“You are what you eat.” We hear it all the time! Food is such a common part of our lives, yet it can be the bane of our existence.
Nutrition contributes in so many ways to our well-being, it’s no wonder people want to know more about it! It affects appearance, energy level, and can even help with easing symptoms of various diseases like arthritis, celiac sprue, or lactose intolerance, to name a few.
A “healthy” diet is one that:
- Emphasizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, and calcium-rich foods. try foods on this Nutrient Rich Shopping List to give you an idea of foods to look for at the store.
- Is low in saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. Minimizing these helps to prolong your life, by helping you avoid chronic diseases down the road, such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
- Stays within daily calorie needs – You can find out how many calories you need per day here.
- Includes plenty of water – fluids are so important for a healthy body. They help to regulate body temperature, alleviate constipation, keep the nose, mouth and eyes moist and transport nutrients and medications to appropriate places. Water also helps to keep you feeling energized.
- Includes Breakfast – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you can’t afford to skip it. It gets your metabolism going, and helps you to avoid overeating during the rest of the day. On top of that, you will be able to think more clearly throughout the day, as well as have energy to do all the things you need to do.
- Includes the things you love, in moderation – Food should be a contributor to joy and pleasure, so enjoy and partake! There is room for every food in your diet (in moderation), if you make room. Take out or use less of the extra, unnecessary calorie contributors like butter, sour cream, or salad dressing, and try substituting juice or soda with water. Making these little changes will cut out a large chunk of calories with hardly any inconvenience, making room for the little indulgences here and there, like that warm delicious cookie…mmm…
Happy Eating!
