Ever substituted one of your daily meals with plain water to feel full, hoping it'll be enough to pacify your grumbling stomach? Or ignored the hunger pangs so that your body gets used to getting less food?

If so, you probably think the only way to lose weight is to starve yourself. Well, you're WRONG!

Doing this, in the long run, does more harm than good, as it hurts your body and leaves you malnourished.

With the right amount and types of foods, it's not a difficult task to achieve a healthy weight while still eating full and nutritious meals! Follow My Healthy Plate to eat well-balanced, healthier meals.

Here are three tips which will help you to develop healthy eating habits.

1. Limit Or Avoid Sugary Drinks

Sugar from drinks provides empty calories, which raise your daily calorie count without adding nutrients. Sugary drinks unlikely to make you full and satiated, thus it’s easy to over consume. These excess calories can increase risk of weight gain.

Make plain water as your default drink option! The best thirst quencher which is sugar- and calorie-free. Infuse water with fresh fruits and/or herbs such as lemon, cucumber, apple, or mint/basil leaves if water is too plain for you. If you need to drink a sweetened beverage, choose drinks labelled with the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) lower in sugar or Nutri-Grade A or B, or ask for no added sugar tea or coffee.

2. Switch To Wholegrains

Wholegrains could help you manage your weight as they help keep you feeling full longer.

It is because wholegrain foods are higher in fibre, which provides bulk. In addition, they are generally digested at a slower rate, hence prolonging the feeling of "fullness". You can include a wide variety of wholegrain foods (e.g. wholemeal bread, brown rice and oats) in your diet.

3. Make Friends With Fruit and Vegetables

You've probably heard this a million times already, but the importance of consuming more fruit and vegetables can never be stressed enough!

The water and fibre they contain add volume to your meals and fill you up more easily with lower overall calorie intake. It is rich in nutrients and is vital to your body's functions, fruits and vegetables are essential for your health.

We're so lucky to have so many great fruits in Singapore, it'd be a shame not to try them all!

 

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