From breakfast through to dinner and the snacks in between, food plays a vital role in our day-to-day lives. Both the quantity of food we eat and the quality can impact our overall health, so it’s important to be mindful of keeping our diets varied and balanced where we can.
Looking to upgrade your meals? Wholefoods are a good place to start.
What are wholefoods?
Used to describe ‘food that has been refined or processed as little as possible and is eaten in its natural state’, wholefoods generally include items such as fresh vegetables and fruit, wholegrains, beans and pulses, nuts and seeds, and herbs and spices.
What’s the whole fuss about?
Wholefoods may be naturally higher in certain vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre, a type of complex carbohydrate. Fibre is an important part of a varied, balanced diet, yet most UK adults fall short of the recommended 30g a day. Building more fibre-containing wholefoods into your routine is a simple way to help you meet your target.
Wholefoods also bring delicious flavour, texture and substance to a meal, which means you may be less likely to reach for unhealthier options over the course of the day.
Eating wholefoods can be easy
It’s important to be realistic about where you’re at. Eating more wholefoods doesn’t have to mean changing everything at once – going gradually is usually more comfortable and more likely to stick. Instead, focus on small changes that add up in the background. For example:
- Try swapping white rice, bread and pasta for wholegrain alternatives.
- Add a handful of frozen fruit, nuts or seeds to your morning porridge or yoghurt.
- Stir beans into homemade sauces, or sprinkle them through salads, stews and curries you already love to slowly increase your wholefoods intake.
What’s the key takeaway?
Good health is built on a varied, balanced diet, so don't put pressure on yourself to make big changes overnight. Start slow with easy wholefoods swaps, and experiment with gradually introducing new recipes to your weekly routine. That way, the little changes will feel more manageable – and are also more likely to stick.
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