EAT SMART TO LIVE SMART

A balanced diet and exercise regime might take a little bit more work and effort but the benefits you reap for a happy, healthy life will be a hundredfold. Here’s how you and your family can eat smart and live happily.
Most of the time, we know that we need a diverse set of foods and nutrients to complete a balanced diet and lifestyle, but with hectic lifestyles and less time on our hands, shortcuts seem to be a better option on most days. Too often we compromise the proper variety and balance of nutrients our body needs for quick, convenient meals.
The good news is, at McDonald’s you don’t need to sacrifice nutrition for convenience. All the ingredients that go into McDonald’s meals are the normal stuff that you will get at the supermarket such as bread, chicken, fish, meat, potato, tomato, lettuce and many more, so rest assured, your meals at McDonald’s contain the necessary daily nutrients you and your family need. You can obtain the nutrition information from any McDonald’s restaurants to help you plan a balanced diet.
Nutrition balance is particularly important for your kids. As protein is especially essential for a child’s growth and development, give them a good range from various sources such as eggs, chicken, fish, beef or even lentils and soya-based products. At McDonald’s they’re spoilt for choice with Happy Meal selections like Chicken McNuggets, Ayam Goreng McD, Cheeseburger and Grilled Chicken Burger.
Fruits and vegetables are another crucial element of your child’s daily diet but it may be a challenge to get them to agree to that. Now there’s even a Happy Meal side option of Corn Cup to help your kids get their daily serving of vegetables (one serving is three quarters of a mug). Have your children go for fruits or veggie sticks whenever they’re hungry throughout the day. Choose bright-colored fruits and veggies cut into interesting shapes for them to enjoy. Instead of carbonated drinks, fruit juices are just as flavorful, plus they’re bursting with vitamins. Soya bean milk is also a source of liquid protein goodness.
Most of the time, the problem also lies in overindulging and eating too much. Part of learning to eat smart is to understand the limits of your stomach – enjoy what you eat, but listen to your body when it tells you that you’ve head enough; stop when you’re full! This way, you can eat the things you like while keeping it in manageable, moderate servings. Encourage your children to stop when they’re full. If not, they develop habits of eating more than they should at a young age. McDonald’s Happy Meal contains a complete meal of just the right portion to suit your child’s needs and taste buds.
Eating smart for you and your family isn’t actually all that hard – while a part of it is making the right choices in your food options, it is more important to listen to your own body’s needs and encouraging good eating habits in your kids while they’re still young.
Tips for getting ahead in health
Eat according to your needs. An individual's nutrient and calorie needs vary according to age and level of physical activity. Growing children, adolescents and women, for instance, need more calcium for healthy bones. Young children, teenage girls and young women should eat enough iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, eggs and whole grain products. Growing kids need lots of protein while vitamins are essential for optimum health.
Drink heaps of water. You need at least 6 to 8 (confirm 6-8) glasses of water a day. Fluid can also come from other beverages, fruits and vegetables. Enjoy a variety of choices at McDonald’s such as Ribena blackcurrant juice, orange juice, water, MILO and many more.
Watch how much salt you’re consuming. Sodium is vital for your body to function properly. However, only a very small amount of sodium is needed. Excessive sodium intake is associated with the incidence of high blood pressure. You can ask for your French Fries without salt.
Don’t skip meals! Your body needs a certain amount of nutrients and calories a day, so cutting down your intake by skipping meals deprives your body of what it needs and you risk overeating at your next meal. Also, never miss breakfast. It is important for kick-starting your metabolism and giving you a good start to the day. Have a hearty breakfast at McDonald’s with either the Sausage McMuffin, McEgg Muffin or try the Bubur Ayam McD for local flavor
Turn meals into an enjoyable experience, not just something to fill your stomach. Make mealtimes a time for you and your family to spend quality time together – this sets a good example for cultivating good eating habits in your children and encourages varied, balanced eating. Eat out occasionally for a change; bring the kids out to McDonald’s where there are food options for the whole family.
Be active! Apart from having nutritionally balanced meals, children need regular exercise to stay healthy and happy too. Remember, ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT, so any extra calories consumed have to be burned off to keep your child in shape. Encourage your child to take up a sport.