Eating healthy is something we all should be doing, although it can be hard.  In order to eat healthy, you must in the first instance make the correct choices in your diet. Healthy Eating is all about what you eat, which makes your decisions very important to your results. So I have put together a few healthy eating guidelines to help you on your way to a Healthy People Diet.

Veggies
These should be varied, as you should eat 2 to 3 portions of them each day.  You should start eating more of the dark vegetables, such asbroccoli and spinach.  Carrots and sweet potatoes are also very good for you.  You should also consume more beans such as peas, pinto beans, and types like kidney beans.

Fruits
Fruit is most important.  You should try to eat 2 to 3 cups of them every day. You should aim to eat a mixture of types , such as  fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit.  Fruit juice also counts , although you should use moderation when doing so .

Grains
Ideally one should consume 6 ounces of grains a day.  To do this, you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers, or pasta.  You can get an ounce of grains in a single slice of good bread, or 1 serving of cereal.

Milk
Milk is a great source of calcium.  For adults, 3 cups a day should be your target.  For children aged 2 – 8 years, 2 cups should be your goal. When choosing milk products or yogurt, you should choose fat-free or low-fat.  Those of you who do not like milk or should not have it, should go for lactose free products or look for other sources of calcium such as fortified foods and drinks .

Meat and Beans
Protein is very important , eating five ounces per day is the ideal goal , as you should not over do the amount of protein .  When eating meat, always bake it, grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation.  You should vary your protein as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts in your healthy eating plan.

When cooking your food, you should also cut out solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard.  These foods may add flavor to your dishes, however they will also help raise your cholesterol level as well.  Therefore, you should try to avoid these foods and any foods that contain them as well.

To help maintain your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium intake low , you should read the nutrition facts label on your purchases. This information can be found on the food packaging and will tell you all the details you need to know about the food item and what it contains.

Choosing your food with care and watching what and at what time you eat, you’ll help control your healthy lifestyle. Exercise is very important as well, as it goes combines perfectly with the benefits of healthy eating. It does not matter what your age may be, healthy eating will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and years and even help you and your health in the long run as well.

I trust you found these healthy eating guidelines usefulif you wish to read more articles by Tina Frensham, the author please check out her blog, or click   Healthy People 2020  for information on the goals and objectives and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.

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