Many of us often struggle to eat a healthy diet and with the high cost of living, this is becoming even more of a challenge. However, eating a nutritious diet can help to prevent many long-term conditions plus improve overall physical and mental health. Yet around 66% of the UK population aged over 16 are now overweight or obese, and research shows that the poor average Western diet directly contributes to this. This article is about finding easy, real food recipes to support health and wellbeing.
To highlight the dangers of ultra-processed foods, Dr Chris van Tulleken has written an insightful book ‘Ultra-Processed People – Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food And Why Can’t We Stop?!
- One GP surgery (Freshwell in Essex) has gone even further and offers a freely downloadable app.
If you would like to lose weight, increase your energy levels and gain a number of other health benefits without counting calories and feeling constantly hungry and tired, then you might want to consider downloading the Freshwell app!
The Freshwell website also offers a real-food budget meal planner so that you could know exactly what to put on your shopping list. You can find the lowcarb planner PDF here. Skip to page 38 to see the first of four weekly planners.
Together with this, they also offer delicious, real-food recipes designed by Dr Kim Andrews. Here are some recipe ideas:
Dr Kim’s Noatmeal
A tasty alternative to traditional oat porridge with chia seeds, flaxseed, coconut flour, vanilla essence or more flavoursome options
Anda bhurgi
Otherwise known as spicy Indian scrambled eggs – with onions, tomatoes, chilli peppers, garlic, turmeric, fresh coriander leaves and more real food ingredients
Blackberry and apple crumble with cinnamon and vanilla extract
Free lifestyle course
Additionally, there is a free real food lifestyle course offered by the doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, etc at The Public Health Collaboration. You can watch all 8 sessions on the PHC’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll1OFEPfBCI And then if you’d like a helping hand for further support, you can join the free weekly lifestyle support group https://phcuk.org/support/
If you are looking to make changes in your own life at this time of year to benefit your health next year, or to help your loved ones to make the most of every meal and support their health, hopefully these pointers have helped you to know about free resources or low-cost books written by doctors to give as Christmas presents to stimulate nutritious, delicious and cost-effective new year’s resolutions.