Healthy eating means consuming the right quantities of foods from all food groups in order to lead a healthy life. Diet is often referred to as some dietary regimen for losing weight. However, diet simply means what food we eat in the course of a 24-hour, one week, or one month, etc. period. A good diet is a nutritional lifestyle that promotes good health. A good diet must include several food groups because one single group cannot provide everything a human needs for good health.
How do you define healthy eating?
The crucial part of healthy eating is a balanced diet. A balanced diet - or a good diet - means consuming from all the different good groups in the right quantities. Nutritionists say there are five main food groups - whole grains, fruit and vegetables, protein, diary, and fat & sugar.
Whole grains
According to the USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture) we should consume at least 3 ounces of whole grains per day. A whole grain, unlike refined grains, still has the bran and the germ attached. Whole grains are rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. When grains are refined the bran and germ are removed.
It is not possible to know whether food is made from whole grain just by looking at it. To be really sure you have to read the label. In the list of ingredients, the word whole or wholegrain needs to appear before the name of the grain.
Whole grain products include breads, pastas and cereals - they need to be made with 100% whole grain. Whole grain foods and flours include 100% whole wheat, brown rice, corn, buckwheat, oatmeal (oats), spelt and wild rice.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables have a high vitamin, mineral and fiber content - these nutrients are vital for your body to function well. Several studies have proven that a good intake of fruit and vegetables may protect from developing heart disease, diabetes type 2, and cancer.
Most health departments throughout the