Make Healthier Food Choices

People often take diet as a weight loss plan, but diet is simply the amount and type of good food you take. A healthy diet depends more on your choices of routine you follow about what you eat and drink. A healthy diet with its lot of benefits can prevent health issues which include conditions like heart disease, cholesterol, etc. Our body has different needs based on our level of activity and age group.

A good diet should be a balance of all food groups, as no single food can benefit us in maintaining good health. Go for a smaller plate of the meal and enjoy taking a less amount of food considering the number of calories and food you intake.

Five groups of food to follow:

1.Fruits and Vegetables:

• Fruits and vegetables which comes first in a healthy choice of food as it is an important part of a diet. As they are naturally grown contains natural vitamins and minerals. Nowadays we have a lot of choices in fruits and vegetables available and also cooking experts which make it easier to prepare, cook and serve.

• Our daily vegetable intake should be about a half a cup of cooked and one cup of raw salads.

• Our daily fruits intake should include 1 or 2 fruits daily, or further one can go with smoothies with no added sugar.

Benefits: fruits and vegetables are a good source of fiber, low in fat and sugar, thus it can help you lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce obesity, etc.

2.Whole grains:

• Whole grains are a good source of carbohydrates and healthiest of all kind of grains, helping you feel satisfied. Whole grains either available in single food as brown rice, whole wheat bread or in products as whole grain flour.

• Breakfast including whole grain cereals, and sandwiches using whole grain bread

• Replace rice with brown rice

Benefits: eating whole grains not only give you healthy nutrients but also give you interesting meals

3.Dairy:

• Prefer more non-dairy milk, low-fat cheese

• Try mixing fruits and low-fat yogurt for desserts

• Low-fat buttermilk rather than regular buttermilk

4.Fats and Sweets:

• Consuming a high amount of fats leads to develop high cholesterol and heart problems, thus instead of butter prefer more olive oil and soybean oil

• However, drinking enough water is just not a solution to stay hydrated. Avoid taking sugar-sweetened drinks like fruit juices, energy drinks, and flavoured milk and prefer ZERO-calorie drink

5.Proteins(poultry/fish):

• Chicken breasts are a good choice as they are high in protein, also use boil, grill, roast as the healthiest way to prepare

• Fish has Omega-3 fatty acids, one should include fish once a week in a diet

• Prefer more frozen seafood as well as poultry

Ø Things to consider:
•Being healthy is more important than just maintaining a good diet
•Combine healthy food choice with regular exercising habits
•Avoid smoking and alcohol intake
•Introduce yourself to a dietitian/family doctor

“Consider yourself a priority, take time and care for yourself.”