Healthy Eating Plans

Healthy Eating Plans

Most of us want to live healthy, productive lives. Although you can't control all of the factors that affect your health, most people do get to choose what goes in their mouth, and daily food intake can have a tremendous affect on your ability to live long and feel well.

Simple is best.

One of the fundamental principles of halthy eating is that the plainer, unadorned foods are better for you than more richly appointed dishes and processed and packaged foods.

Common sense

In general, if you think a food is bad for you--if it is highly processed, has lots of sugar, fat, or has no nutritional value--you are probably right. If you think it is good for you -- whole, fresh, colorful, high in fiber, lightly cooked--in other words, real food - it most likely is.

Power in the plan

In case you need some help, here is a daily healthy eating plan that is recommended by the USDA for people on a 2,000-calorie diet, which includes many adults. Keep in mind, these amounts should be portioned into meals and snacks throughout the day.

Click here for a printable copy of this free healthy eating plan list.

Healthy Eating Plans - Making the plan your own

If you are an active person, and need more than 2,000 calories, you can use this healthy eating plan as a basis, adding some servings across the board to each group. Conversely, if you need fewer calories because you are not very active, you can limit the discretionary calories and choose lower-fat versions of dairy products and meats.

Making the plan even better

While this is a good basic plan, there are some choices you can make to enhance this healthy eating plan, such as choosing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and good quality fats.

Some health experts recommend that you buy at least some organic products, especially eggs, meat and dairy products.

Click here to learn more about organic foods.

Remember that every little thing you do to eat healthier will help you live longer and feel better!

Making it easier

If you don't want to be as precise as this plan, another way to approach healthy eating is to think in turns of food groups on your plate. This method has recently been adopted by the USDA with their new "MyPlate" program that replaces the Food Pyramid Guide that you may have heard about. Click here to got to the USDA "MyPlate" web page.

A simple way to look at this method of healthy meal planning is to make sure each meal includes servings from all of the food groups. Your plate should have some protein foods, some foods from the fruit/vegetable group, some grain foods (preferable whole grain), a bit of dairy and a small amount of healthy fats.

Healthy Eating Plans - Keeping it in proportion

Fruits, vegetables and grains should take up a proportionately larger portion of your plate than proteins, dairy and fats. If you get in the habit of looking at your plate before you eat, and see foods from all of the groups with a colorful array of vegetables and fruits, you will have gone a long way towards eating healthy.

Healthy Eating Plans - Making snacks count

A thumbnail rule for snacks is to include a carb food with a protein food. In this way you will receive a full complement of nutrients that make a positive contribution to your nutritional status for the day. In addition, by eating both protein and carbs you will find that the snack will keep you satisfied longer, as your blood sugar remains more stable. Click here for more information on the glycemic index and the effect of carbs on your blood sugar.

For example, if you eat an apple with a few walnut halves or a piece of cheese with a handful of grapes, your snack will form part of your healthy and satisfying nutrition profile for the day. On the other hand, if you snack on potato chips, snack cakes, candy, or other sugary or salty processed foods, you will have a negative impact on your nutritional status and ultimately your health.

Healthy Eating Plans - Educate yourself

Of course, no healthy eating plan will work well if you don't understand basic nutrition. You need to know what protein foods are in order to include them in your meals and snacks. You also need to know about serving sizes, especially if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight.

Please take the time to learn the basics of healthy eating so that you can make healthy meal plans on a regular basis.

For more information on specific nutrients, click on the following links:

Click on this link for more information on Protein.

Click on this link for more information on Carbohydrates.

Click here for more information on Fats.

Click on this link for more information on Vitamins.

Click on this link for more information on Minerals.

Click on this link for more information on Water.

Click on this link for more information on Fiber.

Plan to be healthy!

Regardless of which of the healthy eating plans you choose, whatever you do to improve your daily food choices will reap long-term rewards in wellness and longevity.

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