coronavirus

Food for These “Interesting” Times

The Chinese proverb “may you live in interesting times” is an apt description of 2020. There are some important aspects of your diet you need to consider if you want to maintain your health. Here are my top five tips:

  1. Remember the protein –protein foods build muscle strength. If you are not that active, your body can eat away at the protein in your muscles. Protein rich foods will sustain your muscle mass and ensure you keep up your strength. Long term protein foods like legumes or eggs are ideal. Consider lentil soups as a meals or add legumes or add boiled eggs to a salad.
  2. Tinned food helps: Tinned food lasts for a long time and is a convenient way to sustain energy. Trying baked beans or tinned fish for breakfast or lunch. They are ideal sources of protein. Tinned fruit (eg peaches, pears) and vegetables (e.g. corn, carrot, tomato etc.) are a good source of a range of vitamins and minerals including fibre.
  3. Fish for fish: Make sure you purchase plenty of fish. It is a great source of protein but also provides omega -3 which are good for heart health, immunity and also for lowing blood pressure. Bony fish like salmon or sardines are an excellent source of calcium which is important for bone health and muscle strength. Purchase frozen fish as an ideal meal. Tinned fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines can also be an easy to store protein source which provides a range of additional health benefits.
  4. Easy to store carbohydrates are ideal energy sources. Purchase some pasta or rice and add some frozen vegetables (with your protein) for a delicious balanced meal. Brown rice or wholemeal pasta are higher in fibre. High fibre foods are good for regular bowel function and are more filling. Carbohydrates should make up about ½ of our energy intake each day. Bread can also be a great source of both carbohydrates and fibre and can be easily stored in the freezer. For most people, two slices of bread/day is enough
  5. Frozen vegetables: Frozen vegetables offer virtually all the vitamins and mineral we need (except vitamin C and folate). Best frozen vegetables packs include broccoli, cauliflower and carrots as the mix of colours provides the widest range of vitamins and minerals. They are easy to store and simple to add into a stir fry, a curry, a casserole or just serve with your protein in a main meal.