In der Küche ist ein Paar glücklich, weil sie eine gesunde Ernährung genießen

A balanced diet is just as important as exercise


 

When you exercise, you burn more calories. It would be obvious to think you can eat more without gaining weight. This easy calculation may not work out: a healthy and balanced diet contributes to your workout, but you won’t risk taking in more calories than you think. This would result in a significant weight gain. That’s why it’s essential to exercise and have a balanced diet. We will provide you with some advice on this here.

What does a balanced diet for an active lifestyle look like?

You can flexibly design your meal plan for a balanced diet, adapting it to your individual taste. You can choose from a wide range of delicious and healthy foods, but a little effort and background knowledge are required to follow a balanced diet.

Instead of eating sandwiches from the bakery and convenience food from the freezer, you should focus on clean eating. This is neither a new trend nor a diet but a long-term dietary change to natural, unprocessed and whole foods.

Zwei Menschen kochen für eine gesunde Ernährung
Portrait of young afro couple cooking together and using mobile phone in the kitchen at home. Relationship, cook and lifestyle concept.

How does Clean Eating work?

To implement this diet consistently and effortlessly, you should set up a meal plan and prepare your meals beforehand. Protein sources such as chicken and beef can be pre-cooked in sufficient quantities for the week. This operation isn’t possible with vegetables: Cooking and storing them will decrease their nutrient content in the long run.

To avoid failing in front of ready-made meals, we recommended making a shopping list: This will help you stay focused. Avoid sweets even if they are advertised as “GMO-free” or “organic”: they remain unhealthy. If you want a piece of chocolate, then go for dark chocolate and keep it in moderation.

Once you have all the good stuff at home, it’s time to prepare it! Weigh it to avoid big quantities on your plate: You can find out how much you should eat by checking official dietary recommendations. You will probably exceed your daily requirements from time to time. Don’t beat yourself up for it but try to stick to clean eating most days.

10 ultimate tips for a balanced diet

Eine Frau zeigt ihre Bowle für eine gesunde Ernährung
Woman in woolen sweater and jeans eating vegan Rice coconut porridge with figs, berries, nuts. Healthy breakfast ingredients. Clean eating, vegan food concept
  1. Deliberately choose nutrient-rich foods your body needs daily. These include whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
  2. Use cereals as an energy source. Muesli, oatmeal, pasta, and bread provide you with carbohydrates and satisfy your palate. Whole-grain products are most suitable for our goals.
  3. Get power from proteins, essential for muscle building and regeneration. The best way to do this is with lean beef or skinless chicken and turkey. Twice a week, seafood or fish should be on the menu. They are rich in valuable omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
  4. Combine animal protein sources with plant protein foods to bring variety to your plate. Peas, beans and soy products, seeds, and unsalted nuts are perfect for the purpose. If you don’t eat meat, you can skip point 3 and get your protein from point 4.
  5. Enjoy the variety of fruits and vegetables. This makes the meal more exciting but also guarantees that you get all the nutrients you need. Blueberries, papaya, spinach, or cabbage: the choice is immense! Benefit from a higher amount of nutrients by choosing fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Low-sodium canned foods, dried products, or 100% juice are good alternatives.
  6. Don’t miss out on dairy products. It is best to choose fat-free or low-fat foods among yogurt, cheese, and milk. You can also opt for milk alternatives. These foods will help fortify your bones.
  7. Follow a balanced diet by combining all food groups daily: proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.
  8. Drink water. Your body needs to stay hydrated. Water is the best way to do this. You can spice it up with some slices of fruit or cucumber. Avoid sugary drinks: they contain many calories and can damage your teeth.
  9. Pay attention to your feeling of satiety: we often eat much more than we should. Exaggerate amounts of food encourage belly fat accumulation and promote tiredness.
  10. Keep an eye on your goals to motivate yourself. Write regularly your measurements like weight or body fat percentage and check progress.
Eine Frau schaut sich während dem Sport auf dem Laptop die richtige Ernährung an
Beautiful slim sporty woman in sportswear is sitting on the floor with dumbbells and bottle of water and is using a laptop at home in the living room. Healthy lifestyle. Stay at home activities

Last but not least: Intensify your well-being by consistently combining exercise with a balanced diet!

Your Humanoo Team