A healthy diet includes nutritious foods that provide the energy and nutrients your body needs to function properly. It also helps prevent weight gain and reduces your risk for chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. A healthy diet is important for all ages. Breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and development, while baccarat online introducing solid food to infants by age 6 months can help prevent obesity and early nutrition problems.
Choose foods low in fat and added sugars. This includes skim and reduced-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. When choosing meat, poultry or fish, select lean cuts and trim off visible fat. Try to limit foods high in salt, such as processed or fried meats and sauces.
Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your meals. Vegetables and fruit are important sources of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. They can also help you eat less fat and calories, lower your risk for certain cancers and support a healthy weight.
Incorporate whole grains into your meals. They are a good source of fiber, B vitamins and iron and help reduce your risk for digestive problems and heart disease. Include whole grain breads and crackers, brown rice and quinoa.
Eat foods containing plant protein, such as beans and peas, nuts and seeds, soy products and vegetable oils. These foods are also good sources of fiber and protein, which can help you feel full.
Avoid eating too much saturated and industrially-produced trans fats, which can increase your risk for heart disease. Try to replace animal fats with plant-based fats, such as olive or canola oil, and use cooking spray instead of butter when preparing food.
A healthy diet also includes plenty of water and unsweetened, non-fat or low-fat beverages. This will help you consume fewer calories from beverages and will make it easier to control your portion sizes.
Keeping a variety of healthy snacks on hand will also help you avoid unhealthy choices. Examples of healthy snacks include fresh or dried fruit, wholesome cereal bars, rice cakes and a low-fat yogurt or hummus dip.
Eat a variety of foods that are low in salt, sugars and saturated and trans fats. Choose foods that are fortified with vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium, especially if you have a deficiency in these nutrients.
When preparing food, aim for home-cooked meals as much as possible. Meals prepared at home are often lower in calories than restaurant meals and have more variety. Choose grilled or steamed vegetables and add herbs to give your meals more flavor. Be sure to cook with unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils and spreads, canola oil or avocados, which are healthier than lard, butter and ghee.
