Top nutrition mistakes

The experts look at the most common nutrition mistakes people make when trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle and we give our tips so you can be sure you are not making the same mistakes.

Lack of consistency

Our day-to-day lives are now so busy that maintaining a healthy-eating schedule can be difficult. But our lack of consistency with our diets isn’t any good for the body.

It is common for people’s meals to differ in time, composition and quality each day. For example, one day a person may graze all day, another day go without eating for long periods of time. Other days may include salads, plenty of vegetables and fruit, while the next day may consist of processed snacks and fast food.

Tip: Give yourself one or two days a week to prepare your meals. This way you can have fresh, tasty and healthy foods daily without falling to temptation and reaching for the biscuits.

Only counting calories

When trying to lose weight, it can be easy for a person to fall into the calorie counting trap, instead of the whole picture. Many diet programmes look at the surface of foods; how many calories, fats, sugar and carbs are in the food being eating. However, the nutritional value of the food, the individual and their lifestyle should also be considered.

Tip: Instead of restricting yourself and counting calories (often leading to a deficit) focus more on adding whole foods, vegetables and fruits to your diet. A hearty bowl of oats for breakfast will sustain you and a freshly made juice or smoothie will provide you with a host of nutrients in one hit.

Not drinking enough water

A simple, but often neglected part of a healthy lifestyle is staying hydrated. The body needs to be properly hydrated in order to function properly. Not drinking enough water can lead to feelings of fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Thirst is also often misunderstood for hunger and as a result, people are overeating.

Tip: If you are not drinking enough water throughout the day, make sure you have a water bottle on your desk at work and your bedside table. If you aren’t keen on the taste, add flavour by putting mint, berries, lemon or ginger into the water.