Life Style – “Eat-  4  -Life”

What is healthy eating?

A healthy and balanced diet is one that provides all the nutrients the body needs for good health and wellbeing. Your diet should meet your body's energy requirements, allowing you to maintain a healthy weight, but most importantly, it should be a diet that you enjoy!

Why should you eat healthily?

A large number of today's illnesses can be attributed to what we eat. Healthy eating reduces your risk of heart disease as well as many other diseases, such as obesity, some cancers and diabetes. A healthy diet is particularly good for your heart, helping to keep your blood cholesterol at a healthy level, improving your blood pressure and preventing weight gain.

Customer feedback reflects the awareness of health and wellness and the growing need for healthier eating options. In keeping abreast of these trends, RoyalMnandi has introduced "Eat for Life", to offer a healthy meal option that fits in with your restaurant experience. "Eat for Life" has been designed by leading professionals within the company including executive chefs, dieticians and regional managers. It focuses on providing you the consumer with nutritional information on all meal options available in the RoyalMnandi restaurants and canteens.

In order to lower fat intake a cooking method such as “steam grill” may be used.  This method of cooking is when the food item is first steam cooked and then grilled to finish off the cooking process. Very little fat is used during this cooking process and healthier fats will also be used such as palm oil and olive oil.

Besides healthier meal options having been introduced on the menus, menu options designed specifically for diabetics have also been introduced.

Helpful tips for healthy eating

• Eat less animal (saturated) fat by buying the leanest cuts of meat you can afford. Remove any visible fat from meat and take the skin off chicken before cooking.
• Eat fewer pre-prepared confectionary items like biscuits, pies, pastries and cakes.
• Use small amounts of vegetable oils (sunflower, canola, or olive oil) when cooking and use soft, vegetable-based margarines/spreads. 
• Choose low-fat dairy products such as skimmed or low fat milk, low fat yoghurt and reduced fat cheese.
• Try eating fish regularly; you should eat oily fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and tuna - including canned fish, at least twice a week.
• Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
• Eat legumes and pulses, lentils, baked beans, dried beans and dried peas regularly, at least once a week.
• Eat regular foods based on starchy foods such as pastas, grains, bread, rice, potatoes, porridges and cereals. Choose whole-wheat varieties whenever you can.
• You do not need to avoid sugar altogether but should limit the amounts you intake.
• Try drinking at least 1.5 litres of fluid per day. This should mainly comprise of water, but skimmed or low fat milk and pure fruit juice can also be used. Drink tea and coffee in moderation.
• Try avoiding excessive amounts of salty foods e.g. processed meat and snack foods, as well as reducing the amount of salt added in cooking and at the table. Replace salt in cooking with herbs and spices to flavour your food.
• Eat regular meals, including breakfast; skipping meals can lead to blood sugar problems, uncontrolled eating, concentration lapses and low energy levels. Healthy foods can be used as snacks between meals if you are hungry.
• Being physically active is vital for physical and emotional health, weight management and stress relief. Physical activity refers to exercise and formal sports but also includes all forms of activity like gardening, using stairs and brisk walking. Try to exercise at least 3 times a week for 20-30 minutes at a time