The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a varied healthy diet, helps to protect against malnutrition in all its form, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCD's), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancers.
Variety within our diet ensures we get sufficient essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. We should keep away from eating the same foods everyday.
Our palate changes over time so to keep foods interesting we should mix up the ingredients varying textures and colours. Whether its changing the main ingredient or the flavouring i.e. herbs, and spices.
Variety within meals shows in research that we enjoy our food and meals more when they vary in appearance, taste, and texture.
i.e. A recipe I follow regularly for a Butternut Quash curry, I have swapped Butternut Squash for Pumpkin, which was a like for like swap, as both in the squash family, but then took it a step further swapping the Butternut Squash for Courgette and Aubergine, which was delicious.
Variety of nutrients in meals is vital as we discuss regularly getting the balance of;
carbohydrates
fats
proteins
fibre
vitamins and minerals
Its important that we do not cut entire food groups from our diets as it can deprive your body of valuable nutrients and limit your food choices.
How can we ensure variety within our diets.
Meal planning
Buying new products to you, and learning how to use within your meals
Try new recipes
Swap old recipe ingredients
Have delivered Vegetable boxes
Have delivered Meal Boxes (Hello Fresh, Gusto...)
Swapping our regular proteins for alternative protein's i.e. meat for beans, beans for tofu
By making variety key we are encouraging ourselves to stay on track as we look forward to the meals we serve with anticipation, improving our focus and in turn our mindset.
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