Most people think that nutrition in their diets is an important element of healthy living. Indeed it is true, but with the many choices in diets today, nutrition has become a complicated subject to understand. Some nutrition experts try to make it more complicated when in fact it is so easy. The key to a healthy diet is to stick with the basic food pyramid as much as possible, and to take into consideration moderation of portions and diversity of choices.
The Basic Food Groups
The food pyramid that was created by the United States Department of Agriculture shows that the largest serving of food everyday should come from the bread and grains group. Six to eight servings of this food should be consumed everyday. Aside from bread, this category also includes pasta, cereal, potatoes and rice. If you want to get the maximum nutrition in your diet, stick with choices that include whole grains instead of processed flours.
The food group that you should often include in your daily diet is the category of fruits and vegetables. Adding at least four to six servings from this group of food each day will give you good health. Good thing about fruits and vegetables is that they rarely pack up many calories into your diet and in some cases, it is even recommended to consume this food group as much as you can. So indulge yourself more, keep plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator!
Next up on the pyramid is the meat group. This includes beef, chicken, fish, beans and eggs. To ensure that your body is getting enough protein and iron, two to three servings of this category each day are essential to you. Make meat choices that are lean and be sure to include plenty of fish for maximum nutrition in your diet. Some types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to good health. If you prefer a vegetarian diet, beans are a good source of protein as well as fiber.
Dairy category is the last essential group on the food pyramid. This includes low fat cheese and yogurt as well as skim milk. Two to four servings of this group can help you prevent from having osteoporosis as you grow older, since calcium is an essential nutrient to healthy bones. Even if you are trying to lose weight, your nutritious diet should include a couple of low fat or fat free selections in this category every day.
Packing nutrition into your diet is not as hard as you’ve known it; just follow the basic principles of health eating. A nutritious diet in tandem with plenty of exercise will ensure that you will achieve maximum health benefits.