Life’s One Great Big Balancing Snack

Ever asked yourself the question: why is energy balance important? If the answer is ‘yes’, then this is the blog for you. If the answer is ‘no’, then give it a read anyway, as it might come in handy in the future…

Think of good energy and balanced nutrition in the same way you fuel your car: if you put the wrong type of fuel in your vehicle, it’s not going to work properly and, ultimately, lead to long-term problems.

The same principle applies to your body: it’s a complex machine which, without the right balance of the right fuels, will become more prone to obesity, disease, fatigue, and general poor performance.

Fuelling your body correctly all starts with a balanced diet, comprising good energy foods that are low in unnecessary fats, sugars and empty calories, but high in vitamins, minerals and nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.

Because we’re realists here at Bounce, we know you’re going to want to have the occasional takeaway or snack binge.

And that’s fine because, like we said, life’s one great big balancing snackt; meaning as long as you get into the habit of making the right nutritional choices, more often, then those occasional binges aren’t a problem.

We want to make this complex issue simple, which is why we’ve put together an easy guide to what nutrients you need and why, as well as our favourite examples of each. Items bracketed with (V) indicate the fact they’re vegan.

Protein

Why? Essential for healthy muscle and brain development.

What? Chicken, turkey, salmon, eggs, quinoa (V), lentils (V) and high protein energy balls such as yep, you’ve guessed it, Bounce balls (V).

Dairy

Why? Provides energy and promotes bone health.

What? Greek yoghurt, milk and smaller portions of reduced-fat cheddar, as well as ricotta, feta and cottage cheese. Likewise, vegan options include nut milks, dairy free yoghurts and cheeses.

Vegetables

Why? A key source of essential vitamins and minerals.

What? Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli, not forgetting versatile winners like carrots, peas and sweet potatoes.

Fruit

Why? A great source of nutrients, generally low in fat, sodium and calories.

What? You really can’t go wrong with grapefruit, pineapple, blueberries, apples and avocados (yes, it’s a fruit).

Grains

Why? Lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and promote good digestive health.

What? We love whole grains such as quinoa, oatcakes, brown rice and pearl barley.

If you fill your shopping trolley with plenty of the above, then you’re well on your way to getting all the good energy and nutrients needed to enjoy an active life and positive energy balance.