Health and wellbeing resolutions are about as prevalent on New Years Eve as fireworks and the countdown kiss, with people across the globe vowing to be more diligent with their diet and exercise regimes.
With this in mind, the Dietitians Association of Australia surveyed 175 accredited practising dietitians to look at what they will be concentrating on in 2015.
The survey found the top five areas of interest for dieticians to be as follows: the practice of mindful eating (59 per cent), adding more vegetables into the day (43 per cent), planning more meals ahead of time (40 per cent), increased intake of fish (37%), and drinking more water (31 per cent).
“Eating mindfully is a refreshing change from restrictive fad diets, which many people turn to in the new year but can’t sustain over time. The aim of mindful eating is to learn to appreciate the food you’re eating – the texture, smell and taste - by making the most of each bite. And another key principle is being aware of the kilojoules you’re taking in,” says DAA spokesperson Professor Clare Collins.
“By consistently eating in this way, it is much easier to stop after a couple of pieces of chocolate or a small slice of your favourite cake. You actually feel satisfied, which stops you from overeating.”
The DAA’s top tips for mindful eating include:
- Eat slowly and savour the flavour of foods
- Choose mostly good-for-you, nourishing core foods, like fruit and vegetables
- Make meals that require some preparation, and enjoy the process of cooking
- Become aware of hunger before you automatically eat
- Sit down to eat at the dining table, rather than on-the-go or in the lounge room
- Eat with family or friends (and turn off the TV at meal times)
- Select plates and cutlery to make meal times feel special
- Practise remembering what you ate yesterday.
