How to eat healthier every day

Whether you are trying to shed a bit of extra weight, just want to eat healthier or want to teach you family the importance of healthy eating and food choice–the best thing you can do is become more food savvy. Being conscious and aware of what you are munching on, your eating habits and the “healthy” snacks you think you are eating will help your on your way to weight loss, healthy eating and feeling better. But if you feel overwhelmed with all the food choices, contradictions and myths about “health foods,” don’t fret–we have the ins and outs of healthy eating that will help you on your way to achieving your goals.

When it comes to knowing your recommended daily servings of each group on the food pyramid, are you smarter than a 5th grader? The basics of a healthy diet begin with knowing the food groups, serving sizes and the number of servings you need. Without this knowledge, achieving a healthy diet or weight loss can be difficult — even impossible.

FOOD PYRAMID BASICS

Although the basic food pyramid has’t changed much since you were a kid, it has evolved and is more specific about the types of food to eat. The pyramid also includes regular exercise as a component of healthy living–so simply eating healthy isn’t enough if you want a healthy lifestyle. No need to worry though, we have everything to get you on your way.

• Grains. Foods made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain. Suggested daily servings: 6 ounces
• Vegetables. Any vegetable or 100 per cent vegetable juice. May be raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned, dried or dehydrated, whole, cut-up or mashed. Suggested daily servings: 2.5 cups
• Fruits. Any fruit or 100 per cent fruit juice. May be fresh, dried, frozen, canned, whole, cut-up or pureed. Suggested daily servings: 2 cups
• Milk and other dairy. All fluid milk products and food made from milk. Foods made from milk that have little or no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream and butter are not considered part of this group. Suggested daily servings: 3 cups
• Meat and beans (proteins). All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, peas, eggs, nuts and seeds. Suggested daily servings: 5.5 ounces
• Oils. Fats that are liquid at room temperature. Suggested daily servings: Eat sparingly

One size does not fit all. For more detailed information on the food pyramid and to create a customized diet plan based on your body, visit mypyramid.

Next: start the day with a good breakfast