Healthy Eating Week is about taking simple steps to give your health and wellbeing a boost. And it’s not just about the meals you eat.
From cutting back on food waste to staying hydrated, there are five fab themes for you to try.
So pick one you find easy, challenging or fun – or why not give all five a go?
Get at least five a day
Five is the magic number when it comes to fruit and veg. But how many of us actually reach that target?
Spacing out your portions throughout the day can help:
- Breakfast – muesli or porridge with blueberries
- Lunch – a vibrant salad or tomatoes with your sandwiches
- Dinner – a side of peas, broccoli or red pepper
- Snacks – round it up to five with a banana, carrot sticks or bowl of berries
Or you could go big and have multiple portions in one meal! Fruit salads and veggie pasta bakes are easy ways to achieve the full five.
Stay hydrated
Adding a splash of flavour to your water will make you more likely to drink the recommended 6-8 daily glasses.
Bring a berry buzz by adding some lightly crushed strawberries, raspberries or blueberries. A slice of cucumber or wedge of citrus will also make your drink more refreshing.
And if you freeze these fruity mixtures, you can make your own homemade ice-lollies! It’s a fun and healthy way to help little ones (and grown-ups) stay hydrated as the weather gets warmer.
Let’s move more
The perfect companion to eating well is getting more active – but that doesn’t have to mean a trip to the gym.
Any exercise is always better than no exercise. Something as simple as a walk through the park or a few minutes of gentle stretches are easy ways to give your physical health a boost.
Why not get a friend or family member to join you? It will feel a lot less like exercise if you have someone to chat to.
Focus on fibre
Fibre is a key part of our diet. It keeps our digestive system moving, prevents us from feeling sluggish and provides important energy.
It’s easy to add a little fibre throughout the day. Why not try:
- Apples (skin on), bananas or oranges
- Carrots, cauliflower or aubergine
- Seeds, nuts or oats
- Wholemeal bread, brown rice or wholewheat pasta
- Beans or pulses
Many breakfast cereals are naturally high in fibre too.
Reduce food waste
Each person wastes around 70kg of food every year in the UK. And often, a lot of this food is still safe to eat.
Bananas are one of the most-wasted items. But just because a banana skin is turning brown doesn’t mean the fruit itself can’t be eaten.
Whip up some delicious banana bread – the mushier the banana, the better! And for those leftover veggies in your fridge, turn them into an oven bake, stir fry or casserole.
Healthy habits after Healthy Eating Week
Healthy Eating Week is a great opportunity to make changes to the way you think about food and exercise. And these changes can become long-term healthy habits too.
Take a look at our healthy lifestyle support to find out how.
