Many singles are time-poor and guilty of consuming too many processed and ready meals and snacks and/or opting for takeaways. But here’s the problem. The above generally involve too much starch, sugar and salt (particularly those labelled low fat), too much starch and sugar in the evening generally upsets our sleep patterns, too little sleep over time upsets the thyroid gland which controls our metabolic rate and a sluggish metabolic rate impacts on the behaviour of our appetite hormones, leading to us eating more and gaining weight. Shopping and cooking for one can seem like a laborious and time-consuming exercise but when it comes to weight loss, it has to become routine.
a few diet secrets
Consider 2 Meals a Day. Many singles, both male and female find the habit of having two really good meals a day and leaving around 5 hours between each works well for waistline management. A filling breakfast rich in protein and good fats (eg ham and eggs or porridge with fruit and seeds plus a nourishing vegetable smoothie) provides plenty of energy to get you through the morning. A proper lunch (eg a hearty bowl of soup and a mixed salad with plenty of protein) where you take time to sit down, get the cutlery out and savour every bite keeps hunger at bay for hours and unless you have a physically-demanding evening ahead, a light meal or snack in the evening won’t see you heading to bed feeling stuffed and uncomfortable.
Little and Often? If you find regular small meals and snacks work better for you, focus on keeping them small and ensure that each one is light on grains and rich in protein, fats and vegetables or fruits. A small tub of hummus and a selection of raw vegetable sticks or a 2 egg omelette with a selection of steamed greens will fill you up and keep the metabolic fire burning until your next meal/snack, a blueberry muffin and a caramel latte won’t and will do little other than please the palate for a short time.
Head to the Discounted Shelf. When time is tight or you are tired and have to opt for a ready meal, make a beeline for the discount shelf. Good quality ready meals that have been prepared with care are light or devoid of preservatives, meaning they have a short shelf life. And remember, the shorter the list of ingredients, the more natural the product and the better it will be for both your health and your waistline.