Following healthy eating tips is one of the ways you can lead a healthier lifestyle and possibly keep certain chronic diseases at bay. Some of us assume that when someone mentions healthy eating; it straight away means eating salads and drinking green smoothies. That is not the case. Healthy eating is all about consuming a well-balanced and nutritious diet. It is also a key component to your fitness regime and is equally as important as exercise.

From being an exercise novice to a seasoned gym-goer, everyone has become more conscious as to what goes into their food (including me). This is why the co-founders of Under500, Fadi Ghaly, and Mahmoud Bartawi, have decided to step out of the shadows and share some tips on maintaining a healthy diet, with their healthy eating tips. Just in case you forgot, these are the guys who founded that cafe where you can have a feast with meals that are less than 500 calories!

Healthy eating the right amount of calories for how active you are

The first step to healthy eating is being observant of what you eat. Most people assume that calories are bad for you, but they provide your body with energy. It is only when your calorie intake exceeds the number of calories you burn, you gain weight. We need to make sure that when we consume calories, the fat, protein, and carbohydrates that we choose to eat are as micronutrient-dense as possible. A healthy option would be to replace processed carbohydrates that increase blood sugar and insulin, with unrefined and unprocessed whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, and oats. Eating potatoes with their skins on not only gives you more fiber but leaves you feeling fuller for longer. A few healthy options from Under500 include quinoa, whole grain pasta, brown rice and sweet potatoes that are baked instead of fried.

Eat lots of fruits and veggies

We must make sure the majority of our diet consists of a variety of fruit and vegetable options. This is easier to do than you think. It ranges from having raw vegetables as a snack to preparing fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies. Also, remember to incorporate as many vegetables as you can into your healthy eating plan. Under500 has a great variety of vegetarian options such as Rainbow Quinoa, the Organic Lentil Salad, and the Chicken Burrito Bowl. Under500 also offers a well-balanced menu and great breakfast options with fruit such as granola and smoothies for a healthy kick-start in the morning.

Cut down on saturated fats and sugar

Although we must pay attention to the fats we consume, fats are a necessary component of our diet. It is important to have foods with unsaturated fats, such as fish, raw nuts and fruits like avocado. This is because saturated fats can increase cholesterol in our blood and heighten the risk of heart disease. We need to avoid fatty foods such as hard cheese, cakes, cream, and butter and instead opt for raw nuts, fish and avocado. The Under500 Grilled Salmon Avocado is a great low-fat option to keep you light and active.

Eat regularly and in moderate portions

It is not healthy eating if you are not having portion control. Keeping your portion sizes reasonable will help you enjoy a variety of different meals while having a balanced diet. Portion control and calorie counting can help you consume meals more frequently and helps diminish overeating. Snacking can also help you curb hunger. Under500 has some great power-packed breakfast options such as Steak and Eggs and Egg Quinoa Tabouleh.

Get active

Just dieting alone will not help you achieve drastic goals and it is very important to accompany healthy eating with healthy living. This includes getting out, being more active, pushing yourself harder, and finally having an Under500 brownie to reward yourself for all your hard work.