30 Sec Answer: Eating healthy involves making mindful food choices, such as whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and healthy fats. It also includes avoiding processed foods and limiting added sugar and salt.
1 Start Your Day with a Healthy Breakfast
Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day because it provides your body with energy to start the day right. Eating breakfast can also help you manage hunger throughout the day, which can help you make healthier food choices overall. When selecting breakfast items, opt for foods that are nutrient-dense and high in fiber, like oatmeal topped with fresh fruit or Greek yogurt with nuts and seeds.
2 Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients that our bodies need to stay strong and healthy. Eating enough fruits and vegetables helps keep our immune systems functioning properly so we don’t get sick as easily. Try to include at least one serving of both fruits and vegetables into every meal for optimal nutrition.
3 Load Up on Lean Proteins
Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet since it provides our bodies with amino acids that are needed for growth and development. Lean proteins such as skinless poultry, fish, tofu, eggs, beans, lentils, tempeh, nuts, and seeds provide us with quality protein without unnecessary fat or calories. Aim to include some type of protein in each meal or snack to fuel your body throughout the day.
4 Incorporate Whole Grains into Your Diet
Whole grains provide us with more nutrition than refined grains because they contain more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Examples of whole grain products include brown rice, quinoa, bulgur wheat, barley, oats, spelt pasta, buckwheat pancakes or waffles, and 100% whole wheat breads. Choose whole grain options over refined grains whenever possible for an extra nutritional boost.
5 Don’t Fear Healthy Fats
While many people try to avoid fats altogether when eating healthy—fats actually play an important role in providing energy for our bodies! Healthy fats found in foods like avocados, olive oil, nuts & seeds provide us with essential fatty acids while helping us feel full longer after meals. Try adding a drizzle of olive oil to salads or snacking on some almonds instead of chips to reap the benefits of healthy fats!
6 Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is key when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. Our bodies rely on water to carry out vital functions like digestion and absorption so it’s important to drink plenty throughout the day—especially if you’re exercising regularly or spending time outdoors in hot weather! If plain water isn’t appealing to you then try adding sliced fruit or herbs for flavor (e.g., cucumber mint).
7 Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods are typically high in sodium content as well as unhealthy additives such as preservatives and artificial colors & flavors—all things that should be avoided when trying to eat healthily. By shopping around the perimeter of the grocery store (where all the fresh produce & meats are located) you can significantly reduce your intake of processed foods!
8 Limit Added Sugars & Salt
Added sugars (such as those found in sodas & sweetened juices) are empty calories that offer no nutritional benefit—so try to limit these as much as possible in order to maintain good health. Similarly, too much sodium can cause dehydration which can lead to other problems down the road so strive to cook your own food rather than relying on packaged/processed versions whenever possible!
9 Make Healthier Snack Choices
Snacks can easily derail a healthy diet if not chosen wisely—but they don’t have to! Instead of reaching for cookies or chips next time you’re feeling peckish opt for something like hummus & veggies or trail mix instead; this way you can still satisfy your cravings without overdoing it on unhealthy ingredients!
10 Be Mindful of Portion Sizes
Eating healthy doesn’t mean cutting out all treats entirely—it just means being aware of how much you’re eating! When indulging in snacks try using smaller plates/bowls so that portions appear larger while actually consuming fewer calories overall; this will help keep your waistline trim without sacrificing taste!
