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Now, we all know that maintaining a well-balanced, healthy diet is key in boosting fertility. The problem, though, is that this is easier said than done.
As cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead wisely put it: “It is easier to change a man’s religion than to change his diet.” If you struggle to eat healthy, and can’t seem to give up the foods that you know are bad for you, check out these 5 hacks that will help you improve your diet.
#1: Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.
According to science, if you grocery shop whilst you’re hungry, you’re more likely to choose high-calorie foods to purchase.
If you think about it, this makes sense. When you’re hungry, you have less willpower – and instead of just getting whatever’s on your grocery list, you might throw in an extra bag of chips, a pint of ice cream, and some candy. Bearing this in mind, make sure you time your shopping trips properly, and don’t shop while you’re hungry!
#2: Put less healthy snacks away and out of reach.
This hack is super simple, but it really does work. Basically, if you put junk food out of reach and out of sight (all the way at the back of your snack drawer, for instance), you’re less likely to consume it.
Following in the same vein, display your healthy foods and snacks prominently, say in a glass container on top of your kitchen counter. You’ll find yourself reaching for these healthy foods more regularly, which will help you eat healthy!
#3: Rely on 5-ingredient recipes and meal planning apps
Obviously, it’s a lot healthier to cook a well-balanced meal for yourself, rather than indulge in a plate of oily, calorie-laden char kway teow at the hawker centre. And here’s the thing… cooking doesn’t have to be difficult, or troublesome, or tedious.
Now, what you’ll want to do here is to stick to meals that are quick to whip up, and don’t require too many ingredients. Look at BBC’s list of recipes that involve 5 ingredients or less to get started, and check out these best meal planning apps that you can use to research recipes, put together grocery lists, add recipes to your weekly calendar, and more.
#4: Look for substitutes
Rather than cutting a specific food out of your life completely, try replacing it with a healthier substitute. Here are some examples:
Cauliflower rice instead of white rice
Quinoa instead of white rice
Brown rice instead of white rice
Mustard instead of mayo
Greek yoghurt instead of mayo
There are also plenty of substitutes in the desserts category – for instance, this recipe shows you how to make chocolate mousse out of avocado!
#5: Get tingkat delivered
If you work 10 hours a day, and you simply can’t afford the time to cook your own meals, another option is to get tingkat delivered.
Now, how do tingkat meals differ from regular takeaway? With tingkat, you’re getting home-cooked, well-balanced meals which are healthier and more affordable than regular takeaway dishes. Basically, you’re eating healthier, and spending less money while you’re at it.
Keen to learn more? Check out this list of tingkat delivery services in Singapore.