With winter fast approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic far from being over, it’s more important than ever to take good care of your health.
What does this mean, in practice? Some of the best advice includes getting lots of sleep, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly.
In addition to this, the newly released and updated Canadian Food Guide recommends eating a varied, wholesome diet. Making sure that you get all the nutrients that you need, in fact, is another great way to boost your immune system and protect your health.
If you don’t know where to start, or if you just need a little inspiration and guidance, then look no further. In this article, we will be giving you the lowdown on the government’s new healthy eating guidelines.
Go Green With Your Veggies
It’s unsurprising that the first bit of advice from the Canadian government is to stock up on fruits and vegetables.
These should make up to half of your plate, as they contain some of the essential nutrients to sustain both physical and emotional health, as well as improve our immune response. The latter, of course, is particularly crucial while the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing.
Some of the best fruits and vegetables that you can include in your diet are apples, carrots, and broccoli. Try to whip up a delicious recipe that uses one or more of these ingredients, and you’ll be wanting to eat even more of these great foods.
Fuel up With Plant-Based Protein
When talking about protein, we shouldn’t just think about meat and fish; there are plenty of protein-rich foods that come from the fruit and vegetable world. So, even if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, you will still be able to eat a good amount of protein.
In fact, the new guidelines promote choosing plant-based protein as opposed to meat and fish. Vegetarian proteins include, for example, legumes and nuts. Dairy products, eggs, fish, and meat (especially poultry and lean red meat) can still be consumed but in much lower quantities.
Fancy a bowl of fresh, wholesome, and delicious plant-based protein delivered to your door? Then try the yummy dishes from Poke.
Eat Carbs, but Make Them Whole
On the ever-controversial topic of carbs, the Canadian Food Guide states that these should still be included but only account for about a quarter of your meal.
When choosing which carbs to eat, the guidelines favor whole grains over refined ones. This means quinoa, wholewheat pasta, and brown rice.
As for sugary snacks, you probably know that you should limit them to the very occasional treat. And remember: this also includes the sugar contained in drinks and sodas, as well as the one you pop into your cup of coffee every morning.
Follow the Canadian Food Guide for Better Health
Now that you know exactly what the Canadian Food Guide recommends, you can tweak your daily menus to ensure you are making the best and healthiest choices.
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