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 the 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 it.
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 breads that carry the whole grain label are
healthier than those who 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.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is a webmster, international author and fitness
guru. Come check out his website at
http://www.1stbetterhealth.com
