A healthy diet should include foods from all the main food groups. One of the best ways to lose weight and be healthy is to follow the food pyramid and eat the suggested servings of each food group for your age, and activity level.
Watching what you eat and how much eating does require planning and you may need to have a copy of the food pyramid in front of you as you plan your healthy diet menu for the week.
Let’s be real, most of us don’t pay attention to having a well rwell-roundedounded diet.
Planning a weekly menu is a good way to get started and stick to your plan and once you do this for several weeks, the kinds and amounts of foods that you should be eating will become second nature.
Although junk food is a no-no when you are on a diet, many people who do eat healthy foods still indulge in their favorite snacks from time to time. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself from time to time as long as you don’t make it a practice or overindulge.
There are also differences in what vegetarians term “healthy foods”, so if you don’t eat meat, it does mean that you exclude all animal proteins from your diet. Proteins are essential nutrients but meat is not the only option so vegetarians might need to pay particular attention to what they eat to be sure they get enough protein.
Soy is comparable to animal protein and could be included in a daily diet if you are a vegetarian. Personally, I won’t eat soy so I prefer other sources of protein include like:
* Dry beans
* Peas
* Lentils
* Almond Milk
Some grains and vegetables are also good sources of protein. If you don’t drink milk, or eat cheese, Almond, rice and soy milk are great options as well as tofu for calcium. Green leafy plants have plenty of nutrients as well so it might be wise to research your options depending what you do or do not eat.
Even if you are not a vegetarian, the foods I’ve just mentioned will help to complement your diet and help you to feel full. All dieters should include a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement just to make sure. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day helps to flush out the burned calories and keep your body functioning the way it should.
A healthy diet doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s just about focusing on healthier choices in food by avoiding fried and fast foods, soda, candy, and pre-packaged foods. If you can focus on fresh food, organic if you can afford it, you’ll already be on your way to a more healthy diet.
Don’t forget about portion size while your at it.
