National lockdown: An opportunity to start new , healthy habits

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit – the exact time we have been told to stay at home in order to flatten the curve. Memes all over social media have suggested that most of us have one fear being at home – the refrigerator! And, our fears are not unfounded according to Catherine Clark, Owner and Founder of the Harvest Table. She says that a study conducted by Dr Sandi Mann from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) showed that people who are bored crave fatty and sugary foods.

“Let’s be honest, a bowl of crisps in front of the TV is far more inviting than a handful of carrot sticks! That said, there is no better time than the national lock-down to nail your 2020 resolution of losing weight and getting healthy,” Catherine says.

So, how do you beat the boredom AND reach your goals of eating healthy? She offer 4 tips:

1. Shop smart: Shop with a list (after all you need to be in and out as quickly as possible!) and whatever you do avoid the sweet aisle at all costs! If it’s not in the cupboard/fridge, you can’t eat it. Plus, the lock-down makes ‘running to the garage for a quick snack’ a lot more difficult.
2. Become a mini Masterchef: Healthy eating is not just about eating well, it is about enjoying your food. If you plan on sticking to a healthy eating plan, you need to make sure that the food you cook is delicious. Plus, cooking up a storm can keep you and the family occupied for hours! With access to the internet, this is so incredibly easy and you can finally ditch your grandmother’s butter- and sugar-laden recipe book! A delicious smoothie for breakfast* or a hearty soup* for a cool autumn night are bound to keep you on the straight and narrow!
3. Limit couch time: It can be so tempting to binge-watch your favourite series on Netflix, but more than ever you need to get your body up and moving. Try and get at least 30-60 minutes of exercise in a day, and get the kids involved! YouTube is full of old-school aerobic videos. Alternatively, you can chase one another around the garden, play a game of mini-cricket or soccer or (if you up to it) do some heavy-duty housework.
4. Set a well-thought out routine: Think of yourself as a computer and someone has hit ‘Re-boot’ and returned you to factory settings. This is an opportunity to (re)format your hard drive. In order to do that you need to set up a new routine not only for the next 21 days, but for the days that follow. For example, if you work in an office in front of a computer all day, you will not be able to exercise at 10am, so don’t do it now. If you leave for work at 5am and eat your breakfast before you leave home – make sure that you do the same while at home (just make sure you are eating the healthier version, of course!)

“Whatever you do, make sure that the healthy habits you start, you can maintain well after life returns to normal so that you truly do reach your goals of being healthier and happier in 2020,” Catherine concludes.

*Recipes mentioned in the article are below for readers:

Immune-boosting breakfast smoothie 

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 pineapple with the skin removed, chopped into pieces

1 avocado with the skin and stone removed, chopped into pieces

3 tablespoons The Harvest Tables Super Immune Shake (contains Organic Bone Broth, Organic Maitake Mushroom Powder and Organic Blueberry Powder with Astaxanthi)

Method: 

Add the pineapple and avo into a blender with 2 cups of water

Add The Harvest Tables Super Immune Shake

Immune-boosting Autumn night Soup 

Serves 4 – 6

Ingredients:

2 onions

2 carrots

4 cloves garlic

2 sticks of celery

olive oil

2 kg butternut squash

2 litres water

3 tablespoons The Harvest Table Bone Broth Powder

1 tablespoons The Harvest Table Turmeric Latte per serving

Extra virgin olive oil

Method:

• Peel and finely chop the onions, carrots and garlic, then trim and finely chop the celery
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat
• Add the onion, carrot, garlic, celery, chilli, rosemary and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper to the oil, then cook gently for 10 minutes, or until sweet and soft
• Meanwhile, halve, de-seed and rough chop the squash. When the time’s up, add the squash and water to the pan, along with the The Harvest Table Bone Broth Powder. Bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
• When the squash is tender, whiz the soup with a stick blender or pour it into a blender and pulse to a smooth purée – leave it slightly chunky, if you prefer.
• Season to perfection with salt and pepper, then divide between bowls, stirring in one TBS of The Harvest Table Turmeric Latte into each serving.
• Drizzle with a swirl of quality extra virgin olive oil, then serve.