Beginning a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be daunting from the fear of the unknown to the fear of failure. This is why it’s important to take things slowly when starting a lifestyle change to make the changes stick for the long term. Simple modifications to current lifestyle choices and finding healthier alternatives for known favorites will lead to longer-term success.
In several conversations, I have heard “It is impossible to eat healthy on an African diet” and I am frankly surprised that people still believe this. The African diet is inherently healthy and often contains little to no processed foods. Most traditional dishes are often very well-balanced and incorporate significant amounts of vegetables and nutrients. In addition to being healthy, African meals are delicious and have a wide flavor profile.
Based on my experience with weight loss, here are five essential tips to make eating healthy a little easier.
Shopping + Pantry
Deciding to stick to a healthy diet requires lots of commitment. You can make the journey easier for yourself by not having temptation around. Having unhealthy food/junk around while trying to eat healthy can be highly counterproductive.
Make the conscious effort to have healthy meals and snacks, fruits and veggies available at your disposal so are you are not tempted to sabotage your diet.
Read labels. Try as much as possible to avoid food products with a long list of ingredients, especially if you are unable to pronounce the ingredients
Meal Composition
Aim for a balanced whole foods diet that contains 35 percent protein, 45 percent carbohydrate and 20 percent healthy fat.
Whole wheat variety of complex carbs are your friends as they are typically high-satiety foods and will help curb your appetite and keep you full longer.
RELATED: Meal Prep In 4 Easy Steps
Meal Prep
Planning is highly essential for success in every endeavor. This is no different when it comes to
