KEEPING HEALTHY SIMPLE

Do you ever wonder if you’re on the right track with your health? If you take a look at the magazines in the supermarket you might be fooled into thinking you’re not really healthy unless following X, Y and Z diet or cutting out certain foods. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to be healthy and what’s healthy for you may be quite different from your friend or relative. 

Here is a short checklist; which of the following can you tick off?

• Eat 5+ a day vegetables and fruit
• Drink water
• Be physically active most days of the week
• Eat from each of the four food groups, including lean meats/alternatives
• Limit alcohol
• Do not smoke

While these points might seem fairly general, it’s the place to start if you’re after optimal health. We don’t need to rely on supplements or a restrictive way of eating to be healthy. It can be as simple as removing a few items of junk food from our weekly diet and adding in more fresh fruit and veg.

Here are some more top tips from the Beef + Lamb NZ team:

• Use your palm (without fingers) as a guide for serving appropriate portions of lean red meat.
• Serve lean red meat and vegetables together for optimal nutrient absorption.
• Remove excess fat from cuts of meat after cooking.
• Include lean red meat 3-4 times per week to meet iron and zinc requirements.