Healthy eating involves consuming foods and beverages that are known to be beneficial to the body, without consuming an overabundance of calories or fats. Eating healthy diets can help manage weight, and also ensures that ample vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are consumed.
While dietary needs can vary slightly from person to person (for example, some people may consume more salt than others), basic dietary guidelines that can help individuals follow healthy eating plans have been set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (the FDA. These guidelines consist of a recommended daily allowance RDA of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fats, proteins, carbohydrates and sugars. These RDA's can be found on the labels of packaged foods, so that consumers can keep track of how much of each nutrient is being consumed.http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ConsumerInformation/ucm078889.htm
Healthy Eating Guidelines
In addition to following RDA's, consumers can also use the food pyramid as a guideline for healthy eating. The food pyramid was established by the United States Department of Agriculture, and has evolved over time to reflect the latest health findings. The pyramid recommends a diet that is based mainly on grains, fruits and vegetables, with moderate protein and dairy consumption and few sweets and fats.http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/healthtool-food-pyramid
Those with special health situations, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, will need to make some dietary changes in order to eat healthy. These may include eating less fat and sodium.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/MY00431/DSECTION=healthy%2Ddiets
How to Eat Healthy on a Busy Schedule
This video clip is hosted by an licensed dietitian and professional chef by the name of Brenda Thompson. Here she discusses ways that people with hectic schedules can still eat right. She recommends preparing healthy meals at home ahead of time, and then heating them up when it is meal time.
Disclaimer
The content on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor or pharmacist before using the information presented here.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Healthy eating involves consuming foods that are beneficial to the body
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The FDA recommends specific amounts of essential nutrients to be included in the diet
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The food pyramid establishes the types of foods to be consumed in a healthy diet
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Diets based mainly on grains, plant foods and lean proteins are considered healthiest
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People with medical conditions may need to alter their diets to maintain proper health
