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How
to Eat Well (and not put on weight!)
Here's
the lowdown on how to stay trim and still eat a decent meal. All
it takes is a little planning and self-discipline. Then, you'll
have no problem fitting into that slinky
halter-top and skin-tight pants.
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By Linda Lee
The King's Meal (aka Breakfast)
 As
breakfast forms the very first source of food (and hence energy)
intake after the body fasts continuous for the past 8 hours (although
this may vary for some of us) in a relatively inert state, it is
important that we replenish it with the right foods the moment it
starts to get active all over again.
You
should tuck into your morning feast regularly so that your system
can moderate and adapt to a fixed routine and operational mode.
Also, although this may be your heaviest meal of the day, it doesn't
mean that you have to binge, stuff and gorge yourself silly all
at one shot.
On
the contrary, you could consume your food in smaller portions over
staggered intervals so that you spread out the rate of ingestion.
This reduces the strain placed on your otherwise-overworked digestive
system and allows it to function properly.
Drink
a huge glass of water the first thing in the morning when you wake
up. This will help you to nourish, rinse and cleanse your system
and get it ready for a new day's work.
Take
in food with high-fiber content (like whole-wheat bread or cereal)
and those that are energy-giving. Cheese and eggs provide a good source
of protein but try not to consume too much (unless you are a body-builder
who is capable of utilising the energy and burning off the extra calories).
If you must, discard the egg yoke and just eat the white. That should
give you a sufficient dosage of protein.
Instead
of butter, replace your diet with low-fat margarine. Drink lots
of plain, warm water (we hate to sound naggy but this IS really,
truly and genuinely the best health suggestion every health professional
offers!) because it can help to rejuvenate and cleanse your body
system and flush out those harmful toxins and wastes efficiently
and most immediately. Water has this brilliant function of acting
as an all-natural purifying agent.
Alternatively,
you could drink some carrot, beetroot, orange, guava, grape and
mango juices or low-fat fresh milk. Rotate them every now and then
so that your body can absorb the different types of vitamins (A,
B and C) and minerals (iron and calcium) effectively.
If
you are a caffeine addict, keep your daily intake to just one cup
because too much caffeine may lead to desensitisation of the brain
over a long period of time.
The
Queen's Meal (aka Lunch)
As the name suggests, go easy on this one.
Do not consume a heavy lunch (some people think the reason for this
is that they might fall asleep at work since more oxygen is needed
to digest the food in the intestines than it is needed for the brain).
 Take
some rice (preferable brown rice - the kind with the un-winnowed
husks still on the grains - as they are rich in fiber and Vitamin
B) if you must, and lots of fresh greens like spinach, Hong Kong
kailan, caixin or carrots. Mushrooms are great for health, too,
as they contain lots of useful anti-cancer substances.
Stay
clear of deep-fried foods and red meat. Go for steamed alternatives
if you can. If you must (and cannot tame your carnivorous instinct
or resist the temptation of eating some animal flesh), go for some
fish (salmon would be a good choice) instead.
If you think you might become hungry in a while (metabolic rates
differ among different people), try snacking on some fruits like
bananas, papayas, apples, grapes and cherries a couple of hours
later instead of binging on junk food. The vitamins and minerals
of fruits are best absorbed after your proper meal because they
would not collide or coincide with the digestion of the lunch then
(although some people may prefer taking some fruit juices just before
lunch so that the essence of the fruits gets processed and assimilated
by the body first).
The
Pauper's Meal (aka Dinner)
Well, what did you expect? Your dinner should
constitute the lightest meal of your entire day simply because you
don't want to accumulate and store up all those undigested foods
as fat (read: a spare tire) around your abdomen, waist and thighs.
 Just
have some soup, bread and fruits because your body becomes and remains
inactive as you relax and sleep at night. As your whole energy level
is pretty low, it is strongly advised that you don't consume too
much since your body is incapable of burning away the calories.
Remember the adage, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips?
At
night, before you sleep, do some simple toning and stretching exercises
to relax and loosen up your tired muscles. But don't overdo them
or over-exercise because this may actually hype up and 'activate'
your senses and make you more alert and awake instead of inducing
and instigating the trip to dreamland.
Remember, whatever you eat, always eat it in the right (small) proportions
and portions in between regular, fixed and the right intervals.
Once you've done that, you're well on the road and the right track
to a good shape, healthy mind and a fit and toned body that everyone
envies.
Do
you have other eating tips?
>>
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