Managing finances, changing poor dietary practices and not skipping breakfast, choosing foods lower in fat, sugar and salt are all conducive to good health.
Today’s article will focus on aiding individuals in making great food choices to improve their eating habits, and takes a look at attitudes and behaviour relating to adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Eating patterns Generally, eating patterns may vary based on several factors such as income, tradition and cultural practices, peer influence, time for meal preparation or even technology, and the availability of cooking and storage equipment.
Culturally, in the Caribbean territories many individuals are quite familiar with these local cuisines such as roti with fillings of curry potato, channa, chicken, and meats; pigeon peas pelau; coo-coo with callaloo, fried fish and gravy; boiled rice with stew peas, fried plantain slices, baked chicken and callaloo; coconut bake with salt fish buljol or sada roti with melongene choka; boiled ground provision with fried fish and gravy; and hops bread with butter and cheese slices.
These are well-liked and in some cases people eat several staples in one lunch meal, combining three or more ingredients such as seasoned rice, boiled sweet potato slices, macaroni pie, potato salad, along with baked chicken, bhagi, two lettuce leaves and cucumber slices, fruit punch and marble cake.
From this brief overview, you can probably conclude that a person’s physical and social environment might influence eating patterns and diet quality. According to research, children usually eat foods that are readily available and accessible, and may consume large amounts if larger portions are provided. The time meals and snacks are served, as well as other factors in relation to mealtimes which include, but should not be limited to whether the family eats a meal or two together, TV-viewing during meals, and the source of foods ( for example restaurants, schools) may more than likely have an impact on children’s eating patterns.
Parents, guardians and caregivers also play a direct role in children’s eating patterns through their behaviours, attitudes and feeding styles. In addition, researchers also documented that “factors surrounding dietary behaviour such as frequency of eating, distribution of consuming food across the day, skipping meals such as breakfast, lunch, and frequency of meals and snacks eaten away from home comprise one’s eating pattern that may influence body weight.” Taking small steps For each meal include a staple, protein food (legumes or foods from animals), vegetables, and fruits. This does not mean overcrowding the plate with staples and meats, poultry or fish, but instead aim to eat more vegetables, one fruit, and smaller portions of staples and protein food.
In order to improve your dietary practices, you may wish to start by taking small steps. To do this, review your food habits, the foods that you usually eat and how they are prepared. Perhaps you can also consider the rationale for selecting certain foods or skipping meals, whether it is due to your busy schedule, emotions you might be experiencing as a result of loss of job, death of a relative or close friend or financial crisis and dealing with relationship issues.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also supports this view; they documented that to improve your eating habits, making radical changes is not the best approach, but rather you should reflect and replace and reinforce: Reflect –evaluate your dietary habits, taking into consideration both good and bad food choices, noting what factors might trigger unhealthy eating. Be patient with yourself when addressing the problem. Sometimes in the case of stress, depression and other such issues, you will need to consult with your medical doctor and describe what is happening to you; Replace – think of swapping unhealthy foods for nutritious ones.
Consume fruits, veggie pieces, nuts, non-fat or low-fat yogurt. Omit doughnuts, frosted cereals and sugary snacks.
Reinforce – to sustain your new healthy food habits, make the effort to plan well-balanced meals, drink water, omit foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. For continued support you can encourage your colleagues, friends, and families to do the same.
Dr Claudette Mitchell, PhD, RD is an Assistant Professor, University of the Southern Caribbean, School of Science, Technology and Allied Health