Healthy Foods to Eat
The closer a food is to its natural state, the better it is for you. Fresh fruits and berries are great and will satisfy a craving for sweets. Whole vegetables have lots of vitamins and minerals, so eat more green, orange and yellow vegetables. Steam them to retain the most nutritional value and be careful with sauces, they may be high in calories and fats that aren't good for you.
Any pasta or baked goods should be made from whole grains. Avoid sugary snacks and pastries as well. An apple is good for you, an apple pie really isn't.
Shop for lean meats and don't forget the fish. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in ocean fish are often deficient in our diets, so serve seafood two or three times per week. Baked fish and chicken are healthier than fried, and lean meats like bison or venison may be healthier than higher fat beef.
Processed lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, and sausages have a lot of saturated fat and nitrates in them you don't want in your body. If you love these meats, you can find healthier versions sold at health food stores.
Remember to eat a variety of foods to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.
Stick to water, 100% fruit and vegetable juices as your main beverages and avoid sugary soft drinks. If you get tired of plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to add a touch of flavor. For kids, try some fruit juice jazzed up with carbonated water.
Unhealthy Foods
- Battered and deep fried foods
- Sugary sodas
- Processed lunch meats
- Greasy snack chips
- White bread and refined pasta
- Most canned spaghetti and ravioli
- Sugary breakfast cereals
- Frozen fried chicken, fish sticks and corn dogs
Healthy Foods
- Green and brightly colored vegetables
- Dark leafy greens and lettuce
- Fresh fruits and berries
- Lean turkey and chicken
- Nuts, dried fruits and healthy snacks
- Whole grain breads and pasta
- Healthy cooking oils like canola and olive oils
- Grass fed beef and bison
- Cold water oily ocean fish
- Low fat milk or soy beverages
- Nuts, seeds, and legumes
Assess Your Lifestyle
Once you learn which foods are good for you, you need to look at your eating habits. If the foods you eat are not healthy, you might want to work within your habits and current lifestyle conditions, since they are usually tough to change.
Consider these questions, then read on for tips to help you add healthy foods:
- Do you eat because you are bored, sad, or happy?
- Do you snack in front of the TV?
- Are most of your meals eaten at home or in restaurants?
- How often do you eat fast food?
- Do you like to cook?
- How often do you grocery shop?
- Do you skip breakfast or lunch, then overeat later in the day?
- How big are the portions you consume?
- Do you crave sweets?
- Are there foods you won't give up?