Do you want to eat better but don't know how? Today, MyZenTV reveals 10 tips for a well-balanced diet.

Eat whole foods

A basket of vegetables
Vegetable basket

When we talk about whole foods, we're talking about foods that you could grow in your garden.

So look for healthy, natural foods:

  • Seasonal vegetables
  • Seasonal fruits
  • Organic and free-range eggs
  • Oilseeds (almonds, hazelnuts, etc.)
  • Wholegrain cereals (quinoa, rice, etc.)
  • Pulses (lentils, beans, etc.)

Eat crunchy foods

What we meant is to eat foods that take longer to chew and digest and will leave you feeling full. On the other hand, vegetables that are still crunchy are full of fibre and nutrients and are especially fresh.

For example, if you feel hungry, choose nuts instead of crisps.

Drink more water

It is important to drink plenty of water because water helps your body not to overeat. To drink enough, you need 1.5 to 2 litres a day. Our little tips: get into the habit of drinking a large glass of water as soon as you wake up or take a bottle to work.

Did you know? Sometimes you may feel hungry when you are actually thirsty. Thirst is often confused with hunger.

If you are not a fan of plain water, you can drinka herbal tea without theine and without sugar instead.

Finding alternatives for a well-balanced diet

When you are cooking, you can find alternatives by using lower calorie foods than you were originally using.

For example, substitute cream with coconut milk. Coconut milk is particularly rich in minerals but also in magnesium and is hydrating. By cooking with coconut milk, you will feel less heavy when you leave the table

Do not skip meals

Skipping meals is a bad idea. Eating throughout the day keeps your metabolism working fast, prevents energy slumps and keeps you focused. Skipping meals several times could lead to an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

So eat three times a day, plenty in the morning, properly at lunchtime and lightly in the evening.

Reduce the consumption of transformed products

Industrial products are often high in calories and low in nutrients. They increase the risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Ideally, they should not make up less than 20% of your daily calorie intake.

For example, you should avoid :

  • Sodas
  • Ready-made meals (pizzas, quiches, pasta boxes)
  • Industrial yoghurts
  • Ready-made sauces (bolognese, ketchup, pesto)
  • Charcuterie

Reduce your sugar intake for a well-balanced diet

Reduce your sugar intake for a well-balanced diet
A bowl of sugar

Sugar should make up 5% or less of your daily calorie intake. On average, 5% per day is six pieces of sugar or 25 grams.

You can reduce sugar by avoiding :

  • Desserts high in sugar
  • Sugar cubes
  • Industrial sauces with added sugar.

Choose stevia or xylitol and eat whole fresh fruit instead !

Read food labels

It is important to always read food labels and the list of ingredients when buying a processed product.

To learn how to read labels correctly, here are three recommendations:

  • Avoid buying a product with a long list of ingredients and unfamiliar, complicated words
  • Look at the amount of sugar in the nutritional value of the product
  • Check that sugar, glucose, syrup, fructose, salt and/or a chemical name made up of numbers are not in the first three ingredients on the list.

Eat more plant-based protein

When we talk about plant proteins, we are talking about leguminous plants, linseed, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, tofu, miso and tempeh, as well as nuts and almonds.

It is advisable to consume a variety of plant proteins to obtain all the essential amino acids.

So, three to seven times a week, don't hesitate to replace your meat, fish or eggs with plant proteins.

Eat a little of everything for a well-balanced diet

A pokebowl for a well-balanced diet
A Poke bowl

A well-balanced diet is good diet if you know that you can eat a little of everything. We therefore advise you to compose balanced dishes.

How can you do this? By adding to your plate :

  • Cooked or raw vegetables
  • Wholegrain cereals (brown rice or quinoa)
  • Vegetable or animal proteins
  • Good fats such as coconut or olive oil (in seasoning or during cooking)
  • Spices and herbs (salt, pepper, curry, thyme, etc.)
  • water.

Now, all you have to do is adopt a well-balanced diet ! Find all our advice and recipes on our streaming platform.