It\u2019s not just devout Christians who swear off certain pleasures for Lent, which begins this Wednesday. Chocolate, sweets and booze are obvious things to give up, but what if you\u2019re eating healthily already? Here, six nutritionists reveal the habits they\u2019ll be kicking.<\/p>\n
Constant caffeine <\/p>\n
While drinking caffeine does have benefits such as boosting mood and alertness, it\u2019s easy to overdo it. For Rob Hobson, the nutritionist and author of The Low Appetite Cookbook, it has become a crutch in meetings. He noticed his caffeine top-ups throughout the day were impacting his stress levels and sleep. \u201cI\u2019m not giving up coffee completely, but I\u2019ll stick to a single coffee before the gym then I\u2019m going caffeine-free for the rest of the day,\u201d he says. Rather than relying on decaf, he\u2019s going to switch to ginger and lemon tea during the day for something zingy and refreshing. \u201cThen I\u2019ll move towards more calming herbal teas in the late afternoon to help bring stress levels down.\u201d <\/p>\n
Endless crisps <\/p>\n
We all know how easy it is to gobble an entire bag of crisps without noticing. It\u2019s something Emma Bardwell, a menopause nutritionist, is pushing pause on this Lent. \u201cCrisps can fit into a balanced diet but it\u2019s very easy to overeat them,\u201d she says. \u201cI don\u2019t miss them when I eat protein and fibre-rich meals: it\u2019s usually hunger while cooking that sends me to the crisp drawer. And Netflix and crisps \u2014 Bacon Fries are my favourites \u2014 go hand in hand.\u201d She\u2019ll be swapping them for fibre-rich, nutrient-dense and lower-calorie seaweed crisps for a healthier crunchy, salty fix.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The best nuts for your heart, brain and gut \u2014 and how many to eat<\/a><\/p>\n On-the-go snacking<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s not the food you\u2019re eating so much as the way you\u2019re eating it that can be detrimental to your health. \u201cI realised I\u2019ve been mindlessly eating while on the go with my toddler,\u201d the Harley Street nutritionist Lily Soutter says. \u201cI want to cultivate a better habit of taking more time to sit down and eat meals, chew thoroughly and be present during the experience.\u201d Benefits of doing so include feeling more satisfied with meals, so you\u2019re less inclined to snack, and improved digestive comfort. \u201cI\u2019m also aware of the powerful benefits of eating as a family,\u201d she says. \u201cI want to model healthy eating habits for my child.\u201d<\/p>\n