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Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media |
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It is referring to our applying our focus and attention to the importance of making informed food choices to develop sound eating and physical activity habits. In other words, let's play attention to what scientifically-based research has consistently shown us about nutrition and health, and not make choices based upon the latest headline, new hot diet, or the well intentioned advice of non -degreed nutrition individuals! I'd also like to remind us that all diets do work while we work them if they restrict our caloric intake in some manner. But are they healthy, do they help us to lose weight and keep it off, and do they lead to a long term change in our eating habits that can be sustained? Just what is healthy eating? Well to some degree, I think healthy eating differs depending upon who we talk to, or what expert we're listening to. Most people assume upon meeting me that I eat healthy, and I've stopped for moment to ask myself if I do. Well, I like to think that I do, meaning that I eat healthy on a regular basis as a way of life. But it does not mean that I eat only healthy foods, or that I only eat something unhealthy once a year (that wouldn't be fun!). But I do try to keep the foundation of my eating healthy on a daily basis with some (and some spur of the moment) unhealthy choices in between! To quote the American Dietetic Association, " Think Nutrient-rich" rather than "good or bad" foods! And let's do this for the big picture, not for the single treat which, will not make or break a healthy diet. Let's take a closer look at what would be considered healthy eating habits by most experts (I've added in a few of my own). These recommendations are based upon a "fad-free" diet (last year's nutrition theme) so we can stick with it for the long haul. I suggest that if we spend more time on what we can add to our diet, rather than what we should remove from it, I believe we can find ourselves eating healthy more often. I'd like to propose that we add just one healthy food to our daily eating plan from one of the categories below to begin. Then we'll be on our way to healthier eating, and feeling better (let's not forget that all our healthy foods serve as our disease fighting, anti-aging weapons and weight management tools) too. Let's Eat at least 3 different fruits per day. Eat at least 3-5 different vegetables per day (including dark green leafy, cruciferous, and a variety of colors) Eat or drink a low-fat dairy product such as yogurt or milk 3 times per day. Eat whole grain products instead of white flour products (this includes high fiber cereals versus sugar pops, brown rice instead of white, etc.) more often than not, almost everyday. Eat a plant based diet with smaller amounts of meat. Eat a meal that is totally vegetarian once a week (my personal suggestion!). Eat fish versus red meat or poultry at least twice per week. Eat a nutrient dense snack instead of a low nutrient high calorie snack ( popcorn versus M&M's for instance) more than 50% of the time. Let's try eating the nutrient dense snack first, then if we choose, let's go for the junk afterward (we're more likely to eat a smaller amount this way) . Substitute a low-fat alternative for a high fat method of cooking or as a condiment more than 50% of the time (jelly versus butter, or chicken stock versus oil in cooking) . Let's use healthy monounsaturated fats such as olive oil instead of butter when we do use fat to cook. So, It's March, "It's a Matter of Fact", for Our Health! June M Lay M.S. www.junefit.com One place to start is to eat more starch, resistant starch that is! Read more about "Resistant Starches" on my Food of the Week page (www.junefit.com/tips_foodhp.htm). June is Lifestyle Columnist at www.healthnewsdigest.com/ Google "Fitness Tips" , and find that Junefit ranks in the top ten at Google's search out of million results! Junefit is included in Google's top ranked women's health resources http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Women's_Health/Resources/ Check out a great site AmericanTowns.com - A source for local community events, news, real estate, restaurants and more (and where you'll find my tips under community health, of course!). copyright 2008, junefit. All rights reserved. www.HealthNewsDigest.com Top of Page 
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