Following up on yesterday’s post, healthy living is about adding an ‘oomph’ to your life. By focusing more on the positives rather than on what you’re missing out, adopting a healthy lifestyle will appear both appealing and realistic. I thought I’d share some easy swaps/additions which come to mind. By expanding your horizons and making small changes, you will surely reap the benefits. After all, little shake-ups every now and then keep things fun, right ;)!
- Make your own granola at home. Because it’s loaded with nuts and dried fruit, it’s easy to regard granola as a ‘healthy option’ rather than what it really is: calorie-dense. To avoid the excessive sugar content, re-concoct granola at home by mixing raw oats with a selection of finely chopped fruit (I love a mix of banana, apple and berries) and nuts (flaked almonds and coconut chips for me). Topped with milk or yogurt, this is a great breakfast choice and ticks off all your major food group boxes.
- Drink more water. It’s no secret that we should aim to drink at least 1.5-2 litres of water daily (more if you are exercising). Whether serving as a natural headache remedy, skin moisturiser, or weight-loss tool, the benefits of water are immeasurable. And if it is the taste which doesn’t appeal to you, try adding some cucumber or orange slices to spruce up the flavour. Sparkling water also contributes to your water intake.
- Rather than sticking with potatoes, think outside the box when making French fries. The list is endless, from sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, and parsnips to butternut squash, courgettes, and okra. With a spray of oil here and a dash of seasoning there, these kinds of FRENCH fries will leave you saying ‘ooh la la’.
On a separate note, does anyone refer to fries as chips? I can’t get my head around it…chips are what Walkers/Lays make!!
- Forget about the American chain Dairy Queen. I am the ACTUAL Dairy Queen ;). Rather than whipped cream, go for 0% varieties of Greek yogurt. Without adding unnecessary fat to your dishes, Greek yogurt (or even low-fat natural yogurt) will add the same creaminess to your curries, sauces, dips and marinades. It also makes for a great dessert option. Mix it with some vanilla essence & Agave nectar and then scoop it on top of fresh berries. And if you want to really go to town, crush an Oreo on top ;).
- Spread your toast with avocado rather than butter. One sandwich which the mere thought still makes my mouth water is an old childhood favourite…cucumber, cheese, and BUTTER…you know the mini triangle kind which would be served at birthday parties (F.Y.I. along with scones & jam, this sandwich is also a must during high tea). I re-concocted it over the weekend by replacing the butter with mashed avocado. Along with moistening/cream-a-fying the bread (bloggers are allowed to make up their own words ;)), it also provides you with a dose of MUFAs.
- Opt for quinoa instead of white rice. Quinoa is a super-grain as it is the only grain which is also a complete protein. Better yet, quinoa even cooks faster than rice. To get you started, here are some quick & easy quinoa easy recipes. If you aren’t convinced yet, your next best bet would be opting for brown or wild rice over the white stuff.
- Pancake recipes normally include flour, butter, eggs and sugar which mean we should treat them as an occasional indulgence. To regularly enjoy pancakes, check out my recipe for oatmeal pancakes. By keeping the calories low without compromising its nutritional value or taste, you can happily indulge in some ‘naughty’ toppings guilt-free (Nutella anyone? :p)
…And who can forget about exercise:
- Incorporate interval training into your workouts. Combining periods of very high intensity activity (think of that scene from F.R.I.E.N.D.S where Pheobe goes running) with moderate intensity training will get both your metabolism and your heart pumping, and hence stimulate the fat loss process. Whether you swim, run, row or walk, interval training can be performed. By boosting your overall calorie burn, interval training sure makes every minute count…especially on days where you are limited with time.