8 Easy Ways to Improve Your Eating Habits

1. Don't skip meals

Skipping meals rarely helps with weight loss. Most people simply make up for a skipped meal by eating more at other meals. Breakfast is the most frequently skipped meal, usually because people feel they're too busy in the morning, or just aren't hungry. But it's worth having something, even if it's just something light. 

Try some oat porridge, natural yoghurt with some fruit and mixed seeds, or a hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit. Meal plans are a huge help in keeping you on track because once you’ve got a plan in mind, you’re a bit more committed.

2. Slow down

Eating when distracted or stressed, or skipping meals and getting overly hungry, all can lead to overeating. But the amount you eat is really determined by the amount of food that’s on your plate. So that’s where portion control really begins.

When you eat at home, serve yourself in the kitchen, it’s easier to resist second helpings that way. When you eat quickly, it’s also easy to eat too much. Sitting down at a table, taking smaller bites and chewing your food will help.

3. Read nutrition labels

It's important to read nutrition labels carefully for sugar content (4g = 1 teaspoon). So many foods have so much added sugar. Instead, pay a visit to your local independent health food store and buy unsweetened versions of cereals, yoghurts etc. You can then sweeten them yourself with fresh fruit and spices like cinnamon.

4. Watch the cuts you buy and how you cook them

Deep-fried foods, fatty meats, snack foods, sauces, dressings, and many desserts can dump huge amounts of fat and calories into your system. Use lean cuts of meat, eat more fish and poultry, and experiment with recipes so you can find other ways to prepare foods other than frying such as grilling and steaming.

5. Up Your Water Intake

When you don’t take in enough water, it can make you tired and irritable. And it can affect your exercise performance, too. Keeping a water bottle nearby will encourage you to drink. Sometimes you think you're hungry, when in fact you're thirsty so make sure to get at least 8 glasses in a day. 

6. Find Easy Ways to Add in Fruit & Veg

Fruit and veg do require some preparation. This is where your freezer can be your best friend - loose pre-cut pack fruits are easy to add to protein smoothies, yoghurt or porridge, and frozen pre-cut vegetables can be tossed into soups, stews, curries and stir-fries.

7. Avoid stress eating

Stress eating usually has nothing to do with hunger and most of the time; it doesn’t really make you feel better. Start by keeping a diary and make note of what triggers your stress eating. That way you can anticipate when it’s likely to happen. Be a mindful eater rather than a mindless eater. 

8. Snack away

If you're looking to improve your eating habits, get snacking. Snacking when done right, can help you control your overall calorie intake for the day by helping to keep your hunger in check. Snack on raw pre-cut fresh fruit and vegetables.

Also visit your local independent health food store and see what snacks are on offer - dried fruit and nuts are great in moderation.

Read your food labels or ask for advice before buying. Learn your way around the nutrition facts panel, and know that all the nutrition information that’s given is for a single serving - not the entire package.

Are you looking for more healthy eating tips? Then read our blog 'Can Chromium Help Control your Blood Sugar?'.

Checked and updated: 7 September 2021