How to Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating what tastes good would make you fat and invite health issues into your life. By replacing these destructive food choices and making healthier choices you and your body will be happier.

Include fruits and vegetables in your diet. It is recommended that you eat 3-5 servings a day. It might seem difficult, but it really isn't. Have a banana with breakfast and you have three servings to go. At lunch put some lettuce or sprouts on your sandwich, have some peach sauce, and you have another serving. For supper, make sure to fix a vegetable with your meal. Now we're up to four servings for the day. Your evening snack can be celery sticks with hummus. Not only does that fill the quota for the day, you get some protein, vitamins, and only 60 calories.

Breads and grains are difficult for me. I eat too many. With that said, choose whole wheat, 7-grains or multi grain breads and flours versus white grain or white flour. This includes not just breads but pasta as well. By not eating enough of vegetables and grains, you won't get your necessary fiber. This can lead to digestive and bowel disorders. By eating from these categories every day and getting some exercise every day (see my article Yoga for Women) you can keep your internal organs operating as they should.

Meat is easily available to us. The only problem is that Americans tend to eat too much meat. There is an alternative. Protein, which is found in meats, is also found in sources such as beans, peanut butter, hummus, and more. Have one or two vegetarian meals a week and you will find you can get plenty of protein from alternative sources. The key to finding protein-rich food is to read labels.

Sources of dairy products are also plentiful. For lactose intolerant people, read labels for calcium content. Organic food sections and food co-ops have choices available for your every taste. Some foods and beverages are fortified with calcium and advertise that fact on the product's label.

Getting the proper amount of each food category is important, but if you counting calories and find that you get too much of each category; it's time to do some adjusting to your diet. Make alterations to each food category so your daily intake is fewer calories, you still get your nutrients, and your energy level is still high. By cutting your calories you should see a decrease in your weight.