Living your best, healthy life can seem daunting when you consider all the information out there. Well, the truth is, you don’t have to sell your soul and give up gluten, dairy, caffeine and fun to take care of yourself.
Here are a few simple ways you can kick-start a healthier lifestyle today:
Cut down on sugar
Just one less teaspoon of sugar in your coffee could make a world of difference, long term.
Find secret healthy alternatives
Learning how to make healthier versions of your favourite takeout foods will help you stay motivated in the long run. So instead of cutting out food groups and depriving yourself, simply swap half a portion of pasta with zucchini noodles, so you still get the flavour and texture you love, just without as many carbs and calories.
Swap fruit juice for the real thing
Limit yourself to drinking too much fruit juice and rather eat a piece of fruit! It’s all about the fibre baby (and juice doesn’t have any).
Roast instead of fry
Roasting at high temperatures still gives food a flavourful crispy outside with vastly less oil required – and way less mess.
Start observing Meat-free Mondays
Cooking without meat forces you to get more creative and eat more vegetables, both of which are life skills that will serve you well all seven days of the week. If you’re already vegetarian, try eating vegan on Mondays and see how it goes.
Stick with fruits and veggies, nuts, or food you’ve prepared yourself
Even when it has more calories, you’ll get more nutritional bang for your buck, avoid all the junk that comes in processed food (fat, sugar, salt, artificial dyes, preservatives, etc., etc., etc.) and skip the wasteful packaging.
Have a glass of water in between every drink when you’re at a bar or a party
This is an excellent way to a) stay generally hydrated, b) consume fewer liquid calories, and c) NOT fall on your face at 9:30 pm.
Eat all the vegetables on your plate before you eat anything else
Preventative measures: fill up on the healthy stuff and then only eat as much mac ‘n’ cheese as you have room for. Adding a regular salad course to your dinner every day is a great way to do this.
Eat savoury proteins and vegetables for breakfast instead of carbs and sweets
This kind of food will keep you satiated for longer and avoid a sugar crash halfway through the morning. People in Japan and tons of other countries around the world have been up on this jam for centuries – get with it!
Use smaller plates
Science says: Large plates make you think you have a relatively smaller amount of food, so you’ll feel less satisfied and want more. So game your own brain by serving rich food on little dishes.
Sneak seeds into everything
These little guys pack a serious nutritional punch. Chia seeds have all kinds of secret powers; pumpkin seeds add value to granola and desserts; flax seeds are great for sprinkling over cereal. Guess what walks and talks like a grain but is SECRETLY A SEED? That’s right, it’s quinoa.
Take care of your gut with a probiotic
Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that keep the gut healthy by balancing the “good” and “bad” bacteria to keep your body working the way it should. These “friendly” bacteria have shown to have positive effects on the immune system and to help with intestinal issues like IBS, inflammation and indigestion.

Try the Releaf Probiotic 12-strain, which contains a combination of 12 probiotic strains that may assist in improving the microbial balance in the intestines and thereby the functioning of the digestive tract.
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