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Eat
Right For a Healthier You
By Nancy King, PhD, RD,
LD
Your lifestyle choices affect how you feel today and well into the future. Eating right is part of a healthy lifestyle. Since March is National Nutrition Month® it is a great time to revisit some of the basics. Eating right, coupled with physical activity, will help you get all the nutrients you need and achieve/maintain a healthy weight which can help you fend off some chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Eating right does not have to be complicated, and does not mean you can’t enjoy your food. Follow these basic guidelines and you will take the first step to a healthier lifestyle.
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- Think ahead and plan your meals. It is easier to make the right food choices when you take the time to plan your meals because you are not forced to make unhealthy food choices due to time constraints or out of convenience. Planning meals ahead of time also allows you to prepare more balanced meals and control your portions size.
- Set reasonable goals. It is best to start by making small changes that you can live with, such as choosing baked instead of fried foods or having a side of fruit or salad instead of French fries. These small changes aren’t difficult to make and have an enormous impact on your health, especially over time.
- Balance it out! Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods from each of the food groups every day. A healthy meal plan includes a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grain products, low-fat dairy foods, lean meats or meat substitutes like soy; and it is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar.
- Consider how your food is prepared. Choose food that is baked, grilled, boiled, poached, roasted or steamed while avoiding fried, buttered, creamed or sautéed foods.
- Have an active lifestyle. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend for adults to be physically active for about one hour each day. Physical activity produces a feeling of well being, while helping you manage your body weight.
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There is no secret to a healthy lifestyle—make informed food choices and remain active; you will enjoy the benefits for years to come! A registered dietitian can help you sort through misinformation and develop an eating plan that is right for you to eat healthy, achieve a healthy weight, and reduce your risk of chronic disease.
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