How To Choose Healthy Foods

Healthy foods are vital for good living, in fact they are vital for life. To achieve the goal of eating healthy foods, there is something you must always keep at the back of your mind that is taking time to plan your meals in advance. This will help you to introduce variety, eat more nutritious foods, save money and rely less on convenience and processed foods. Prepare your meals using mostly fresh ingredients and choose foods like fruits, salads and vegetables for snacks. Use healthier cooking methods like grilling and steaming instead of frying or roasting with oil or fat. Size matters.

From Food Plan to Plate. 

Base your meals on plenty of vegetables, salads and fruits – up to half your plate or bowl at every meal. Choose a variety of colours. Choose whole-meal and whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta and brown rice. Choose wholemeal for most of the bread you eat. Be aware of the calorie difference – some types contain more calories than others.

Another thing is for you to choose low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese. Choose milk and yogurt more often than cheese. Include a small amount of poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, beans or meat at 2 meals. Choose fish up to twice a week – oily fish is best. Limit chips and takeaway food as much as possible. Most are very high in fat, salt and calories. Don’t eat the following foods and drinks every day: •Sugary drinks •Biscuits, cakes, desserts, chocolate, sweets •Processed salty meats like sausages, bacon and ham •Salty snacks like crisps !

Limit foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt to sometimes and only in small amounts. Not every day, maximum once or twice a week.

 

Be Active

To be healthy you need regular physical activity. Adults need at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity on 5 days a week or 150 minutes a week. Children need to be active at a moderate to vigorous level for at least 60 minutes every day. Moderate activity is any activity that causes your heart to beat slightly faster and your breathing to become noticeably heavier without feeling out of breath. Examples include brisk walking and cycling slower than 10mph.

Vigorous activity is any activity that causes a big increase in heart rate and your breathing becomes much faster and deeper leaving you feeling out of breath and sweaty. Examples include running and sports such as football or basketball.

Alcohol

Alcohol is not needed for health and is not recommended for young people under 18 years, pregnant or breastfeeding women.

• Alcohol contains calories and may promote snacking.

• Do not take alcohol all day through-out the week, have 2–3 alcohol free days a week.

• No safe limit for alcohol use by under 18s.

Always remember the standard above and do not forget that you will be the one to benefit  first if you are healthy, so stay healthy by eating healthy foods.