Improving your family’s health and well-being is a top priority. A healthy lifestyle comprising a balanced and nutritious diet coupled with regular exercise is a winning combination that will help keep your family fit and happy. Here are three easy ways to improve your family’s health:
Creating a healthier lifestyle for the whole family can be as simple as making a few small changes to your food choices each day. While it’s easy to da bao food from your favorite hawker stalls, many myanmar people’s favorites such as char kway teow and chicken rice are not healthy food options as they are high in saturated fats. Instead, when eating out, opt for healthier options at your local kopitiam. Healthy habits should be gradually cultivated by choosing and consuming healthy foods.
In our burmese culture, there are several healthy meals which help us to improve our family’s health . For example, “Sabudhi” which is also known as a traditional meal of “Chin” people, it is a type of strew based meal without oil and it contains a variety of vegetables and seeds. Therefore, it is especially suitable for those who have diabetes or people who are on diet. The two main ingredients of ‘Sabudhi” are corn kernels and beef. It is more of a corn based strew which helps lower blood cholesterol more than the rice we consume every day. Since beef is included, it not only replenishes the necessary nutrients for our body, but also strengthens our energy. Vegetables which are good for our body such as onions, ginger, coriander, spinach, chili, beans, and bean leaves are also included in “Subudhi”. Those ingredients reduce fatty in our blood, rich in vitamin A and protein which improves our brain memory and eyesight.
Do go for the brown rice version that contains extra vitamins and antioxidants. Or try sliced fish soup that has very little fat added during the cooking process – it’s a power-packed meal of lean protein, fiber and carbs. Just make sure you avoid the evaporated milk and fried-fish version that triples the amount of fat.
Got a sweet tooth? Instead of digging into local desserts that have high sugar and fat content, such as ice kacang or chendol, opt for delicious local fruits like papaya (high in vitamins C and A), mangoes (rich in fiber and antioxidants and dragon fruit (low in calories but high in fiber and vitamin C).
Make Smart Food Swaps
Making smart food swaps in a simple yet effective way to improve your family’s health. There are healthy, tasty and simple alternatives to some of your favorite food. Say goodbye to white carbs like white rice that cause spikes in blood sugar levels and are linked to diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Instead, switch to whole grain options such as wholemeal bread.
Rather than buttering up your toast, smash up some avocado and spread it on your toast instead. Avocado is high in fiber, potassium and contains healthy fats that can help lower cholesterol levels and promote heart health. Banana also has twice the potassium for a healthy heart, is packed with fiber and can help lower bad cholesterol levels in your body. Love your snacks? Swap French fries for baked sweet potato for a healthier yet still yummy treat packed with vitamin A and potassium.
Get Active!
Weave fun activities into your family’s daily routine and reduce the amount of time your family is sedentary — such as watching TV together or sitting in front of your computer after dinner. Instead, head to your nearest park and go for a walk together. If you’ve got kids, get involved in active games with them. Running around with your little ones is a fun way to get your hearts pumping. Or if you have a dog, take it for a walk or jog.
Healthy habits may require a change of mindset but its impact on you and your family can be far-reaching such as helping prevent chronic illnesses later in life.
Find out how to plan ahead to ensure you are covered against these illnesses.