2. WHAT IS CONSIDERED “HEALTHY FOOD”?
WHILE EATING FADS COME AND GO, THERE
ARE A FEW KEY ELEMENTS TO HEALTHY
EATING THAT REMAIN UNCHANGED.
HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW:
"HEALTHY FOOD” DEFINED
WHAT IS HEALTHY FOOD - THY FOODS ARE
THOSE THAT PROVIDE YOU WITH THE
NUTRIENTS YOU NEED TO SUSTAIN YOUR
BODY’S WELL-BEING AND RETAIN ENERGY.
WATER, CARBOHYDRATES, FAT, PROTEIN,
VITAMINS, AND MINERALS ARE THE KEY
NUTRIENTS THAT MAKE UP A HEALTHY,
BALANCED DIET.
3. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON EATING FRESH FOODS THAT PROVIDE US WITH THE NUTRIENTS
OUR BODIES NEED.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE FOOD INDUSTRY DOESN’T MAKE AS MUCH OF A PROFIT ON FRESH
FOODS; PROCESSED FOODS ARE WHERE THE MONEY'S AT. EVEN BIG FOOD COMPANIES
HAVE LOBBIED AGGRESSIVELY AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH PLANS - SUCH AS A CAMPAIGN
ORDERING THE REMOVAL OF JUNK FOOD FROM SCHOOLS.
THESE JUNK FOOD ITEMS, PROCESSED FROM CROPS SUCH AS CORN, WHEAT, AND
SOYBEANS, ARE HIGH IN CALORIES (FILLERS) AND LACK THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE YOUR
BODY NEEDS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY ARE DERIVED FROM CROPS, IT CAN BE
DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE HEALTHY OR NOT, AND MISLEADING CLAIMS ON LABELS
ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE.
4. JUICE IS A DRINK MADE FROM THE EXTRACTION OR PRESSING OF THE
NATURAL LIQUID CONTAINED IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. IT CAN ALSO REFER TO LIQUIDS
THAT ARE FLAVORED WITH CONCENTRATE OR OTHER BIOLOGICAL FOOD SOURCES, SUCH
AS MEAT OR SEAFOOD, SUCH AS CLAM JUICE. JUICE IS COMMONLY CONSUMED AS
A BEVERAGE OR USED AS AN INGREDIENT OR FLAVORING IN FOODS OR OTHER BEVERAGES,
AS FOR SMOOTHIES.
5. A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET INCLUDES:
VEGETABLES AND ANY SUBGROUP SUCH AS BEANS,
PEAS, STARCHES, AND THOSE THAT ARE DARK
GREEN, RED OR ORANGE IN COLOR.
WHOLE FRUITS.
WHOLE GRAINS SUCH AS QUINOA, CORN, MILLET,
AND BROWN RICE.
LIMITED FULL-FAT DAIRY.
A VARIETY OF PROTEIN SUCH AS LEAN MEATS,
EGGS, NUTS, SEEDS, AND SOY PRODUCTS.
6. EATING A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH,
AND CAN HELP YOU FEEL YOUR BEST.
THIS MEANS EATING A WIDE VARIETY OF FOODS IN THE RIGHT PROPORTIONS, AND CONSUMING
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FOOD AND DRINK TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT.
FOOD GROUPS IN YOUR BALANCED NUTRITION
TO HAVE A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET, PEOPLE SHOULD TRY
TO:
EAT AT LEAST 5 PORTIONS OF A VARIETY OF FRUIT AND
VEGETABLES EVERY DAY
BASE MEALS ON HIGHER FIBRE STARCHY FOODS LIKE
POTATOES, BREAD, RICE OR PASTA
HAVE SOME DAIRY OR DAIRY ALTERNATIVES (SUCH AS
SOYA DRINKS)
EAT SOME BEANS, PULSES, FISH, EGGS, MEAT AND OTHER
PROTEIN
CHOOSE UNSATURATED OILS AND SPREADS, AND EAT
THEM IN SMALL AMOUNTS
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS (AT LEAST 6 TO 8 GLASSES A DAY)
IF YOU'RE HAVING FOODS AND DRINKS THAT ARE HIGH IN
FAT, SALT AND SUGAR, HAVE THESE LESS OFTEN AND IN
SMALL AMOUNTS
7. THE MOST COMMON UNHEALTHY FOODS INCLUDE HIGHLY-PROCESSED ITEMS “SUCH AS FAST
FOODS AND SNACK FOODS, “HIGHLY-PROCESSED FOODS TEND TO BE LOW IN NUTRIENTS
(VITAMINS, MINERALS AND ANTIOXIDANTS) AND HIGH ON EMPTY CALORIES DUE TO THE
CONTENT OF REFINED FLOURS, SODIUM AND SUGAR.”
EXAMPLES OF PROCESSED FOODS INCLUDE:
CHIPS
COOKIES
CAKES
SUGAR CEREALS