January is the perfect time to start over, to try new things and focus on prioritising your mental and physical health and wellbeing, and one of the best ways to do that, is by keeping a close eye on what we eat.

Although it sounds simple to maintain a well-balanced and nutritional diet, for many it can seem difficult, overwhelming and bland.  

But it really doesn't have to be! It can be as easy as adding in more vegetables or exchanging ingredients for a healthier option (like wholegrain rice instead of normal rice), or using more herbs and spices to elevate the flavours of your veggie dishes.

At Ross & Ross Gifts, we are passionate about good quality food and providing our customers with new and exciting culinary experiences that will aid them in creating tasty yet nutritional dishes.

So we have decided to share some tips for eating and maintaining a well-balanced diet!

 

1. Base your meals on higher fibre starchy carbohydrates!

According to health experts, starchy carbohydrates should make up around a third of the food you eat- this includes food like potatoes, rice, bread and pasta and cereal etc.

At Ross & Ross we are passionate about our roast dinners which is why we have created an incredibly flavourful Roast Potato Oil, made from organic and ethically sourced Cotswold Rapeseed Oil and infused with smoke, rosemary and garlic to bring your roast potatoes to a entirely new level of tastiness.

Click here to find out how you can make the perfect roast potatoes!

 

2. Eat more fruit and veg

Everyone knows that fruit and veg are an amazing source for those essential vitamins and minerals that keep our bodies thriving- it has been recommended by dieticians that you should eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and veg every day in order to maintain a well-balanced diet.

Now some might think that fruit and veggies are just bland and boring, but really it all depends on what you do to them and how you can incorporate them into you favourite dishes.

Each one of our fabulous Veggie Rubs contains a different selection of herbs and spices, but they all serve the same purpose; to help you elevate the flavours of your vegetable dishes.

3. Eat more fish- especially oily fish!

Fish is a brilliant source of protein and contains an array of vitamins and minerals that are amazing for the preservation and care of our bodies. Oily fish such a salmon, are high in omega-3 fats, which helps to reduce inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and helps maintain good heart health.

Why not try our Homemade Salmon Curing Kits- they are great for anyone who would like to try an ancient artisan culinary experience whilst maintaining a healthy and nutritional diet!

4. Increase your protein intake.

We all know that eating plenty of protein has numerous benefits for weight loss, muscle gain and general health. Protein can be found in foods like white meats, lean meats, dairy, cheese, eggs and nuts. Protein is also brilliant for curbing hunger which essentially means that the more protein you eat, the less you feel the urge to snack.

Have a look at our range of Roast Dinner Kits and British BBQ Kits that contain delicious meat rubs that you can use on your chicken and steak.

5. Check the ingredients.

It's important that when you buy a ready-made meal or any type of food product that you know what they contain- it's shocking when you realise just how much artificial ingredients (like additives and colorants) are used to make something look and taste appetising.

Which is why at Ross & Ross, one of our key values is transparency; we will always be open to our customers and clients about the ingredients we use in our products.

In order for our Homemade Curing Kits to work well, we have added ingredients such as nitrates- which are common ingredients found in processed meats like bacon, ham, salami, and chorizo. These ingredients function as preservatives, which help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria causing botulism and salmonella. Nitrates are only considered bad for you if cooked at extremely high temperatures and consumed every day.

Whilst we do love our bacon, we understand that in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, that we recommend our kits to be used in moderation.

We hope that these tips gives your some inspiration and ideas on how you can achieve a nourishing yet delicious well-balanced diet.