This month on nzgirl we’ll be bringing you everything you need to help revive, refresh and re-ignite your life! October is all about the great nzgirl Detox, click here for more...
Habits are normally associated with bad things - biting your nails; swearing, adding salt to your food without tasting it first…
But learn a few good habits and they can help keep you looking and feeling fit and healthy. Here are five fantastic habits for you to start that will have you looking hot all year round!
1. Beverage of choice - Water It’s free, refreshing, has no kilojoules and no fat. Those four factors alone are reason enough to choose water as your first choice of beverage. Keeping up with your water intake is important as mild dehydration can cause tiredness and make you mistake thirst for hunger. So keep a glass of water handy and make sure you drink up.
Soft drinks contain up to eight teaspoons of sugar that contributes a large amount of energy for no nutritional value. Even though fruit juice is low GI and contains vitamins, it can still contain up to six teaspoons of sugar. Have fruit juice as an occasional drink; if you enjoy juice, a glass a day is a good guideline.
2. Learn the difference between a snack and a treat
Many so-called snack foods today are treat foods - prime examples are snack packs of chips, chocolates, lollies and some muesli bars. They are high in fat, sugar and sodium. These foods are energy dense but contain little nutritional value and should be considered as treats rather than snacks. Instead try fruit, vegetables, muesli bars (aim for less than 600kj and 3g fat per bar) and low fat crackers with cottage cheese or hummus. They are all great snacks because they are nutrient dense and are enough to tide you over to the next meal.
3. Treat treats as treats!
Many of us feel that we deserve a treat as a reward for our day’s efforts but remember a treat is not a treat if you have it all the time! Set a limit on the number of treat foods you have - that way you are not depriving yourself of a little indulgence and you won’t go overboard. Remember portion size counts. A couple of pieces of chocolate are a treat, but a whole block is overboard. Also, think of other non-food ways to reward yourself - your body will love you for it.
4. Find a type of exercise you enjoy and stick at it
Exercise is good for us and we all know it. But if you’d rather work overtime than go to a Spin class with your friend, it’s time to find something that will work for you. Don’t do something you hate because you’ll never stick with it. Find something you enjoy doing and keep at it. Whether it’s a walk, playing tennis or dancing, anything that gets your heart pumping is good for your body, both inside and out.
5. Go lean and green and red and yellow and orange…
Choose low fat options of dairy products such as trim milk, Edam cheese and light yoghurt. Cook using methods that don’t require much fat such as baking, grilling and stir-frying and trim fat off meat. Also eat a wide range of fruit and vegetables off all different colours - this way you’ll get a wide range of nutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals.
Nicola Graham
Love being healthy and active? A career with New Zealand's Army could be perfect for you. Click hereto find out more about the exciting opportunities.
Habits are normally associated with bad things - biting your nails; swearing, adding salt to your food without tasting it first… .jpg)
1. Beverage of choice - Water 
less than 600kj and 3g fat per bar) and low fat crackers with cottage cheese or hummus. They are all great snacks because they are nutrient dense and are enough to tide you over to the next meal.
