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10 Ways People Eat Healthy in Other Countries

10 Ways People Eat Healthy in Other Countries

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Although the movement to grow and buy locally is booming in some places, we have to think globally if we want to find the best practices for healthy eating. Here are 10 ways people eat healthy in other countries.

Sources: Independent.com, StyleCraze.com, Forbes.com, CNN.com, MensHealth.com, Health.com, Reuters.com

bbcgoodfood.com
bbcgoodfood.com

1. Eating soup with every meal.

The Chinese eat some sort of soup with every meal, and for good reason. Just as drinking water can curb your appetite, so eating soup before a meal can cause you to eat less of the actual meal. A proper soup will also contain essential nutrients that you might not be getting with the meal.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

2. Curries with yogurt instead of cream.

In India, curries can be full of vegetables, whole spices, and great protein. But the oils and fats can hurt dieters. Using a nonfat yogurt and less oil in a non-stick pan can turn a fattening curry into a delicious and healthy meal, without losing the flavor.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

3. Beef. It’s what is added to dinner.

While Thai food may instantly make you think of chicken, beef, or seafood, actual Thai food does not concentrate on meat as the main ingredient. Thai food focuses on grains, veggies, and spices in harmony with the meat. This balances the meal and adds more nutrients.

istockphoto.com
istockphoto.com

4. Beet well.

Australians create a healthy hamburger by adding beetroot, more commonly known as a beet, to their Aussie beef. By using lean, all-natural beef and adding a couple of slices of beet, the burger turns from a greasy get-me-down into a detoxifying protein-packed pick-me-up. You cannot beet that!

health.com
health.com

5. Ceviche.

If you have ever been to Central America, Mexico, Latin America, or a good Mexican restaurant, you have probably seen ceviche. Typically made with shrimp, this fresh and satisfying meal can be made many different ways, marinating fresh seafood in lime juice which essentially cooks the meat. Spices, veggies, fruit or anything else healthy can be added to this dish, making it extremely versatile and delicious.

health.com
health.com

6. Break the fast.

Germans are eating their breakfast, and doing it in a healthy way. They sit down to fruits and grains rather than indulging in breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos.  Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast can actually make the brain less likely to crave something highly caloric when you see it.

theguardian.com
theguardian.com

7. Don’t eat…once in awhile.

Most Americans eat their next meal before fully digesting the last. Many Indonesians practice fasting periodically. This does not mean starve yourself for days on end, but try it for a full day. Fasting can actually break habits of mindless eating, and can allow your digestive system a break to get the body back in balance.

shutterstock.com
shutterstock.com

8. Eat at home.

Thirty-seven percent of the American food budget is spent eating at restaurants and fast food joints, compared to only 5 percent of the Polish family food budget. We can take a hint from Poland and realize that most of the time, a home-cooked meal can be much healthier than a burrito or a burger.

health.com
health.com

9. Good food cannot be Russia’d.

Take time to grow a garden wherever you can. Live in an apartment? Use the balcony. Don’t have one? Grow herbs in the window. Russians grow a lot in their gardens, especially at their vacation homes, and apparently food that grows in soil is almost always healthy. Who’d have thought?

reuters.com
reuters.com

10. Make healthy food available, and choose wisely.

The Netherlands has been ranked the country with the most plentiful, nutritious, healthy food available. Its market is stable, balanced and affordable, and people are eating that way. Ultimately, healthy eating is a choice, and we have to treat it as such.