Making too many big lifestyle changes at the same time can be not only overwhelming, but difficult to maintain. However, making small, incremental changes can have huge benefits for both your physical health and mental wellbeing. Here are a few suggestions for small lifestyle changes that you and your family can make which are guaranteed to make you healthier and happier.

OSCAR KILO – HEALTHY NUTRITION INFORMATION

Emphasis on having a good diet is mentioned time and time again in health campaigns. But what are the fundamentals of a healthy, balanced diet? The NHS ‘Eat Well’ guidelines suggest that your diet should include five portions of fruits and vegetables everyday as they are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. A third of your diet should consist of starchy foods, such as brown rice, wholewheat pasta and brown bread. Beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat are great sources of protein and can provide the body with necessary vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Milk and dairy products also provide the body with protein, but low fat and low sugar options are preferable. Try to choose a variety of different foods from each of the groups to help you get the wide range of nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

An element of fat is essential in a balanced diet but the UK as a whole consumes too much saturated fat. Opting for unsaturated oils and spreads can reduce your cholesterol and subsequently, your risk of getting heart disease. Cutting down on sugar intake can reduce your risk of obesity and tooth decay. Ensuring adults and children aged 11 and over eat less than 6g of salt everyday, can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes.

Caregivers have a huge influence on their children’s eating behaviour through control of food available and parental attitude towards food. By developing a healthy relationship with good nutrition, you are not only making impactful lifestyle changes for yourself, you are teaching your children good eating habits.

The benefits of a healthy balanced diet don’t end there! A well-rounded, nutrient rich diet helps to improve mood, increase energy levels and leads to better productivity. Through maintaining a consistent weight, you are reducing the risk of obesity, which is a common problem in the UK and places a huge burden on the NHS. By making simple dietary changes to ensure you do not become obese, you reduce the chances of experiencing life threatening health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and type 2 diabetes. Not to mention, you would also be lightening the stress load for the NHS!

NUTRITION WEBINARS

COOK-ALONG VIDEOS

Spinach pancakes

Shakshuka

Energy Balls

Teriyaki Salmon

Energy Smoothie

CONTACT THE PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Katherine Willoughby, 1TeamActive Programme Director – My passion for sport runs deep in my veins and I hold a total belief in the value of sport as an individual and within society as a whole. Throughout my Police Service I have been involved in Police sport either as a participant or as an organiser and still am. When I retired in 2018, joining TeamPolice gave me an opportunity to continue my passion and strive to find new innovative ways to develop sport and wellbeing opportunities for my colleagues.