Maintain Healthy Eating Habits During The Isolation Due To Coronavirus

Since the lockdown looks like the only viable shield, we have against the coronavirus pandemic, going for groceries every other day isn’t a wise thing anymore. And neither is letting food go to waste, not that it ever was. Maintain healthy eating habits during the COVID-19 lockdown!

Before the pandemic, we were encouraged to get to the supermarket more often so that we’d have higher chances of consuming fresh food. Vegetables, fruits, bread, pastry, meat, the fresher they were, the healthier we were. But that is no longer the case. Preserves and frozen food are recommended because this way we don’t have to the grocery store too often. So, nutritionists are giving us a dispensation and they let us have frozen pizza and frozen hamburgers. But this is not the only solution.

Maintain healthy eating habits during the isolation

Keep your food in the refrigerator. Some of the fruits and vegetables are more resistant than others. Bananas and berries don’t last for long, but oranges and apples do. Carrots and celery are more resistant then tomatoes and pepper. Potatoes and onion can last for a lot of time. Some of them don’t last more than two days at the most. Like fresh salad.

The secrets? Keep them all in the fridge. You can even double their resistance and freshness by doing so. And organize your meals. Consume the fruits and vegetables in the order they need to be consumed. This way you won’t waste them. It’s the same with bread and nuts. They resist longer if you keep them in the fridge.

You can also put them in the freezer, so when you need specific fruits and vegetables you won’t have to run at the supermarket. Tomatoes, peas, spinach, greens, berries, mango, you name it. You can make stocks but remember: if you organize your meals according to the food natural preservation, you won’t have to ingest frozen foods too much.

By becoming organized, you can also educate yourself and not let emotions guide your eating behavior. When at stress, we might feel food craving. Don’t eat whatever you feel like. Eat what you need. Be aware of how much protein you consume. Sedentarism requires a lower level of protein. 56 grams for men and 46 grams for women a day is the recommended quantity. You can keep the meat in the freezer, but make sure you don’t exaggerate.

Tips that can help you consume frozen food in the healthiest way possible

• Freeze it fresh – If you freeze the food by yourself don’t use the freezer as a trash can. Don’t freeze food that is close to its expiry date or wilted vegetables and fruits. All frozen food loses vitamins and minerals. Either by freezing or by defrosting. You should try to give it the best chance of keeping its nutrients.
• Don’t defrost at room temperature – The best way to defrost food is in the fridge. It is the longest defrosting process but it is also the healthiest.
• Be aware of the sodium – If you must consume frozen meals, make sure the sodium they contain is not higher than 500-600 milligrams per portion.
• Pay attention to the first few ingredients – Look for whole grains or vegetables and avoid butter, cream, or sugar by all means.
  Count your calories – Frozen meals have a reduced number of calories. You need 500-600 calories per meal, so check that too.