Healthy Eating
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There are many people who do not understand what healthy eating is. Eating salads and chicken breasts for every meal is not what it means. It also does not mean replacing all the foods you love with carrots and celery sticks. It is not a diet, and it is not a temporary change.
Healthy eating means making healthier choices. It means eating all of your favorite unhealthy foods in moderation. It means incorporating a variety of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables into your diet. It is a major component of healthy living. Healthy Eating is a lifestyle change.
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Remember! - The key to Healthy Eating is making small changes one healthy habit at a time!
Benefit of Healthy Living
The following are only a few of many benefits of healthy eating.
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Lower High Blood Pressure
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Through research, health experts advise that healthy eating has been shown to reduce high blood pressure. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, low cholesterol foods and foods that are low in saturated / total fat, helps keep blood pressure in check.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight
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Did you know that by incorporating small healthy eating habits in your everyday life, you can help maintain a healthy weight? Healthy eating alone can help you shed weight. If you switched from a Grande White Chocolate Mocha with whip to a Grande skinny White Chocolate Mocha with no whip on your morning Starbucks commute, you are looking at saving 15 pounds in a year! If you indulged every other day instead of every day, that would be 33 pounds! Just from making that small switch. Replacing your morning donut with an apple? 21 pounds!
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Prevent Heart Disease
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Healthy eating is an important ingredient in preventing heart disease. Eating a diet low in cholesterol helps control plaque buildup in artery walls.
What to Eat
Healthy eating involves knowing What to Eat. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants people to think about the foods they eat in terms of what they should have on their plate. Incorporating each of the following food groups into your meals is an important part of healthy living.
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Vegetables
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The USDA sends a reminder that half of your plate should come from Fruits and Vegetables. Healthy Eating includes a large portion of each meal to consist of vegetables. Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice will qualify as a vegetable.
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Fruits
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Try to eat as much fruit as you can. Fruits carry many health benefits. Some of these include: protection from chronic diseases, aids in weight loss and is a natural source of energy.
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Grains
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There are two groups of grains, whole grains and refined grains. Whole should consist of half of your grains. The USDA defines grains as any food made of wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barely or another cereal grain. This includes pastas, cereal, oatmeal
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Proteins
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When choosing protein sources, select from a variety to ensure you get enough nutrients. Protein sources include poultry, seafood, beans, eggs, nuts, and soy products are. Try to also get 8oz. of seafood each week as well.
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Dairy
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Milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt are considered part of the dairy group. Try to choose dairy products low in fat such as 2% or no fat cheese and milk.
For more detailed information on what to eat, please visit our page, What to Eat – Guide to Healthy Food.
Healthy Eating Tips
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How Much to Eat
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Determining How Much to Eat is an important part of healthy eating. Too much of anything can be a bad thing. Even healthy food. Since its not realistic to carry a food scale around with you, try to get a picture in your mind about what a serving size is. Visit our How Much to Eat page for valuable information on this healthy eating tip.
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More Healthy Eating Tips
Healthy Eating Habits
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Healthy Dining - Box up Half Your Meal Before You Eat
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Healthy Dining in America is difficult if you do not have the right eating habits under your belt. Not only are most of the menu choices unhealthy but the portion sizes are out of control! One healthy eating habit that will help you avoid overeating is to box up half your meal before you eat. As soon as you receive your meal, box up half of it. You can save the rest for another meal. Not only will this save you calories but it will save you money!
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More Healthy Eating Habits