How many of you have tried to start a diet by cutting out so-called ‘bad’ foods, only to give up because counting every calorie and food item became too difficult? Being healthy doesn’t have to be hard work. One of the biggest challenges with most diets is that they are too restrictive, often cutting out whole food groups and leaving you short on important nutrients. Eating too many processed, high-sugar foods such as soft drinks, white bread, cereals, and sweets, while not eating enough vegetables, is another issue. According to the 2014–2015 Australian National Health Survey, 93% of Australians don’t consume the recommended five servings of vegetables a day.
Five top tips for better health and wellbeing:
- Enjoy food without guilt and focus on long-term overall health rather than short-term dieting.
- Include a source of protein, wholegrain carbohydrates and plenty of vegetables in each meal.
- Distribute your protein intake evenly across the day to help maintain muscle mass, using both animal and plant-based sources.
- Increase fibre intake by adding beans to salads, eating oats for breakfast, or snacking on fibre-rich nuts and seeds. Try to reduce foods with added sugar.
- Make water your main drink.
How to stay motivated and healthy:
Focus on enjoying your food and thinking about what to include rather than what to avoid. For example, ask yourself, “Have I had two servings of fruit, five servings of vegetables, a handful of nuts, and calcium-rich foods today?” This approach naturally reduces less nutritious foods without feeling restrictive. You’ll notice how much better you feel when you nourish your body rather than focusing on weight alone. Regular physical activity, including incidental exercise like cleaning or walking, also helps you feel energised and supports overall wellbeing.
