Theres no denying it, eating is one of life's greatest pleasures. There are so many deliciously different foods to tempt the palet, there are also many foods and many ways to build a healthy diet and lifestyle. These dietary guidelines are designed to help answer the question: "What should I eat to stay healthy?" They provide advice on which food choices promote health and prevent disease.
Choose a varied diet based on grain products, vegetables, fruits, low fat milk products, lean meats, fish, poultry, and high quality vegetable proteins such as legumes, soy, nuts and seeds. Choose fewer foods that are high in fats and sweets.
Maintain a healthy weight
Maintain a healthy body weight by balancing your food intake with physical activity. If you are sedentary, strive to become more active. If you are already very active, try to continue the same level of activity as you age. More physical activity is better than less, and any is better than none. If your weight is not in the healthy range, try to reduce health risks by improving your eating and exercise habits. Take steps to keep your weight within the healthy range (neither too high nor too low). Check your ideal body weight for men and for women.
Food Groups
Make the grain, fruit, and vegetable food groups the foundation of your meals. These three food groups form a base for good nutrition and good health and may reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases. Be flexible and adventurous, try new choices from these three groups in place of some less nutritious foods you may usually eat. No matter what you eat, always take steps to keep your food safe to eat.
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Choose foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.
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Choose beverages and foods that moderate your intake of sugars.
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Choose and prepare foods with less salt.
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If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
Make sensible choices that promote health and reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases. You can enjoy all foods as part of a healthy diet as long as you do not overdo the intake of fat (especially saturated fat and trans fats), sugars, salt, and alcohol. Read food labels to identify foods low in saturated fat, sugars, and salt (sodium). You will also see trans fat levels listed on food labels, as legislation has been passed that requires manufacturers to add trans fats to food labels. |
