“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.”- Anthony Bourdain.
Set aside the imported berries and hyper-specific supplements. Healthy eating doesn’t need to be expensive, intimidating or overly complicated. In her talk, Choose Health and Wellness, nutritionist Elizabeth Beetham reminds us that most of what your body needs is already in your kitchen, or could be with a little planning. Think foods like apples, garlic, parsley, and fresh water – not the latest food trends, just household staples.
Here are some ways to make healthy eating habits easier.
Plan to eat
A fridge and pantry stocked with lean proteins, fresh veg and a few herbs or spices can get you through almost any day. The trick isn’t perfection - it’s having a plan. Know what you’re cooking ahead of time. This proactivity can help you avoid microwave meals and stressed-out snacking.
Stop overthinking what’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for you
Be conscious of what you put in your body, but know there are a lot of false claims out there. The basics still work:
- Eat fewer processed foods.
- Avoid additives and artificial sweeteners when you can.
- Don’t fear carbs.
- Aim for variety across the week.
Eat with attention
Do you turn to eating when stressed or angry? That’s a normal reaction, but Beetham says your body’s too busy firing up the fight-or-flight system to focus on digestion. Slow down. Look at your food. Smell it. Always cherish it. This simple pause gets your digestion working properly. And the more present you are, the easier it is to stop eating when you’ve had enough. Think how easy it is to finish off the sharing bag of popcorn when you’re zoned into a film!
Keep water close
As great a novelty fizzy drink may be, no amount of sugar should convince our bodies that it’s what we need over water. Dehydration can cause unclear thinking, mood swings, and affect physical performance amongst many other short and long-term problems, so one of the easiest ways to feel better is to drink more water. A useful trick: every time you go to the bathroom, drink a glass after. Carry water in your car, and keep it at your desk. Add fresh lemon if you want a bit of flavour and a gentle digestive boost.
Cooking is caring
Cooking doesn’t need to be fancy or time-consuming. But it should feel like something you do for yourself, not to yourself. Try to use fresh ingredients. Always add flavour. Don’t rush it. Sure, cooking and eating are primarily functional, but by enjoying it and treating it as a craft, you’ll improve how you function. It’s a universally recognised, basic form of self-respect and love that can significantly improve your lifestyle.
If you want more of a taste of this topic, this article pulls from Elizabeth Beetham’s talk Choose Health and Wellness.
