The first of our “Wellness with … ” series (health) kicks-off with Chef Jessica Holloway who gives us 5 ideas on how to stay on track with our 2018 New Year’s resolutions.
Jessica is part of the team at Boschendal at Oude Bank in Stellenbosch (Previously Schoon De Companjie)
“To me, it means more than adding much-needed nutrients to your body. You should also savour every bite, and feel good about what you have put into your body. Eating fast (junk) food may be similarly satisfying, but often results in regret.”
“People can sometimes forget what ‘wholesome’ can mean,”
says Jessica.
Your number one wellness pantry essential: Stock up on mixed toasted seeds. “It’s a great accompaniment to granola bowls, salads and cooked food,” says Jessica.
In addition to adding to your daily requirements of fatty and amino acids, it adds a pleasing texture to your meal. It also adds an extra cozy layer to summery, ‘thin’ dishes.
Snack smart: “Cheese doesn’t get enough credit,” admits Jessica. A slice or bite-size block can compensate for a protein and calcium-rich snack.
It’s a quick fix that adds to a feeling of satiety and is likely to withhold you from reaching for a sugary treat.
Keep it fresh: Swop over-refined, packaged food for fresh, raw items that are quick to prepare (e.g. chopping, steaming).
Make it easily accessible from your kitchen cupboards and fridge so it’s quick to add to your lunch box, or pick on when lounging around at home.
Stock up on bite/pocket-sized produce such as boiled eggs, raw unsalted nuts and berries.
Baby steps: Don’t try over exceeding your own expectations by doing too much too soon.
Allow yourself to gradually start following a balanced, naturally wholesome eating routine by swopping out heavy carbohydrates or sugar-laden items with unprocessed, fresh items one week at a time.
Tight budget? Don’t let healthy eating prices scare you. In today’s economy, it’s seldom that groceries become more affordable.
But, more nutritious, costly products can help ward off unnecessary cravings that usually result in buying a large number of cheap, empty-kilojoule products.
This will likely cancel out your budget strategy anyway.
Rather invest time in researching foods that match your ‘better eating’ goals, and try keeping with a regular checklist of items.
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