Healthy Food Choices

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 food choices. Eating healthy

is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very

crucial to your results.

Grains

You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day. To do this,

you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice,

crackers, or pasta. You can get an ounce of grains in

a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Vegetables

These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of

them each day. You should start eating more of the dark

vegetables, such as broccili 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 2 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, 3 cups

is the ideal goal. For kids 2 - 8, 2 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 5 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 perfect 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

Making Healthy Food Choices

Vegetables, fruits, and grains are normally low in

fat and have no cholesterol. Most are great sources

of dietary fiber, complex carbs, and vitamins.

The American Heart Association recommends that you

eat foods that are high in complex carbs and fiber.

Below are some tips for making healthy food choices:

- Coconut is high in saturated fat, while olives

are high in monounsaturated fats and calories. You

should use these items sparingly to avoid getting

too many calories from fat.

- When vegetable grains are cooked, saturated fat

or cholesterol is often added. For example, egg

yolks may be added to bread or even pasta.

- Processed, canned, or preserved vegetables may

also contain added sodium. With some people, too

much sodium (salt) may lead to high blood pressure.

There are some food companies that are actually

canning vegetables with less salt. You can look

for these in the market area or choose fresh and

even frozen vegetables.

- Nuts and seeds tend to be high in calories and

fat, although a majority of the fat is polyunsaturated

or monounsaturated. There are some varieties,

macadamie nuts for example, that are also high in

saturated fat.

Foods that are high in soluble fiber are a great

choice as well. Examples include oat bran,

oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, and

even apple pulp.

Whenever you are looking for healthy food choices,

always make sure you read the nutrition label

or information about the food. You can then

determine what the food contains and how healthy

it truly is for your body. By taking your time

and making your healthy food choices wisely,

you'll have a lifetime to enjoy the foods that

will take care of you.