Lent Made Successful and Easy
Lent, an annual festival in the Christian calendar, which lasts for 6 weeks, will run from March 1st – April 13th this year, with many people fasting or seeking to forgo their favourite luxury.
Lent is a fantastic opportunity to practice self-control and is a long enough period to instill permanent healthy habits if desired! Be it caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, bread or unhealthy snacking, there is no habit that can’t be forgone and even permanently excluded.
We are not suggesting that you should go without wine and dairy milk chocolate forever, that would just be cruel. However perhaps if you regularly overindulge, now would be the perfect opportunity to reign in your daily habits and regain control.
Once lent has come to an end, do you know the recommended limits?
Caffeine
The recommended maximum amount of caffeine is 4 cups per day. Try drinking more water infused with fresh fruit of caffeine free fruit teas.
Alcohol
The UK guidelines state that men or women shouldn’t consume more than 14 units of alcohol per week – and this should be spread throughout the week with at least 2 consecutive alcohol free days.
Chocolate
Instead of delving into bars of white or milk chocolate, try savouring dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa. Treat yourself to a square a day – it’s amazing how much you will come to appreciate it!
Refined Carbohydrates
This is food such as white bread, white rice and white pasta. These foods often leave you feel bloated and uncomfortable, with no real sign of satisfaction. Refined carbohydrates hit the blood stream almost immediately causing a spike in blood sugar, and therefore a slump in energy. Complex carbohydrates on the other hand will leave us with prolonged and steady energy, as well as the feeling of fullness due to the high fibre content. Complex carbohydrates include beans, whole grains, fruit and vegetables.
They say that if you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail. So have your plan ready to put into action when it comes to integrating healthy changes. Check out our recipe and drink ideas to make the transition seamless.
Snacks – (Think about that office birthday cake that will be in tomorrow and plan ahead!)
