Eat A Wide Variety Of Foods

One of the most frequently cited reasons that diets and attempts at healthy eating fail is boredom.  Many people simply do not know how to keep a healthy diet interesting day after day, and it can be quite a challenge.

Given the huge variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, and other healthy foods at the local grocery store, however, it is definitely possible to create exciting, nutritious meals that will keep boredom at bay.

Your key to healthy eating

The key to the success of any plan for healthy eating is to eat what you like but to exercise moderation when it comes to less healthy foods.  Improving your level of health and fitness does not mean forgoing that piece of chocolate cake, for instance.  It does mean, however, limiting yourself to one piece.  A healthy diet contains all types of foods, including carbohydrates, proteins, and even fats.  The key is choosing foods that provide the best combination of taste and nutrition.  After all, if your diet consists of foods you hate, you will not stick with them.

The revised USDA food pyramid contains five major food groups – grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy, and meat and beans.  When choosing foods from these groups, it is important to eat a wide variety of foods from every food group.  Doing so will not only give you a great deal of variety and keep boredom from setting in, but it will provide the best nutritional balance as well.  In addition, the widely known micronutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, etc. all foods contain a variety of macronutrients, like fats, proteins, fiber, and water.  Though present in extremely tiny amounts, micronutrients are vitally important to good health.  That is why a healthy, varied diet is so important.

In addition, when choosing foods from within the various food groups, some choices are naturally better and healthier than others.  For instance, choosing skim or 2% milk instead of full-fat whole milk is a good way to cut down on both fat and calories.  And choosing poultry or lean meat is a great way to get the protein you need every day without extra fat, cholesterol, and calories.

Likewise, cereals and loaves of bread that carry the whole grain label are healthier than those that do not.  Even in the world of fruits and vegetables, some choices are better than others.  For instance, peaches packed in heavy syrup add unnecessary sugar to the diet, while those packed in water or juice provide only good nutrition.

There has been a trend lately to add vitamin fortification to food, and this can sometimes be a good way to maximize nutrition.  It is important to remember, however, that proper nutrition comes from a healthy diet, not from vitamin supplements.  It is fine to buy calcium-fortified cereal, but the bulk of your calcium intake should still come from milk, dairy products, and green leafy veggies.

Choosing the best foods

Knowing the five major food groups and how much of each to eat every day is only part of the picture.  The other part is choosing the best foods from within those food groups.  That means things like choosing the leanest cuts of meat, using egg substitutes instead of whole eggs, choosing the freshest fruits and vegetables, etc.

Even with fruits and vegetables, some choices are better than others.  Some fruits, such as avocados, for instance, are packed with fat and calories.  It is important to check the nutritional qualities of the fruits and vegetables you buy, and not simply assume that all fruits and vegetables are equally healthy.

One way to maximize nutrition while minimizing cost is to buy fruits and vegetables that are in season.  Fruits and vegetables that are in season are usually quite a bit cheaper than those that must be shipped hundreds or even thousands of miles, and they are generally much fresher too.  Of course, depending on where you live, there may be varieties of fruits and vegetables that are not available locally, so the northerner in search of citrus fruits will just have to watch the sales and buy accordingly.

DISCLAIMER:

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA-approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”