Eating healthily means eating enough calories and nutrients each day while also limiting foods that contain solid fats, added sugars or salt.
Diets among Americans have improved significantly over the last decade, though many still do not adhere to official dietary recommendations. Learn how you can create a healthier eating plan today.
Vegetables
An adequate diet is key to optimal health and wellbeing. While individual nutritional requirements may differ, most experts advise including foods from all five food groups into your daily meals and snacks – this means fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, protein sources such as cheese or eggs from dairy cows, as well as limited fat consumption from olive oil, nut oils or lean meat sources as well as no added sugars, saturated or trans fats or sodium in any way possible.
Most Americans consume far too few fruits and vegetables, too much sweet drinks and salty snacks, and not enough whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy – leading to nutritional deficiencies, overeating of empty calories, obesity risks and chronic diseases. This lifestyle leads to greater obesity rates as well as chronic diseases.
While all vegetables provide healthful nutrients, some stand out as especially helpful to overall wellness. Spinach is a rich source of calcium, vitamins, iron and antioxidants; carrots, tomatoes and broccoli also boast abundant sources of essential vitamins.
To maximize health benefits, try eating a variety of vegetables each week and cooking them in various ways – instead of boiling or steaming your veggies, experiment with frying, roasting, sauteing and marinating methods instead. Or add veggies into other meals like pasta or burgers!
Be sure to eat a variety of fruits, including oranges and berries as well as dark-green vegetables, for optimal health. Not only are these foods low in fat but they are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C and folate – ideal sources for optimal wellness! When selecting fruits for their nutritional value it is wise to opt for dried, frozen or canned versions instead of fruit juice which contains added sugars as these will be less detrimental on teeth.
Fruits
A healthy American diet and nutrition plan includes a variety of fruits in its daily nutrition plan, from whole fruits like apples and bananas, to juiced varieties. Fruit provides fiber and vitamin C while serving as an excellent replacement for sugary desserts and snacks. When possible, opt for local or organic varieties; these tend to contain more nutrients.
People often struggle with classifying foods as fruits. Botanists define fruit as the ripened ovary of a flowering plant containing one or more fertilized seeds, so some plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers are classified as vegetables while strawberries and peaches belong in this category of fruits.
Most people enjoy eating fruit as part of a balanced diet. Aim to include different varieties and colors of fruits for best health benefits – aim to consume two cups of fruits and two-and-a-half cups of vegetables each day as recommended by medical authorities.
Eating a well-balanced diet like those from New Jersey may not always be simple, but it is imperative to do so. People should strive to incorporate vegetables, fruit, lean protein sources, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy items, along with minimal added sugars into their daily meals.
People having difficulty eating a balanced diet may find assistance from public health initiatives such as community food banks, free breakfast programs and community fridges. Such initiatives help remove any barriers that prevent many Americans from eating healthily – the USDA suggests eating at least two and a half cups of vegetables, two cups of fruits, six ounces of grains, three cups of dairy, five and a half ounces of protein and 27 grams of fat per day to remain in optimal health.
Grains
Granted, grain-based foods have received negative press in media reports and fitness magazines; however, including whole grains in your diet can provide essential fiber, complex carbs, vitamins and minerals – essential elements to weight loss as well as reduced risks of heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. According to research, choosing whole grains instead of refined foods could also help you save weight while potentially decreasing heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol risks.
Grains are seeds from grasses that store energy mostly as complex carbohydrates, including wheat, corn, barley, rice and oats. Refined grains often remove their bran, germ and endosperm whereas whole grain foods retain all three parts for nutritional benefit – providing bran fiber, magnesium iron and B vitamin for better health benefits as well as being packed with dietary fiber, Vitamin E magnesium iron B vitamins as well as other essential micronutrients like fiber. Foods belonging to this category include bread pasta cereals tortillas grits grits grits popcorns!
Whole grains are an excellent source of protein. One such source is quinoa, an extremely nutritious seed that cooks similar to either rice or pasta and boasts gluten-free goodness along with mild flavor and high levels of protein content – try it in salads, pita sandwiches and soup! Amaranth can also be prepared into hot cereal or eaten popped like popcorn for extra protein-packed goodness.
Grain products can be found both at your local grocery store and larger health food stores and organic markets. To purchase whole grains, check the ingredient list and look out for products marked as having been “enriched”, which have had their bran and germ removed and then reconstitute to add back certain essential vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, folic acid and iron reintroduced. The USDA suggests you consume at least six 1-ounce servings daily of grains.
Dairy
Balanced diet is key for mental and physical wellbeing, reaching ideal weight and feeling your best. A good place to begin would be with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Choose My Plate guidelines; these recommend eating foods from all five food groups with each meal or snack including dairy.
Dairy products encompasses products made with animal milk such as cheese, curd, whey, ice cream and yogurt; alternative milk sources like soymilk or yoghurt that are fortified with calcium also fall under this umbrella category.
The dairy industry has worked to build its image as being healthy and nutritional, especially since the 90s-era “Got Milk” campaign featuring celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Shaquille O’Neal donning milk mustaches. Yet some individuals choose not to consume dairy due to lactose intolerance, environmental impacts or ethical concerns about animal welfare.
While dairy products are an integral component of a balanced diet, there are also plenty of other sources that provide similar nutrition, including vegetables and fruit or meat. Some studies have linked dairy consumption with increased risks for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity; it also contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions; each gallon of milk produced from cows produces about 3.15 kg CO2-equivalent gas emissions equivalents per liter produced.
Though dairy may contain many disadvantages, moderate consumption should still be recommended as it provides protein, B6, A & D vitamins as well as calcium potassium and phosphorus minerals – benefits which many lactose intolerant people can still take advantage of by opting for products lower in fat and sodium content.
Protein
An effective diet means incorporating foods from each of the five food groups. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this should include half fruits and vegetables, one quarter grains and three thirds protein/dairy. A healthy diet also means limiting processed and sugary snacks/beverages such as cookies or candy and selecting options with low sodium and saturated fat content.
Balanced diets are key for promoting both mental and physical wellness, managing weight and fitness levels, meeting nutritional requirements throughout life stages, and meeting other responsibilities such as work or school commitments. Unfortunately, however, adhering to this principle may be challenging in an age of busy lives with many obligations like work, family and other commitments; finding time to cook nutritious meals or shop may prove challenging when there are tempting processed calorie-dense high-sugar and fat foods available in stores or restaurants can tempt us.
Americans are inundated with advertisements for unproven diet fads, dubious weight-loss brands and fast food offerings; although most Americans desire eating healthily they often do not know how to do this effectively. Access and knowledge of the most nutritious foods aren’t distributed evenly across the nation. That is why it is essential to support mutual aid initiatives which enable all individuals to meet their nutritional requirements, such as community fridges, food banks and free breakfast programs. To address these challenges, the USDA has created a number of resources that aim to help people adopt healthier eating habits and become healthier eaters. These include an easier-to-read version of its famous Food Pyramid as well as MyPlate Plan tools tailored specifically towards individuals based on age, sex, height, weight and activity level.