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What Does “Healthy Eating” Mean?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy diet:

• Emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
• Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.
• Balances the calories you take in from food and beverages with the calories burned through physical activity to maintain a healthy weight.

Here are some tips to help you meet the guidelines:

• Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients.
• Include foods that contain fiber such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole-grains.
• Eat lean cuts of meat and poultry. Trim away excess fat and remove skin from poultry before cooking.
• Pay attention to portion sizes, especially at restaurants. Smaller portions equal fewer calories.
• Season your food with lemon juice, herbs, and spices, rather than using butter and salt.
• Choose foods that are baked, broiled, braised, grilled, steamed, sautéed, or boiled, rather than fried.
• When eating out, select a dish from the menu, rather than getting your money’s worth at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Quick Tip

Getting enough fluids each day is important. Did you know that beverages aren’t the only way to get valuable fluids? Fruits and vegetables help, too!

 

Download the Tip Sheet

What Does “Healthy Eating” Mean? (PDF, 513.2 KB)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeZFcIbwCZg&index=26&list=PL_-XYgJCuYPVGe9IYKN4WyHpHt1YrmX1H