Healthy eating is an essential part of leading a healthy lifestyle, as everyday food choices affect your health now and into the future. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, your diet can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, protect against debilitating chronic diseases, and live a longer (and healthier) life.

Ready to take steps towards a healthier diet and lifestyle? These five tips will start you on the right path.

1. Eat more plant-based foods

This means eating a balanced diet, comprised mainly of minimally-processed plant foods – such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds.

Evidence suggests that a diet rich in plant-based foods, with fewer animal sources, has both health and environmental benefits. Eating more plant-based foods is also an easy way to ensure you’re getting the essential vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds (like polyphenols and other phytonutrients) you need to help stay healthy.

Nuts are so good for you (their health benefits have been studied extensively!), and so versatile. They can be added to soups, used as the base for dips, tossed through a stir-fry, or used to add delicious crunchiness to salads.

Why not try some of our favourite nut recipes?

2. Make snacks count

Did you know that around one third of Australians’ energy comes from discretionary foods (aka ‘junk food’ or foods that are not essential – like cakes, biscuits, pastries and soft drinks)?

Given most of us like to snack, it’s important to make the snacks we eat, count. That means choosing healthier snacks that contribute essential nutrients.

Nuts are one of the easiest and most convenient snacks, and they also pack a nutritional punch. Raw or roasted, nuts provide dietary fibre, plant protein, heart-healthy fats, adn essential vitamins and minerals.

Visit our recipe page for some inspirational ways to incorporate nuts into your snacks, or try some of our favourites:

3. Be physically active

Along with a healthy and varied diet, help keep your body fit and healthy by exercising regularly. Moderate exercise for around 30 minutes most days of the week is recommended.

Why not try something new? Log on for an online yoga or pilates class, head to your balcony or garden with a skipping rope, or lace up your sneakers for a walk, ride, or jog around your neighbourhood. And with 30% of Australians currently deficient in vitamin D, getting some sunlight outside may be just what your body needs!

Tip: Nuts are great sources of energy and protein, making them an ideal before, during or after workout snack.  

4. Get enough sleep

This is one very deserving (but sometimes forgotten) key steps to a healthier lifestyle. Your body needs sleep to repair itself and help set you up for a productive day. A healthy balanced diet and regular exercise will help you on your way to a good night’s sleep, but if you’re not dozing off easily, try to limit caffeine and alcohol before bedtime. 

5. Manage stress

Stress is detrimental to immune system function, so it’s a good idea to find ways to manage it. Going for a walk outside, calling a friend, or practising mindfulness or meditation, can all help to improve your mental health and keep stress levels down.