Reading Time: 3 minutesAhead of World Nutrition Day on the 28th May 2021, Two Dads And A Kid were challenged by the Eat Well Live Well team to participate in their 28 Days To A Health campaign. Like so many fellow South Africans, we relaxed over the last 12 months or more. Not really watching what we ate, and with the ever-rising cost of living in South Africa, honestly, our eating and lifestyle behaviours changed and not for the better.
Following independent research conducted by the team at Eat Well Live Well, on the State of Nutrition in South Africa, the findings report illustrated how South Africa’s eating habits have changed during lockdown. Like us two dads, many are snacking and eating more, we’re gaining weight and exercising less – yep, even with the reopening of gyms! This has contributed to an increase in the nation’s Body Mass Index (BMI), which increases the propensity for weight gain and lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Hypertension, and Stroke.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a value derived from the mass and height of a person. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height, and is expressed in units of kg/m², resulting from mass in kilograms and height in metres. Wikipedia
This research also highlighted how we’re not eating enough FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES OR LEGUMES, instead, we’re indulging in foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat, more so than we should be!
“Our research also showed that South Africans resort to emotional eating or comfort eating during times of increased stress, which has harmful long term effects on their health and the nation’s overall wellbeing.” – Arthur Ramoroka, Tiger Brands’ Company Nutritionist.
WHAT NEXT?
Breaking a bad eating habit is easier than we think, made easier when we have a partner like Eat Well Live Well by our side to support us on our nutritional journey. It can take about 21 days to break a bad habit and a further 7 days to embrace a new healthier habit.
Join us as we embrace healthier eating behaviours and more active routines, hopefully leading to happier lifestyles and longevity. Let’s make better food choices like eating less salt, replacing it with herbs and spices, reducing our sugar intake, and making more effort to drink more water.
Let’s reduce our portion sizes, you know how easy it is to dish more when the food tastes yum! Fight the urge and keep your portions to fist or palm sizes for pap, rice, vegetables, fruit, meats and fishes.
It’s so much easier to sit on the sofa or at your desk, let’s get up and move more. Do at least 3 brisk walks, or run if you can, for a minimum of 30 minutes every other day.
Will you be making better food choices by agreeing to:
BEIntentional
BEHealthy
BECommitted
BEBetter
Remember that ultimately #YouBecomeYourBehaviour. Visit the Eat Well Live Well website to find a selection of nutritious recipes that use the Eat Well Live Well (EWLW) endorsed products through their stamp of approval on Tiger Brands’ food packaging. EWLW want to inspire us and our families to maintain a healthy lifestyle through more balanced diets with wholesome recipes that can be made on any budget.
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