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| Healthy Eating Pie Chart (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Eating healthy is something we all would like to do, although it can be hard. In order to eat healthy, you must first make the right healthy food choices. Eating healthy is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very crucial to your results.
Grains. You should consume six ounces of grains per day. To do this, you can eat three ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in a single slice of bread, or one cut of cereal.
Vegetables. These should be varied, as you should eat two and half cups of them each day. You should start eating more of the dark vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach. Carrots and sweet potatoes are good as well. You should also eat more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney beans.
Fruits. Fruits are very important. You should try to eat two cups of them each day. Focus on eating a variety, such as fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit. You can drink fruit juices as well, although you should use moderation when doing so.
Milk. Milk is your calcium rich friend. For adults, three cups are the ideal goal. For kids between the ages of two and eight, two cups is where you want to be. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you should go for fat-free or low-fat. Those of you who don't like milk or can't have it, should go for lactose free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.
Meat and Beans. Eating five ounces a day is the ideal goal, as you should go lean with your protein. When eating meat, always bake it, grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation. You should vary your protein as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.
When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard. These foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can also help raise your cholesterol as well. Therefore, you should try to add these foods and any foods that happen to contain them.
To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low, you can check the nutrition facts label. This label can be found on the food package and will tell you all the information you need to know about the food item.
By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat, you'll help control your lifestyle. Exercise is great as well, as it goes along perfectly with a healthy eating lifestyle. No matter what your age may be, eating healthy will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and years - even help you and your health in the long run as well.
Making Healthy Food Choices
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