NUTRITION

• What is Healthy Eating?
• What are the Benefits?
• How to get Started?
• What if you have a Chronic Illness?
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease

What is Healthy Eating?  

 Healthy Eating is eating a variety of foods from each food group, in moderation, and balancing the amount of calories you eat with the amount you expend in activity. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a healthy diet:

• Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat free or low fat milk and milk products

•  Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts

• Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars

•  Stays within your daily calorie needs

How will Healthy Eating Benefit you?

It can aid in weight management, improve mood and energy level, and lower your risk for diseases.

How to get started?

A useful tool in making changes in your eating habits is to keep a food journal for a few days.

Keeping track of everything you eat and the time of day you eat will help you become aware of your habits.

Once you know what your habits are, try making a few small healthy changes at a time.

How much should I eat of different foods?

The new MY PLATE website is a helpful guide for daily food choices and portion sizes for all ages.

By linking to the MY PLATE website you can:

• Learn healthy eating tips
• Learn about food groups and portion sizes
• Get weight loss information
• Plan a healthy menu
• Analyze your diet
• Ask questions

What should I eat if I have diabetes or heart disease?

Healthy eating is especially important when you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Consulting with a registered dietitian for education and a personalized meal plan is recommended.

General information about eating when you have diabetes

General information about eating for heart health

If you have high blood pressure, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan may help lower it and keep it under control