While we're keeping our social distance to help prevent COVID-19, our eating habits could be the first to suffer as stress and worry can lead to unhealthy eating. Vitality dietitian Terry Harris shares 5 tips to keep a healthy eating routine at home.
Our president has called on all South Africans to do their part in containing the possible spread of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 as it is now known. While there is currently no treatment available for COVID-19, we can all engage in healthy habits to keep safe and protect ourselves and others."Important aspects for preventing COVID-19 are to practise frequent and thorough hand-washing and social distancing."
One such preventive measure is to maintain social distancing, which includes working from home, postponing events, and socialising at home instead of outside venues. But what does it mean for our diet?
Staying home all day can create unhealthy eating habits
"Being at home more often can lead to unhealthy eating habits because of easy access to food, boredom and emotional or stress eating," says Discovery Vitality dietitian Terry Harris.
Her advice? "There is no magic immune boosting foods or supplements that will prevent COVID-19, but following an overall healthy diet will help support the immune system," she says. "In addition, research shows that what we eat not only affects our physical health, but also our mental health."
5 tips for keeping a healthy eating routine at home
- Plan meals and snacks ahead of time to avoid last minute decisions.
- Take the time to enjoy meals and snacks without distractions such as TV.
- Have healthy snacks readily available, for example homemade popcorn or unsalted nuts, and avoid having unhealthy snacks in the house like sweets or crisps.
- Prepare meals from scratch using healthy ingredients.
- Find activities to do to help prevent eating out of boredom or stress, for example exercising at home or reading a book.
Try these recipes at home
Try these amazing healthy recipes at home, courtesy of the Vitality HealthyFood Studio.
Feel free to download and print it out for your healthy meals pinboard:
- Lentil and butternut salad – using longer lasting healthy food.
- Mediterranean chicken & quinoa casserole – freeze it for later, it's delicious.
- Mexican 3-bean salad – for a healthy, filling lunch.
- Quick seed loaf – so easy and fun, the kids can help, too.
- Healthy snacks on the go – creamy tuna spread and seed and almond nut crackers.
You don’t have to go through this time alone. In the next few weeks, we’ll keep sharing information on how to eat healthily during a pandemic. Visit our dedicated COVID-19 information hub for more updates.