We were told to have a balanced meal. A day should comprise of breakfast, lunch and dinner (and, sneak in a little extra, like snacking and tea time in between).

Though, with the current lifestyle, sometimes we have to abandon this ideal way of eating; meeting deadlines, travelling around and getting work done ASAP. We either could be skipping meals, eating unhealthy fast food, or worse – over snacking while typing out the report for your supervisor.

So, if you are already partaking unhealthy food into your system, it will affect your overall well-being – you start to feel fatigue more often, you’ve gain more weight over time, and you are constantly moody and easily irritated.

So, why is it crucial to eat well?

By improving what you eat, you could see a boost in energy. Eating healthy greens like spinach and broccoli are rich in iron. Iron helps carries oxygen throughout the body, contributing to sufficient energy levels and alleviating fatigue. Healthy snacks like nuts, fruits, yogurt and low-fat cheese can help give energy boost during the daytime.

Aside from that, healthy eating assists with weight maintenance. By following a healthy eating plan, which focuses on fruits and vegetable, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean meats, as well as low levels of saturated and trans fat along with low cholesterol, sugar and sodium, one can maintain or reduce weight. By staying within your recommended daily calorie intake, you maintain a healthy weight which helps reduce health risk, including diabetes and heart diseases.

Proper eating can also help one’s mental state. Studies have shown that nutrients including iron, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and calcium can combat depression and boost moods. Illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease benefit from a healthy, reduced-calorie diet – which includes a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon.