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Whether you have recently been diagnosed with severe food allergies, have decided to go vegan, or are just sticking to a strict diet and exercise regime it’s still important to ensure you’re getting adequate nutrition from your diet. Whatever the reason for your dietary restrictions, one thing is for sure; Cutting out or limiting your intake of certain food groups can make obtaining all the vital nutrients that your body needs a real challenge.
So, if you’re looking for ways to ensure you stay fighting fit whilst sticking to a restricted diet then read on. Below are 5 easy to follow tips that should make it easier for you to stay on track.
- Invest in some good quality dietary supplements
Supplements are one of the simplest ways of adding vitamins, minerals and any other vital nutrients to your diet. Perhaps you are lactose intolerant, and are therefore worried about your calcium intake? Calcium supplements could be a great way of upping your calcium intake whilst avoiding certain food groups such as dairy.
- Be proactive and plan ahead
Prior preparation and planning of your daily meals should make it easier to ensure you’re getting what you need from your daily food intake. Preparing your meals ahead of time means that you’re less likely to skip meals or feel hungry and have nothing suitable to eat around the house. It’s also a good idea to stock up on healthy snacks that are suitable for you to eat. Having healthy and nutritious snacks around the house will stop any cravings you may have and any temptation to eat unhealthy foods that provide less nutrition.
- Make a list of the foods that can provide the most nutrition
Even if your diet it highly restricted, you will often find information available in regards to food alternatives which will provide the most nutrition to your diet. In most cases, there will be certain fruits and vegetables that will provide your body with what it needs – some of which you may never have heard of/tried before.
Take some time to research foods that are safe for you to eat, but that are also high in nutrients and other delicious goodness. Make a list of these foods, either in your diary or maybe on your phone, and try to keep this list with you at all times. This list will really come in handy the next time you’re looking for healthy alternatives.
- Get expert help
If you are really worried about how healthy your restricted diet may be then it might be a good idea to enlist the help of a professional. A knowledgeable and experienced dietician should be able to help you create a specific meal plan that will fulfil all our your nutritional needs. It may also be wise to consult your doctor in regards to how healthy your restricted diet is. Although doctors are not as specialised in regards to diet and nutrition as a dietician they may be able to refer you to a specialist or provide you with information about where else you can find help.
- Online Resources
The internet is a great source of information about a whole host of subjects including diet and nutrition. Keep up to date with advice and opinions on forums and other useful websites. Forums are often good for reading about how people similar to you have managed to stay healthy on similar restricted diets. The internet is also an excellent place to find new recipes for your restricted diet along with anything that you should or should not be eating.
Hopefully, these five tips have given you some food for thought. Staying healthy and ensuring that you are gaining the correct nutrition from your diet, however restricted it may be, is important for so many different reasons.