The Healthy Eating Rules
By Sara Butler
Eating healthy may seem like an easy thing, but there are a lot of misconceptions and myths that surround healthy eating. It seems like new advice about your diet comes out each and every day. How do you know what is true and what isn’t? Well, as long as you understand the rules of healthy eating, then it doesn’t matter what you hear on the news. Here are the nutrition rules you must commit to memory.
Go Big with Vegetables
You can never go wrong loading up your plate with vegetables. To build a plate that is healthy you simply need to fill half of it with vegetables -- fresh, steamed, or sautéed vegetables, that is. French fries don’t count.
You should go for vegetables with a little crunch to them, such as green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and leafy greens. The rest of the plate should be reserved for lean protein and whole grains.
Have Breakfast
You’ve heard this a million times because it’s true: Breakfast starts your day off right. Eating a healthy meal is crucial to help you rev up your metabolism and improve your brain function in the morning. It also helps you to make better nutritional choices throughout the day. Make sure your breakfast has a healthy fat, protein, and complex carbohydrates.
Limit Sugar and Sodium
This one can be a challenge because prepacked and processed foods are full of hidden sugar and salt. Make sure to check nutrition labels before you buy something (or eliminate processed and prepacked foods altogether).
Go Whole Grain
Just remember that when choosing carbohydrates to include in your diet, the browner, the better. Whole grain foods such as brown rice, oatmeal, and whole wheat have more fiber and nutrients than their processed counterparts. These types of complex carbs are essential to your health, so don’t forgo them, just make them healthier!
Enjoy Your Food
This one may seem pretty obvious, but many people don’t really take the time to slowly savor what they’re eating. People get busy or get distracted by work or the television as they eat, scarfing food down without really taking the time to enjoy it. Work on a healthy lifestyle that includes nutritious foods you take the time to actually enjoy eating and relish it. Food isn’t just fuel!
Eating well isn't difficult as long as you remember the basics!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Buford, Ga.