Last Updated on 7 March 2024 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic
It may come as little surprise to read that men are generally thought to be less inclined to take care of their health by eating Healthy. (1) Many young Australian men (18-25 years) fail to meet the recommendations set by national dietary guidelines. (2) There are many reasons why males should think twice about their food choices – in fact, it’s one time when acting like a caveman might be considered a good thing! Fellas, you know the basics, eat more of the good and less of the bad; so instead, we’re sharing some tidbits to tantalise your taste buds.
Share Plates and Healthy Mates
Let’s face it, everyone has an opinion on good food and healthy eating. Whether you follow celebrity chefs or a high-profile personal trainer, there are plenty of ideas out there, and it seems that men are impressionable to them. Beyond social media, researchers found that friends and coworkers could significantly promote various health behaviours among adult men in their daily life – both for better and for worse. (1) The take-home message is simple – when it comes to good food, it helps to keep in good company too.
J.E.R.F (Just Eat Real Food)
Guys, your caveman instincts already seem to serve you a little better than females here, who, when given a chance, prefer comfort foods that are more snack related (such as chocolate and ice cream). Males, on the other hand, have been shown to prefer warm, hearty, meal-related comfort foods (such as steak, casseroles, and soup). (3) Basically, your liking for good pub grub and modern Australian cuisine can work in your favour as you are more likely to enjoy a well-balanced meal and limit your sugar intake, which brings us to our next point.
Level up your Chef Skills
Those classic comfort food favourites can easily be recreated as healthier versions. Bulk out-loaded fries with avocado, corn and black beans, pad out burger patties with grated carrot and add a spinach layer to a classic lasagne. Chances are you’ll like your version better. While you experiment in the kitchen to find your signature dish, there are plenty of mod cons to test out, like slow cookers and pressure cookers, air fryers or even a pizza oven for the backyard, right beside the BBQ that skilfully grills zucchini, eggplant and capsicum alongside those lean cuts of meat. Pro-tip for the BBQ crowd: spice-containing marinades will protect from the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are suspected human carcinogens formed in muscle foods during high-temperature grilling or cooking. (4) Meat just got healthier!
Vegan for a Day, Healthier for a Lifetime
On the flip side, meat may be a little too dominant in the male diet. This leads some to suggest that men’s diets tend to be less healthy and sustainable, which is linked to worse health outcomes. (5) Eating more plant-based foods is always a healthy eating goal, while having a vegan or vegetarian day each week – aka ‘Meatless Monday’ – has the potential to improve overall health and well-being. Eating more vegetables, including legumes, is also more economical, so spice it up with some Mexican beans or a chickpea curry and take one for planet Earth.
Living the Good Life
If you run with a healthy crowd, basically just eat real food, know how to cook up a storm and enjoy vegetarian dishes often, you’re right on target to be living well. If, on the other hand, you need a second serving of healthy eating advice, then schedule a lunch meeting with the Livewell team.
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