tell you. You might be intolerant to any of these. With whole food, what you see is exactly what you get!
• Less snacking: The combination of more fibre, nutrients and all-round goodness keeps you satisfied for longer.
• Improved mental health: Studies show you may feel happier and be healthier mentally by eating more whole foods

And did you know - consuming “good fats” considered as whole foods (eg. extra virgin olive oil) may even help you reduce body fat!
 

Real food revolution!

You really can transform how you eat quickly and easily. All it takes is a few small changes every day. And you’ll probably save some money to boot! Here are few top tips to get you going:

Also, you might be interested in taking part in Food Revolution Day on 19th May. This is a fantastic initiative from the Jamie Oliver Foundation that aims to educate people on the benefits of “real food” around the world. There are loads of ways you can get involved!