Do you ask yourself if your eating healthy? ‘Healthy food’ is a very subjective term. But we all try to practice healthy eating habits. I was on the look out for better diet. These past few months, living on a ship and different countries, I had been gorging on Indian, Continental and what not cuisines. After I came back home I was determined to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle. Yes, I do still give in every now and then to sweet treats or an Indian curry. But I’ve adopted a few healthy eating habits that has made a huge impact on my relationship with food and overall happiness.

Here are 5 healthy eating habits I’ve been following religiously to keep me on track to a better body, mind and soul.

1. Enjoy a meatless day

I believe eating healthy food doesn’t depend on being vegetarian or being non veterinarian. But trying a meatless day can be adventurous. Being Bengali I’m ardent lover of non-veg food. But over the few weeks I’ve been eating more and more meat-free meals to give my digestive system a bit of a break. You can integrate Meatless Mondays or Tuesdays into your diet, kicking off every week with a vegetarian meal. By making the effort to cook with just veggies and grains, you’ll start getting more creative with your food and discover how flavorful a meatless meal can be. But what about protein, you say? Quinoa, lentils, spinach, chickpeas and many other non-meat foods are loaded with the essential nutrient.

2. Have a heavy Breakfast

A good eating habit is eating breakfast everyday. Breakfast are very essential diet to keep your food consumption for the whole day. A smoothie bowl, egg white omelette, toast and peanut butter with a side of fruit – all of these are great healthy breakfast options to get your metabolism going first thing in the morning. Not to mention that it will keep you full through to lunch, meaning no more hunger pangs that lead to indulgence in office snacks.

3. Pack in a Bottle of water

You might not know it, but water is a a big part of a good diet. Drinking water has it’s own benefit. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from sugary drinks, it’s that they give you a big high followed by a crash and burn that’ll send you to the vending machine in search of another sugar rush. Fuel up on water throughout the day to keep you hydrated and cleanse your digestive system. If water seems like a boring alternative to pop, try one of these naturally tasty additions for your H20. 

4. Eat before you go daily grocery shopping.

I believe all bad decisions are made on an empty stomach, and shopping is no exception. When you are out you will crave sugar, salt and anything that will be a quick fix for your grumbling tummy. If you hit the grocery store after a healthy meal, your shopping will be driven by a focused mind rather than aggressive hunger. You will be benefited by better buying decisions. You can even carry snacks in your bag. Nuts and dehydrated fruits are a good food options that can help you get over that midday slump.

5. Plan your meals ahead

Always try to plan your meals as ahead as possible. Generally I take Sundays to plan mine. Spend some time on Sunday going through your favorite healthy foods blogs planning tasty meals for the week. Once you have a menu laid out, you can head to the grocery store with a focused plan. You will also be less likely to order take-out when you’re stuck for meal ideas mid-week.

Let me know if this helped you in the comments section below.