Healthy Food

By Bob Pardue

Eating habits in America have gotten completely out of hand. Everywhere you look people are lined up at the drive-thru and gouging themselves with fast foods. Hopefully this piece will open your eyes to some benefits of eating right.

Foods to Add to Your List

A healthy list of food choices for a nutritious diet includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, proteins and snacks.  The health benefits of these foods help prevent illness, flu and diseases.

Fruit 

Eating fruits such as strawberries, oranges, lemons and blueberries are high in vitamin C.  This vitamin helps the immune system and keeps illnesses at bay.  Strawberries have fiber which the body needs and blueberries are rich in antioxidants. 

These vitamins contain essential nutrients the body needs to stay healthy. 

Veggies

In addition to fruits, adding vegetables to your diet will provide other vitamins and nutrition.  The health benefits of eating tomatoes and leafy greens such as spinach helps fight against heart disease and even some types of cancers.

Eat It Raw 

Eating fruits and vegetables in their most natural state is the best, but if you have to cook them try to steam or boil them to keep some nutritional value.  Also avoid adding an excess of saturated fats such as butters and oils.  These things just take away nutrition and add fat to your diet.

Other foods on the healthy list include legumes from the family of peas and beans, the darker legumes especially provide nutritional value.   

Fish Oil

Proteins such as salmon and nuts are rich in omega 3. Omega 3 is good for brain development.  And, snacks such as carrots, celeries, nuts, peanut butter and bananas are excellent sources to improve physical health as well as the loss of a few pounds. The best part? When consuming a nutritious snack you can eat as much as you want without having that guilty conscious.

Fast Foods and Eating Out

If you must splurge on fast food or eating out at restaurants try to pick salads and foods that are grilled.  Stay away from eating an excess of greasy burgers and french fries.  Pick low calorie items off the menu or smaller portions to be more health conscious.

Healthy Trends and Dieting  

The trend of picking up a quick meal needs to be done in moderation.  Keep snack fruits and vegetables with you in case you become hungry you will ride past the fast food restaurants along the way. 

The desire to eat smarter is catching on as obesity and diseases are running rapid.  Going back to what you learned in school and eating from the four food groups still applies today for a healthier diet.  When you eat healthy foods you feel and look great so make a resolution today. You don't have to wait for the new year.