Healthy habits for a smaller waistline

What you eat plays a big role in meeting your weight goals. This in turn means that it affects the size of your waistline not to mention hips, thighs, etc. 

Like many women out there, I would love to have a smaller waistline. Maybe this slight obsession has to do with the idea of an ideal waistline that society has ingrained in us. Nevertheless, any trick that will help me achieve my waistline goals, albeit within reason, is welcome. One of those is watching what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today we’ll look at things you can do at lunchtime that will steer you towards your goal waistline.

1. Plan ahead

Have a plan for what you will eat for lunch every day. This will reduce the frequency with which you turn to fast food for lunch and will ensure that you choose healthier meals even when you’re in the midst of a busy day. Consider if you have time to prepare a meal from scratch or if you’d rather heat last night’s leftovers. 

As you plan what you will eat, carve out time in your day to sit and have your lunch. This will enable you to practice mindfulness while you eat and stop you from overeating. Avoid eating as you work or just before you rush in for a meeting. 

2. Watch your portions

How much you eat will affect your weight. Eat smaller portions. Use a smaller plate or choose a smaller container to carry your food in. In the same vein, serve more vegetables and protein than carbs. 

3. Fibre

Fibre helps you feel full. Add fibre either in the form of a salad or cooked vegetables to your lunchtime meal so that you don’t feel hungry too soon. Vegetables are also a source of vitamins and minerals so you’ll be getting all your nutritional requirements too.

4. Healthy fats and protein

That feeling of satiety also comes from healthy fats and lean proteins. These include nuts, avocados and olive oil as well as chicken, fish, eggs and beans. Add these to your meal for a more filling lunch.

5. Some carbs

You need to top up on your energy levels at lunchtime to keep up with your work. Carbohydrates are a great source of energy but to keep your weight in check, because the body converts excess carbs into fats, eat them in moderate portions. Add some carbs to your lunch so that you have enough energy to get through the rest of the day. Salads tend to leave you feeling hungry after a few hours so adding carbs to your meal will get rid of the need to snack shortly after eating your lunch.