EAT SMARTER TO REACH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

Finding time to reach your weight-loss goals as a busy, working parent, can be challenging. Here's why healthy food doesn't have to be the enemy.

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Diets often receive a bad reputation for being unrealistic. Who can blame us when we’re bombarded by diet culture, social media influences and health drinks? But eating smart means that you can still enjoy delicious food without feeling deprived. Here’s how you can eat well while still following a regimen to slim down.

Choose The Plan For You
Don’t set yourself up for failure by following a meal plan that doesn’t appeal to you. People you know may be raving about banting (a diet of avoiding highly processed foods, and eating more whole foods), but if you love fruit and don’t eat much meat, you’re not going to be happy with this option.

A good way to judge is to compare the list of foods to avoid on various diets (most ban ice cream and cake, but some do offer substitutes) and then to choose one that is well-balanced and the most possible to live with.

Don’t Skip Breakfast
Given our busy lifestyles, it’s easy to dash out in the morning after hastily gulping down a coffee, and nothing else. But skipping meals won’t aid weight loss and will send your body a starvation signal. This results in your body stockpiling fat for future fuel instead of burning it up. Research has shown that eating within an hour of waking up sends your body the right signals.

It’s unrealistic to prepare a cooked breakfast every morning, so get your meals ready ahead of time and divide them into daily portions that can be reheated easily. If you really can’t have a meal early in the morning, grab some fruit when you’re on the go, and pack in a substantial portion of protein-rich food for lunch.

Did You Know?
Incorporating a good amount of protein into your diet will help you to stave off cravings and maintain a moderate weight.

Drink More Water
Drinking water is not to make you feel overly full – although some diets do suggest drinking a glass of water half an hour before a meal – but to flush out toxins and waste from your body, actively aiding your metabolism.

When your body is dehydrated, you lack energy, so you may feel you need more food (or be tempted to eat junk food for a quick energy boost). Your body also retains water when dehydrated, making you feel bloated and puffy.

Snack Smarter
Plenty of diets encourage snacking to keep hunger at bay and to keep your metabolism active. This is why you’ll find some leeway within your eating plan for some snacks. Opt

for the snacks that will adhere to the guidelines of your plan to get you through that mid-afternoon slump.

Fruit is always a winner; an apple or banana will give you natural sugar for energy, and fibre will fill you up. Other snacks that will give you a boost are nuts (these should be raw, not roasted or salted!) or a hard-boiled egg. Choose healthy snack options over-indulgent displays in shops.

Find Your Favourites
There are many foods that contain metabolism-boosting ingredients: Spinach, chilli, asparagus, celery, green tea, fish, chicken, pork, beans to name but a few. More so, herbs and spices pack a punch; cinnamon helps prevent sugar cravings, and turmeric and ginger provide a metabolism boost.

Put these all together and a simple curry will be on your menu – serve it with brown rice or quinoa as these are both gluten-free and support healthy digestion. There is no doubt that perseverance can be achieved through a diet that offers variety.

By: Anne Hahn
Images: Gallo/Getty